Winning start for Tanzania in 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers

Tanzania started their FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers on a high note claiming a crucial 1-0 victory over Niger in a match played at Grand Marrakech Annex on Saturday evening.

Charles M'Mombwa emerged the hero for Taifa Stars, scoring the lone goal in the 56th minute after a well-placed pass from Mbwana Samatta.

The win was the Adel Amuroche-coached side's second this year over the West Africans after they battered them in June to book a place in next year’s AFCON Cup tournament in Ivory Coast.

The result provides serious motivation for the Tanzanians as they seek to grace the World Cup for the first time in the country’s existence.

On this evidence, the Taifa Stars appear serious contenders to secure a place at the expanded 2026 World Cup in North America from Group E.

Following the win, the East African country is second in Group E behind Zambia who thrashed Congo Republic 4-2 on Friday night.

Tusker's forward Ibrahim Joshua was however unused substitute as the Taifa Stars dominance over Niger continued.

Elsewhere, at Moses Mabhida Stadium in South Africa, the host started their World Cup return journey with a labored 2-1 win over Benin in a qualifier match played on Saturday evening

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Al Ahly striker Percy Tau strike in the second minute and Khuliso Mudau's goal in the dying minutes of the first stanza were enough to nick three points for the Bafana Bafana.

Stade Brestois striker Steve Mounié got the consolation goal for Benin in the 70th minute.

The win took the 2010 FIFA World Cup hosts top of Group C which also includes Lesotho, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe.

Speaking after the encounter, Bafana Bafana boss Hugo Broos sighed with relief having won the match, admitting that the West Africans caused trouble for his troops.

"I’m happy, it was not an easy game (South Africa 2-1 Benin). But I said already don’t underestimate the opponent (Benin), they play a simple game – kick in front and then fight for the ball. We (South Africa) had some problems in the second half and with the goal they scored there was a little panic in the group but okay, the most important thing for qualifiers is to win the games and we did." Offered South Africa boss.

There are nine groups in the African preliminaries where the winner qualifies for the 2026 finals.

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The four best runners-up get a further chance to qualify in a two-tier playoff system.