Heavyweights Senegal and Tunisia will headline Sunday’s 2026 Fifa World Cup Qualifying action, which will see five fixtures played across the continent to kick-off Matchday 4 of the group stage.
Senegal, who are placed second in Group A, will back themselves to win away to Mauritania in Nouakchott and leapfrog leaders Sudan, who are only in action on Tuesday.
Teranga Lions star Sadio Mane – who missed last week’s 1-1 draw with DR Congo and is also out for the trip to Mauritania – has urged coach Aliou Cisse to get his tactics right.
“To be formidable, we must review our system,” said the former Liverpool forward. “I think we need to see him again because we tried to play several combinations and it didn’t work.”
Elsewhere in Group A, DR Congo and Togo will both be looking to boost their chances when they meet at Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa.
Tunisia will have the chance to take firm control of Group H when they face Namibia in Johannesburg. The Carthage Eagles boast a 100 per cent record thus far and enjoy a two-point lead over the Brave Warriors, who are placed second on the standings after a strong start to their qualification campaign.
Namibia stuttered somewhat this past midweek with a 1-1 draw at home to Liberia, but coach Collin Benjamin is urging patience, as his young team continues to learn on the international stage.
“I think we started off very well. I mean, if we can go into into the lead in the eighth minute, we normally have it under control. We should have it under control. But you could see that the inexperience actually cost us,” Benjamin explained.
“We’re going to give them [players] the time. And the nation just has to be a bit patient with them. They’re going to come to the level where their seniors are now.”
On the challenge of facing Tunisia, Benjamin added: “We’re going to have to prepare properly. We’re going to have to see that the regeneration process now goes as fast as possible, so that we can actually come out with more energy, with more conviction, with more willpower to try and beat the challenge that’s waiting for us on Sunday.”
Group H will also feature a clash between Sao Tome & Principe in Oujda, while Ethiopia will look to climb the Group A log when they tackle Djibouti in El Jadida. A win for the Walia Ibex would push them level with second-placed Guinea-Bissau, ahead of the clash between the Djuruts and log-leaders Egypt on Monday.
CAF World Cup Qualifying fixtures, Sunday 9 June
Times CAT
15:00: Sao Tome & Principe v Liberia
18:00: Djibouti v Ethiopia
18:00: DR Congo v Togo
18:00: Mauritania v Senegal
18:00: Namibia v Tunisia
