Salah's spectacular display powers Egypt to Victory, Nigeria stumbles against Lesotho in World Cup Qualifiers

Posted : 17 November 2023

Egypt, led by Mohamed Salah's four-goal spectacle, kicked off their World Cup qualifying campaign with a commanding 6-0 victory over Djibouti in Cairo. Salah's stellar performance propelled his goal tally for Egypt beyond 50, reaching 53 in 93 appearances. The emphatic win positions Egypt in the quest for a spot in the 2026 World Cup after missing out on the Qatar tournament last year.

In a surprising turn of events, Nigeria, missing the injured Victor Osimhen, faced a 1-1 draw against Lesotho in a rainy match in Uyo. Lesotho, ranked 113 places below Nigeria in the FIFA rankings, took a shock lead with Motlomelo Mkhwanazi's goal, but Semi Ajayi's header from Kelechi Iheanacho's corner leveled the score. The draw, without a winning goal despite sustained pressure, adds pressure on coach Jose Peserio ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations finals.

Mozambique secured the first away victory of the African qualifying campaign, defeating Botswana 3-2 in Group G. Jonathan Muiomo, playing in the fourth tier of German club football, scored the winner. Algeria, the favorites in the group, secured a 3-1 home win against Somalia, but the performance was unconvincing, leading to star players like Riyad Mahrez and Amine Gouiri being substituted at halftime.

Gabon staged a comeback from a goal down to beat Kenya 2-1, with Denis Bouanga equalizing on the hour mark and Guelor Kanga securing a late 88th-minute winner in Franceville. In Group F, Burundi won 3-2 against the Gambia in a match played in Tanzania due to Burundi's lack of a suitable stadium. Sudan, forced to host their Group B clash against Togo in Benghazi, Libya, due to the civil war in their country, saw the match end in a 1-1 draw after Togo equalized through Kevin Denkey.

The Group D clash between the Cape Verde Islands and Angola ended goalless, with missed chances defining the match. The African qualifiers will continue with the first two rounds played from Wednesday to next Tuesday, resuming in June. Nine groups offer direct qualification to the 2026 finals, with the four best runners-up having a chance to qualify through a two-tier playoff system.

Salah's spectacular display powers Egypt to Victory, Nigeria stumbles against Lesotho in World Cup Qualifiers

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