2026WCQ: Senegal eyes top spot; Tunisia wants to keep the perfect score
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Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 09.06.24. | 10:44
An interesting day is ahead of us in the World Cup qualifiers. The spotlight will be on Senegal's clash against Mauritania as well as on the duel of the two top-spot teams in Group H - Tunisia and Namibia
Senegal started the qualifying campaign easily defeating South Sudan, but two unexpected draws against Togo and DR Congo in the next two games deprived them of Group B top spot and made room for Sudan to overtake the leading position. However, there's no better opportunity for getting back on the winning track than the clash against the last-placed team in the group, which hasn't even scored yet in this campaign - Mauritania.
With Sadio Mane and Nicolas Jackson out due to injuries, all eyes will be on Marseille's Ismaila Sarr, who is expected to fill their shoes and lead the Lions of Teranga towards victory. Even though Mauritania hasn't triumphed in their last four games, the Lions of Chinguetti have shown, especially at the African Cup of Nations, that they are more than capable of upsetting the favourites. Nevertheless, even without their best player, Senegal is a firm favourite today, and anything but their victory would be a huge surprise.
In the derby of the day, Namibia will host Tunisia in Johannesburg, South Africa. These two teams battled it out only five months ago at the AFCON when the Brave Warriors stunned the favoured Tunisia in the group stage first round. However, tables have turned since January, and Tunisia's manager Montassar Louhichi can be very satisfied with his team's form, especially after an important victory over Equatorial Guinea four days ago.
Tunisia currently leads Group H with a maximum number of points and is yet to concede a goal. On the other hand, Namibia is two points behind, so the Carthage Eagles eye the opportunity to open up a five-point gap and make a giant step towards securing their third straight participation at the World Cup.
WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS - AFRICA
Saturday
Cameroon-Cape Verde 4-1 (3-1)
/Ngadeu 13, Aboubakar 25, 44 pen, Nouhou 54 - Monteiro 37/
The Gambia-Seychelles 5-1 (1-1)
/Badamosi 10, 66, Barrow 52 pen, Minteh 55, Sidibeh 78 - Henriette 14/
Sunday
15.00: (7.00) Sao Tome (4.10) Liberia (1.50)
18.00: (5.30) Namibia (3.10) Tunisia (1.80)
18.00: (10.00) Djibouti (4.80) Ethiopia (1.35)
18.00: (1.53) DR Congo (3.70) Togo (7.75)
18.00: (7.00) Mauritania (3.50) Senegal (1.60)
***odds are subject to change***
