Recap: Africa’s 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers – 10 October 2025

by Staff Reporter

Friday Oct 10, 2025. 19:57

AfricanFootball.com brings you LIVE updates from Matchday 9 and 10 of the continent’s 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

Friday 10 October brings a close to Matchday 9 with nine fixtures across the continent, as Senegal and Ivory Coast hope to book their tickets, while Group C is set to continue its fascinating narrative.

All times CAT.

LIVE UPDATES:

That concludes our live coverage for Friday, join us again on Sunday for the start of Matchday 10.

20:03 – Full time in Kigali, Rwanda 0-1 Benin. The Cheetahs claim a crucial 1-0 win that puts them in pole position to win Group C and qualify for their first World Cup!

19:57 – Full time in Durban, Zimbabwe 0-0 South Africa. A crushing blow to Bafana Bafana’s World Cup hopes. They look set to trail Group C leaders Benin by two points and have Nigeria breathing down their necks.

19:53 – Full time in Polokwane, Lesotho 1-2 Nigeria. The Super Eagles claim a key win and look set to make up ground on second-placed South Africa in Group C.

19:50 – Full time in Tunis, Sao Tome and Principe 0-6 Tunisia. An easy Friday evening stroll to another three for already-qualified Tunisia. Their sixth goal was scored late on by Mohamed Ben Romdhane.

19:50 – Aiyegun Tosin struck the goal for Benin in Kigali… it could be absolutely crucial in deciding Group C.

19:48 – GOAL! Rwanda 0-1 Benin. The Cheetahs strike a vital goal in Kigali which will take them clear at the top of Group C!

19:42 – Lyle Foster hits the woodwork for South Africa in Durban! So close to a goal which would take Bafana Bafana top of the group.

19:40 – GOAL! Lesotho 1-2 Nigeria. Likuena get one back at the Peter Mokaba Stadium, with Hlompho Kalake scoring in the 83rd minute.

19:37 – GOAL! Lesotho 0-2 Nigeria. The Super Eagles close in on victory, with Akor Adams putting them 2-0 up in Polokwane

19:27 – GOAL! STP 0-5 Tunisia. The Carthage Eagles rack up goal number five courtesy of Mohamed Ben Romdhane.

19:24 – Red card for Zimbabwe! Knowledge Musona picks up a second yellow card and the Warriors are down to 10 in Durban.

19:15 – Almost a goal for South Africa in Durban, with Lyle Foster seeing an effort cleared off the line by Divine Lunga!

19:12 – GOAL! Lesotho 0-1 Nigeria. The first goal in Group C sees William Troost Ekong score from the penalty spot to put the Super Eagles ahead in Polokwane!

19:07 – GOAL! STP 0-4 Tunisia. The Carthage Eagles net a fourth, with Ismael Gharbi netting in the 47th minute.

19:06 – We’re back underway in the second halves across the early evening matches, with Tunisia leading Sao Tome and Principe 3-0, while the trio of Group C games are all 0-0.

18:53 – Half time in Kigali, Rwanda 0-0 Benin; Durban, Zimbabwe 0-0 South Africa; and Polokwane, Lesotho 0-0 Nigeria. Goals proving hard to come by in a tense Group C!

18:48 – Half time in Tunis, STP 0-3 Tunisia.

18:45 – GOAL! STP 0-3 Tunisia. The floodgates have opened in Tunis, with Elias Saad scoring a second to put his team three goals up.

18:40 – GOAL! STP 0-2 Tunisia. Another for the ‘visitors’ in Tunis, with Elias Saad scoring.

18:38 – GOAL! STP 0-1 Tunisia. Firas Chaouat puts the Carthage Eagles ahead in Tunis.

18:25 – Past the midway point of the first half, it remains 0-0 across all four ongoing matches: Lesotho v Nigeria, Rwanda v Benin, Zimbabwe v South Africa, and Sao Tome and Principe v Tunisia.

18:00 – The early evening block of games centres around Group C, with Rwanda v Benin at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali; Zimbabwe v South Africa at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban; and Lesotho v Nigeria at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.

Benin lead the group on goal difference from South Africa, but Nigeria and Rwanda are both just three points further back in third and fourth respectively – meaning all four still have a realistic chance of ending top and securing automatic qualification.

There is also a dead-rubber clash from Group H, with Tunisia (already qualified) ‘visiting’ bottom-of-the-log Sao Tome and Principe at the Hammadi Agrebi Stadium in Tunis.

17:37 – Lesotho v Nigeria line-ups:

Lesotho: S. Moerane, T. Makhele, T. Malane, F. Matlabe, L. Matsau, M. Mkwanazi, R. Mokokaone, M. Sera, K. Rapuleng, T. Toloane, J. Tsotleho

Nigeria: S. Nwabali, T. Arokodare, C. Bassey, F. Godwin, A. Iwobi, A. Lookman, W. Ndidi, B. Onyemaechi, V. Osimhen, M. Simon, W. Trooset-Ekong

17:35 – Rwanda v Benin line-ups:

Rwanda: F. Ntwari, D. Bizimana, P. Kavita, J. Kwizera, T. Manzi, B. Mugisha, G. Mugisha, K. Muhire, A. Mutsinzi, C. Niyomugabo, I. Nshuti

Benin: M. Dandjinou, S. D’Almeida, D. Dodo, J. Dossou, A. Hountondji, H. Imourane, S. Mounie, T. Ourou, Y. Roche, M. Tijani, O. Verdon

17:32: Zimbabwe v South Africa line-ups:

Zimbabwe: W. Arubi, H. Billaiat, T. Chirewa, M. Garananga, T. Hadebe, D. Lunga, M. Munetsi, K. Musona, M. Nakamba, G. Takwara, J. Zemura

South Africa: R. Williams, O. Appollis, L. Foster, M. Mbokazi, S. Mbule, A. Modiba, T. Mokoena, K. Mudau, M. Nkota, N. Sibisi, S. Sithole

17:01 – Full time in Nairobi, Gambia 3-4 Gabon. A jaw-dropping clash, as the Panthers come from the depths of despair to triumph in a seven-goal thriller and keep their hopes of winning Group F alive! With a four-goal haul from Pierre Emerick Aubameyang… who was also sent off in the dying minutes!

16:59 – Full time in Juba, South Sudan 0-5 Senegal. The Teranga Lions have closed in on World Cup qualification, but DR Congo’s win away to Togo means they will still have one more hurdle to jump next Tuesday at home to Mauritania.

16:59 – Full time in Lome, Togo 0-1 DR Congo. The Leopards claim a clutch win away to the Sparrow Hawks to ensure that the race for top spot in Group B goes down to the wire!

16:54 – Full time in Dar Es Salaam, Sudan 0-0 Mauritania. The Falcons of Jediane and the Lions of Chinguetti play out a stalemate.

16:53 – Full time in Saint Pierre, Seychelles 0-7 Ivory Coast. A thumping win for the Elephants, who have closed in on World Cup qualification. However, Gabon’s win away to the Gambia (still waiting on the full time whistle there) means the Ivory Coast will still have one more hurdle to jump next Tuesday at home to Kenya.

16:49 – GOAL! Seychelles 0-7 Ivory Coast. The Elephants pile on more pain in Saint Pierre!

16:45 – GOAL! Gambia 3-4 Gabon. What an incredible game in Nairobi! The Panthers claim the lead in the 78th minute via Pierre Emerick Aubameyang – his fourth goal of the match!

16:40 – GOAL! South Sudan 0-5 Senegal. Another goal for the West African heavyweights in Juba, as Cherif Ndiaye strikes in the 75th minute.

16:31 – And Simon Adingra was the scorer of the Elephants’ sixth goal against the Seychelles.

16:30 – Aubameyang’s heroics mean the Ivory Coast will not seal qualification today, as things stand.

16:29 – GOAL! Gambia 3-3 Gabon. The Panthers level the game in Nairobi at three apiece. Pierre Emerick Aubameyang completes a hat-trick!

16:27 – GOAL! Seychelles 0-6 Ivory Coast. And the Elephants continue to batter the Pirates in Saint Pierre!

16:25 – GOAL! South Sudan 0-4 Senegal. It’s turning into a rout in Juba, with Senegal scoring a fourth via a penalty from Nicolas Jackson.

16:18 – GOAL! South Sudan 0-3 Senegal. The Teranga Lions stretch their lead in Juba via a 54th minute goal from Ismaila Sarr.

16:17 – As things stand in Group F, Ivory Coast will seal top spot and book their ticket to the World Cup this afternoon!

16:16 – GOAL! Seychelles 0-5 Ivory Coast. As if inspired by the news from Nairobi, the Elephants rack up a fifth in Saint Pierre courtesy of Yan Diomande.

16:13 – GOAL! Gambia 3-2 Gabon. Stunning news out of Nairobi, as the Scorpions claim the lead for the first time, going 3-2 up via another goal from Adama Sidibeh.

16:11 – GOAL! South Sudan 0-2 Senegal. The Teranga Lions strike the first goal across the second halves, as Sadio Mane nets just after the restart.

16:08 – And Togo 0-1 DR Congo is back underway in Lome.

16:07 – Sudan 0-0 Mauritania is back underway in Dar Es Salaam.

16:06 – We’re also up and running for the second halves in Nairobi, Gambia 2-2 Gabon, and Juba, South Sudan 0-1 Senegal.

16:05 – Back underway in Saint Pierre, as the Ivory Coast go in search of more goals.

15:54 – Half time in Nairobi, Gambia 2-2 Gabon. The Panthers need to find a way to win this one in the second half if they are to keep pace with Ivory Coast.

15:53 – GOAL! Gambia 2-2 Gabon. The Scorpions are making life really difficult for Gabon in Nairobi, as they level deep into injury time via Adama Sidibeh.

15:51 – Half time in Juba, South Sudan 0-1 Senegal. The Teranga Lions are narrowly in the ascendancy away to the Bright Stars

15:50 – Half time in Lome, Togo 0-1 DR Congo. The Leopards are keeping their hopes alive in Group B.

15:48 – Half time in Dar Es Salaam, Sudan 0-0 Mauritania. The only goalless game so far this afternoon.

15:47 – Half time in Saint Pierre, Seychelles 0-4 Ivory Coast. The Elephants are cruising… and could qualify in about an hour if Gambia do them a big favour in Nairobi.

15:47 – GOAL! Gambia 1-2 Gabon. The Panthers are back in front in Nairobi, with Pierre Emerick Aubameyang finding the net for the second time.

15:41 – GOAL! Seychelles 0-4 Ivory Coast. And now it’s four goals for the reigning African champions in Saint Pierre, as Evann Guessand nets in the 39th minute.

15:33 – GOAL! Seychelles 0-3 Ivory Coast. The Elephants look set to run up a big score in Saint Pierre, going three up inside the first 32 minutes as Oumar Diakite adds his name to the score sheet.

15:31 – GOAL! South Sudan 0-1 Senegal. The Teranga Lions break the deadlock in Juba, with Ismaila Sarr netting on the half-hour mark.

15:29 – GOAL! Gambia 1-1 Gabon. The Scorpions strike back in Nairobi, with Yankuba Minteh levelling the game at 1-1.

15:25 – GOAL! Gambia 0-1 Gabon. The Panthers strike a crucial goal away to the Gambia, going ahead in the 20th minute via Pierre Emerick Aubameyang.

15:19 – GOAL! Seychelles 0-2 Ivory Coast. The West African heavyweights are on course for victory, with Emmanuel Agbadou striking to put them two goals up.

15:09 – GOAL! Togo 0-1 DR Congo. The Leopards surge ahead in Lome via a seventh-minute strike from Cedric Bakambu.

15:08 – GOAL! Seychelles 0-1 Ivory Coast. The Elephants claim an early lead in Saint Pierre, with Ibrahim Sangare scoring from the spot.

15:00 – A block of five afternoon kick-offs focuses on the fortunes of heavyweights Senegal and Ivory Coast.

In Group F, the Ivory Coast hold a one-point lead over Gabon in the race for top spot. The Elephants are away the Seychelles in Saint Pierre (Mauritius), while the Panthers tackle Gambia in Nairobi (Kenya).

Ivory Coast could seal top spot and qualification with a combination of a win for them and a loss for Gabon.

In Group B, Senegal hold a two-point lead at the top of the log over nearest chasers DR Congo. The Teranga Lions are away to South Sudan in Juba, while the Leopards face a tricky clash away to Togo in Lome, and third-placed Sudan host Mauritania in Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania).

14:41 – Gambia v Gabon line-ups:

Gambia: B. Gaye, E. Adams, M. Bajo, M. Barrow, J. Ceesay, J. Gomez, A. Kinteh, Y. Minteh, A. Saine, S. Sanyang, A. Sidibeh

Gabon: L. Mbaba, P. Aubameyang, D. Bouanga, B. Ecuele Manga, J. Ekomie, G. Kanga, M. Lemina, N. Lemina, D. Ndong, M. Onfia, J. Oyono

14:38 – Togo v DR Congo line-ups:

Togo: S. Mensah, R. Aholou, A. Bode, K. Boma, K. Denkey, D. Djene, S. Fofana, T. Klidje, J. Romao, G. Yenoussi,

DR Congo: L. Mpasi-Nzau, C. Bakambu, R. Bushiri, A. Masuaku, F. Mayele, C. Mbemba, N. Mbuku, S. Moutoussamy, C. Pickel, A. Tuanzebe, A. Wan-Bissaka

14:36 – South Sudan v Senegal line-ups:

South Sudan: M. Mawith, P. Chol, A. Geriga, V. Kuach Yuel, B. Laku, K. Majak, J. Malish, T. Okello, R. Toha, I. Wani, C. Yak

Senegal: E. Mendy, K. Diatta, M. Diouf, I. Gueye, N. Jackson, K. Koulibaly, S. Mane, I. Ndiaye, M. Niakhate, I. Sarr, P. Sarr

14:34 – Seychelles v Ivory Coast line-ups:

Seychelles: A. Michel, D. Fanchette, L. Haoreau, J. Joubert, M. Juninho, B. Labrosse, C. Laurence, W. Mellie, D. Mothe, I. Raheriniania, E. Sofa

Ivory Coast: A. Lafont, E. Agbadou, W. Boly, O. Diakite, Y. Doimande, E. Guessand, C. Operi, I. Sangare, B. Toure, A. Zohouri, P. Zouzoua