Niger stun Zambia away for the last train to WC playoffs

Avram Grant's Zambia is probably one of the most star-studded African national sides that won't qualify for the upcoming FIFA World Cup. Despite the likes of Patson Daka, Fashion Sakala, Kings Kangwa and a few other excellent players, the Chipolopolo have wasted their chances of reaching the global showpiece thanks to a string of awful results in Group E.

However, after three losses in a row, they managed to beat Tanzania away on Thursday before returning to the same old habits this Sunday - they lost again, at home to Niger, 1-0.

The visitors celebrated a surprising away win at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola. Daniel Sosah netted ten minutes into the second half for a victory that could prove crucial for the Mena. Niger are now second on the table of the second-placed teams, but only four of them would reach the intercontinental WC playoffs.

Niger have earned 15 points so far, but other teams are about to play their respective games tonight and in the upcoming days, which could affect the final outcome.

Gabon are pretty safe at the top with 16 points, with Cameroon (14), DR Congo (13), Madagascar (13), Burkina Faso (12), Uganda (12), and South Africa (11) still in contention. Namibia's chances of progressing to the next stage with just nine points to their account are almost non-existent.

WC QUALIFICATION AFRICA - MATCHDAY 10

Friday

South Sudan - Senegal 0-5 (0-1)

/Sarr 29, 54, Mane 46, Jackson 60 pen, Ndiaye C. 75/

Gambia - Gabon 3-4 (2-2)

/Minteh 23, Sidibeh 45+2, 47 - Aubameyang 20, 42, 62, 78/

Seychelles - Ivory Coast 0-7 (0-4)

/Sangare 7 pen, Agbadou 17, Diakite 32, Guessand 39, Diomande 55, Adingra 67, Kessie 90/

Sudan - Mauritania 0-0

Togo - DR Congo 0-1 (0-1)

/Bakambu 7/

Lesotho - Nigeria 1-2 (0-0)

/Kalake 83 - Troost-Ekong 55 pen, Adams 80/

Rwanda - Benin 0-1 (0-0)

/Tosin 80/

Sao Tome - Tunisia 0-6 (0-3)

/Chaouat 36, Saad 39, 43, Gharbi 47, Ben Romdhane 68 pen, 90/

Zimbabwe - South Africa 0-0

Sunday

Zambia - Niger 0-1 (0-0)

/Sosah 56/

19.00: (2.65) Chad (3.05) Central African Republic (2.90)

22.00: (1.22) Burkina Faso (5.80) Ethiopia (16.0)

22.00: (16.0) Djibouti (6.50) Sierra Leone (1.20)

22.00: (1.28) Egypt (5.40) Guinea B. (12.0)

22.00: (1.32) Ghana (4.80) Comoros (11.0)

22.00: (1.80) Mali (3.50) Madagascar (4.70)

Monday

16.00: (2.00) Equatorial Guinea (3.35) Liberia (4.00)

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

16.00: (5.80) South Sudan (3.50) Togo (1.67)

16.00: (1.47) Tunisia (4.00) Namibia (8.00)

19.00: (1.32) Cameroon (4.80) Angola (11.0)

19.00: (1.15) Cape Verde (7.50) Eswatini (20.0)

19.00: (4.00) Lesotho (3.35) Zimbabwe (2.00)

19.00: (7.25) Mauritius (4.00) Libya (1.50)

***odds are subject to change***