Tunisia secure ticket for 2026 World Cup, Morocco cruise past Zambia

Mohamed Ben Romdhane scored a 94th minute winner as Tunisia booked their place at the 2026 World Cup with a 1-0 victory over hosts Equatorial Guinea in Malabo on Monday, taking an unassailable lead in their qualifying Group H.

The victory moves Tunisia to 22 points from their eight qualifiers, 10 points ahead of second-placed Namibia, who have three games left to play.

Tunisia, who are coached by Sami Trabelsi, will make their seventh appearance at the World Cup, which is to be staged in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11-July 19, and their third in a row.

It looked as though they would have to wait to seal their spot, but Ben Romdhane was presented with a simple tap-in deep into injury-time after a defensive error from the home side allowed Firas Chaouat to tee him up.

The Carthage Eagles will be compete in the World Cup for a seventh time in their history and a third in succession. At Qatar 2022, they secured a momentous victory over reigning champions and soon-to-be-finalists France on the final day of Group D action.

However, it was at the 1978 World Cup that the Tunisians made history by becoming the first African country to win a match in the competition. And what a victory it was.

Tunisia are the second African side to seal their place at the global finals after Morocco booked their spot on Saturday.

The Moroccans were 2-0 winners in Zambia on Monday as Youssef En Nesyri and Hamza Igamane scored the goals that keeps up their momentum.

Zambia fought hard to get back into the game and Patson Daka’s header forced a superb save from Yassine Bounou. The home team were dealt a hammer blow shortly after half-time, however, when Igamane made it 2-0 with a stunning long-range effort.

Zambia continued to battle tirelessly but could not find a way past Bounou, as Morocco kept up their 100-per-cent record.

Mozambique kept their qualification hopes alive with a 2-0 win over Botswana in Group G. They are three points behind leaders Algeria, but have played a game more.

Witi and Faisal Banga scored in either half to give them the victory in Maputo.

Nine teams from Africa will qualify automatically for the World Cup, with a 10th place available through an inter-continental play-off.

Meanwhile, Comoros beat the Central African Republic 2-0 on Sunday to boost their hopes of a maiden World Cup appearance next year.

The victory lifted the multi-island nation of less than 900,000 inhabitants off the south east coast of Africa two places to second in Group I, one point behind leaders Ghana.

The result not only lifted the island nation’s spirits but also strengthened their chances of reaching the finals for the very first time, fueling hopes of a historic maiden World Cup appearance next year.

The nine group winners in Africa qualify for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and the best four runners-up get a second chance in play-offs.

Comoros are currently the fourth best second-placed team with 15 points, behind Cameroon and Senegal only on goal difference.

Captain Youssouf M’Changama and Myziane Maolida, both born in France to Comoran parents, scored after 20 and 39 minutes to give the islanders a fifth victory in eight qualifiers.

The match was played in the Moroccan city of Meknes because the Central African Republic does not have a FIFA-approved stadium.

Agencies