CAIRO — Mohamed Salah was on target to help Egypt maintain their 100 per cent record in 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers with a 2-0 home win over Mauritania.
This victory brings Salah’s team closer to qualification, as they only need one point from the remaining nine available.
With a perfect nine points from three matches, The Pharaohs lead Group C, six points ahead of Mauritania, Cape Verde, and Botswana, who are all tied on points.
Runaway leaders Egypt has nine points, leaving Cape Verde, Botswana and Mauritania – all with three – to fight for the second qualifying place for the 2025 finals in Morocco.
Record seven-time African champions Egypt faced stubborn resistance from Mauritania in Cairo until Mahmoud Hassan ‘Trezeguet’ netted 69 minutes into the Group C clash.
Prolific Liverpool scorer Salah put the outcome beyond doubt with a second goal 10 minutes later to maintain the perfect record of the Pharaohs after three rounds.
Salah’s superb form this season has filled Egypt with confidence as they struggled without the injured star at the Afcon in January. However, the Pharaohs have also pinned their hopes on forward Omar Marmoush, who has enjoyed a blistering start to the season in the Bundesliga Eintracht Frankfurt.
Meanwhile, Comoros shocked Tunisia 1-0 to end a run of 16 consecutive home victories by the Carthage Eagles in AFCON qualifying.
French second-tier league forward Rafiki Said scored midway through the second half in Rades to lift Comoros to second in Group A, one point behind former champions Tunisia.
The tiny island nation of Comoros have a habit of causing upsets, most notably when beating Ghana to reach the second round at the 2022 Afcon.
But the lack of a international-standard stadium in Moroni, means the Comorans must host Tunisia on Tuesday in Abidjan, the Ivorian commercial capital.
It was Tunisia’s first home defeat in Afcon qualifiers since 2010 but they remain on top of Group A with six points from three games.
The top two teams in each pool advance to the 24-team finals in Morocco next year.
In other matches, Nigeria needed a late goal to seal a 1-0 home win over Libya as German-born midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru netted four minutes from the end to rescue the 2023 finalists.
It was an important win for Nigeria who top Group D and are five points ahead of third-placed Rwanda with three games remaining.
Ivory Coast eased past Sierra Leone 4-1 in San Pedro as Franck Kessie scored a brace, both netting and missing a penalty. Nicolas Pepe was also on target as they made it three wins from three.
Sadio Mane and Nicolas Jackson were both on the scoresheet for Senegal as they beat 10-man Malawi 4-0 in Diamniadio. Senegal and Burkina Faso are each on seven points at the top of the pool and favourites to qualify.
The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon roared to the top of Group J after a commanding 4-1 victory over Kenya saw them go two points above Zimbabwe who overcame Namibia.
Veteran goal poacher, Vincent Aboubakar opened the floodgates in the 8th minute with a converted penalty before Martin Hongla, Byan Mbeumo as well as Christian Bassogog completed the rout.
In Uyo, the Super Eagles left it till late to secure a full haul of points after being held by Libya throughout the match before Fisayo Dele-Bashiru eventually found the all-important winner to secure the victory for the 2013 African champions.
The result sees Nigeria lead Group D with a point ahead of Benin who demolished Rwanda 3-0 in a simultaneous match thanks to goals by Steve Mounie, Andreas Hountondji as well as Hassane Imourane.
The Ugandan Cranes continue in their fine form as they laboured to a 1-0 victory over South Sudan.
Gambia managed to secure a crucial away point when they shared the spoils after a 1-1 draw with Madagascar.
The result still puts them within a touching distance of run-away Group A leaders, Tunisia who lead the pack with four points ahead of their match against Comoros.
Botswana, meanwhile, secured a vital 1-0 away victory against Cape Verde in their Group C qualifier, thanks to an early goal by Tumisang Orebonye.
The forward found the net just two minutes into the match, capitalizing on a quick break and a precise through ball from Kabelo Seakanyeng to send a powerful shot into the top corner.
The win lifts Botswana to three points, tying them with Cape Verde, who have also accumulated three points from three games.
Cape Verde pushed hard for an equalizer, dominating possession and creating numerous chances, but Botswana’s resolute defense, led by Goitseone Phoko in goal, held firm.
Fabrício Garcia and Jovane Cabral came close to scoring late in the game, but Botswana managed to see out the win, leaving Cape Verde frustrated as their hopes of advancing now hang in the balance.
Equatorial Guinea edged past Liberia with a 1-0 win in their Group E qualifier, thanks to a first-half penalty from Iban Salvador.
The forward converted from the spot in the 34th minute after Sampson Dweh fouled Salvador inside the box.
This result moves Equatorial Guinea into second place in the group with four points from three matches, while Liberia remains rooted to the bottom with just one point from their three outings.
Algeria leads the group with a perfect nine points after three matches, and Togo is third with two points.
Despite Liberia pushing for an equalizer in the second half, they were unable to break down the Equatorial Guinean defense.
Several substitutions from both teams couldn’t alter the outcome, with Equatorial Guinea holding on for the vital three points.
Mozambique and Eswatini played out a 1-1 draw in their Group I qualifier, with both teams finding the net in the second half.
Mozambique took the lead in the 73rd minute through Stanley Ratifo, who slotted home from close range following a well-worked move.
Eswatini equalized just seven minutes later through Thubelihle Mavuso, whose left-footed effort found the top corner.
The result keeps Mozambique at the top of the group with five points from three matches, while Eswatini remain at the bottom with just one point.
Mali and Guinea Bissau, who each have games in hand, are closely trailing.
Both sides had chances to win the game late on, but neither could capitalize, leaving the group wide open as the teams prepare for their next fixtures.
Zambia and Chad played out a 0-0 draw in their Group G encounter at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
Despite dominating possession, Chipolopolo failed to find the back of the net against a resilient Chad side, who were content to soak up pressure and counterattack when possible.
With this result, Zambia remains second in the group with four points from three matches, behind Cote d’Ivoire who lead with six points and a game in hand.
Chad, with two points, is third, and Sierra Leone is at the bottom with one point.
Zambia came closest to scoring when Francisco Mwepu hit the post in the 84th minute, but Chad’s defence held firm to secure a valuable point away from home.
Zimbabwe, meanwhile, clinched a crucial 1-0 victory over Namibia at Orlando Stadium.
