In a dramatic series of World Cup qualifiers on Monday, several African teams staged remarkable comebacks, with Benin’s 2-1 victory over Nigeria standing out as a highlight. Liverpool star Mohamed Salah also made headlines by scoring to secure a 1-1 draw for Egypt against Guinea-Bissau.
Benin vs. Nigeria
Benin pulled off a stunning upset against Nigeria, coming from behind to win 2-1. This victory was particularly significant for Benin’s coach, Gernot Rohr, who was previously sacked by Nigeria in 2021 after a five-year tenure. Despite falling behind to a Raphael Onyedika goal for Nigeria, Benin responded with goals from Jodel Dossou and captain Steve Mounie. The win propelled Benin to the top of Group C with seven points, while Nigeria languished in fifth place with just three points.
Egypt vs. Guinea-Bissau
Mohamed Salah rescued Egypt with a second-half equalizer in their 1-1 draw against Guinea-Bissau. Guinea-Bissau had taken the lead through Mama Balde just before halftime, but Salah’s goal ensured Egypt maintained their four-point lead at the top of Group A. This result was crucial as Egypt aims to secure their place in the World Cup.
Ghana vs. Central African Republic
Ghana also showcased resilience by overturning a halftime deficit to win 4-3 against the Central African Republic. Crystal Palace forward Jordan Ayew was the star of the match, netting a hat-trick. Louis Mafouta, playing in France’s second tier, also scored a hat-trick for the Central African Republic, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win.
Algeria vs. Uganda
Algeria bounced back from a previous home loss to defeat Uganda 2-1 in Kampala. Despite an early goal from Uganda’s Travis Mutyaba, Algeria equalized through Houssem Aouar and secured the win with a goal from Said Benrahma. This victory solidified Algeria’s position at the top of Group G with nine points.
Other Matches
– Lesotho: Lesotho, playing their home matches in South Africa, are set to host Rwanda on Tuesday.
– South Africa: South Africa will play Zimbabwe in Bloemfontein, also on Tuesday.
– Mozambique: Mozambique upset Guinea with a last-minute penalty converted by Geny Catamo, securing a 1-0 win.
