Dying-minutes heroic goal takes Tunisia to World Cup! Morocco win again

Tunisia have used the first match point and will play in their third consecutive FIFA World Cup, becoming the second African country to secure their spot in the USA, Canada, and Mexico!

The Eagles of Carthage were better throughout the match against Equatorial Guinea, but the home crew's defence coped easily with the uninspired Tunisians.

And when everyone had already came to terms with a goalless draw, in the 95th minute, Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane appeared and became a national hero, scoring a winner that took his team to the World Cup!

On the other hand, even though they had become the first African country to qualify for the World Cup, Morocco continued their winning spree, beating Zambia on the road 2-0 behind Youssef En-Nesyri and Hamza Igamane's goals.

With an eventual triumph over Equatorial Guinea in Malabo, Tunisia would secure their spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and become the second African national team to book its ticket for the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

And as if the pressure seriously affected Sami Trabelsi's crew, they "threw the first half out the window," as Tunisia had only one attempt in the entire first half. On the other hand, the defence-oriented home team had none!

The visitors had a possession advantage and were pushing forward, but the National Thunder's "fortress" and defending with 11 players behind the ball left them no room for threatening.

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After the break, the same situation continued, so Trabelsi reacted in the 59th minute, subbing in Naim Sliti for Burnley's Hannibal Mejbri and Ismael Gharbi for his teammate from German Augsburg, Elias Saad.

The newcomers from the bench did bring an energy boost to the Eagles of Carthage, but it didn't affect the result on the scoreboard. Furthermore, in the first quarter of an hour of the second half, Tunisia had only one shot on the home team's goal, and even that one went off target.

And when everyone expected the referee's final whistle, Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane was faster, scoring a 95th-minute winner that took Tunisia to the World Cup! The Eagles of Carthage initiated a hasty counter, one of Equatorial Guinea's defenders made a massive mistake, and his team was punished!

This way, Tunisia became the second national team from Africa to reach the 2026 FIFA WC, while their today's rivals, Namibia, Malawi, and Liberia will fight for the second spot.

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On the other hand, Morocco - which had recently become the first African country to qualify for the World Cup - brushed aside Zambia 2-0 behind Youssef En-Nesyri's seventh-minute opener and Hamza Igamane's 47th-minute goal.

This way, the Atlas Lions kept the perfect score in the qualifiers (seven wins in as many games) and significantly reduced Zambia's chances to win the second place in Group E.

2026 FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS - AFRICA

Friday

Somalia - Guinea 0-3 (0-1)

/Guirassy 22, Othman 64 og, Camara O. 90+6/

South Sudan - DR Congo 1-4 (0-3)

/Majak 68 - Bakambu 13, 36, Mbuku 45+1, Wissa 57/

Kenya - Gambia 1-3 (0-3)

/Ogam 81 - Sinyan 12, Minteh 27, Barrow 38/

Namibia - Malawi 1-2 (0-1)

/Ndeunyema 86 - Mbulu 5, Mhango 53/

Benin - Zimbabwe 1-0 (0-0)

/Mounie 77/

Djibouti - Burkina Faso 0-6 (0-4)

/Irie 16, Tiendrebeogo 25, Tapsoba 36, 43, Quattara 59, 86 pen/

Lesotho - South Africa 0-3 (0-2)

/Nkota 15, Foster 63, Appollis 67/

Congo - Tanzania 1-1 (0-0)

/Moussavou 68 - Mwalimu 84/

Uganda - Mozambique 4-0 (0-0)

/Okello 48, Mato 70, 84, Capradossi 90/

Egypt - Ethiopia 2-0 (2-0)

/Salah 41 pen, Marmoush 45+2 pen/

Ivory Coast - Burundi 1-0 (1-0)

/Bayo 3/

Mauritania - Togo 2-0 (1-0)

/Yade 13, Abeid 68/

Morocco - Niger 5-0 (2-0)

/Saibari 29,38, El Kaabi 51, Igamane 69, Ounahi 85/

Senegal - Sudan 2-0 (2-0)

/Koulibaly 14, Sarr 41/

Saturday

Nigeria - Rwanda 1-0 (0-0)

/Arokodare 51/

Monday

Equatorial Guinea - Tunisia 0-1 (0-0)

/Ben Romdhane 90+5/

Mozambique - Botswana 2-0 (1-0)

/Witi 6, Bangal 71/

Zambia - Morocco 0-2 (0-1)

/En Nesyri 7, Igamane 47/

19.00: (4.80) Guinea (3.10) Algeria (1.90)

19.00: (1.07) Guinea B. (12.0) Djibouti (28.0)

19.00: (1.30) Madagascar (4.50) Chad (11.0)

19.00: (2.15) Malawi (3.00) Liberia (3.85)

19.00: (1.13) Uganda (8.50) Somalia (19.0)

22.00: (2.10) Ghana (3.20) Mali (3.80)

22.00: (1.35) Libya (4.10) Eswatini (10.0)

Tuesday

16.00: (1.03) Kenya (15.0) Seychelles (75.0)

16.00: (1.17) Namibia (7.25) Sao Tome (17.0)

16.00: (2.05) Sierra Leone (3.30) Ethiopia (3.80)

16.00: (1.82) Tanzania (3.45) Niger (4.70)

16.00: (2.75) Zimbabwe (2.95) Rwanda (2.85)

19.00: (3.20) Burkina Faso (3.20) Egypt (2.35)

19.00: (2.95) Cape Verde (3.05) Cameroon (2.60)

19.00: (3.60) DR Congo (3.15) Senegal (2.20)

19.00: (2.55) South Africa (3.05) Nigeria (3.00)

19.00: (2.25) Togo (3.15) Sudan (3.45)

22.00: (1.20) Angola (6.50) Mauritius (16.0)

22.00: (1.60) Benin (3.60) Lesotho (6.75)

22.00: (3.80) Gabon (3.30) Ivory Coast (2.05)

22.00: (1.67) Gambia (3.60) Burundi (5.70)

22.00: (1.35) Mauritania (4.60) South Sudan (10.5)

***odds are subject to change***