Sudan’s remarkable run in the 2026 FIFA World Cup African qualifiers continued on Saturday evening as they held tournament favourites Senegal to a hard-fought 0-0 draw in Benghazi, Libya.

The result keeps Sudan unbeaten and top of Group B with 11 points from five matches—two clear of Senegal and one ahead of DR Congo, who are second in the group. 

For the Lions of Teranga, the draw adds further pressure ahead of their clash with Togo on Tuesday.

Despite their superior experience and firepower, Senegal struggled to break down a disciplined and resilient Sudanese side that has become the group’s surprise package.

The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations champions nearly made a perfect start when a mistake from Sudan goalkeeper Mohamed Mustafa in the opening minute gifted an opportunity, only for him to recover in time.

The Lions dominated possession throughout, but Sudan looked the more dangerous on the counter.

The best chance of the first half arguably fell to Sudan, as a forward skipped past Edouard Mendy in the 20th minute but fired wide with the goal gaping.

At the other end, Senegal wasted a one-on-one opportunity and missed another close-range chance just before the break.

Sudan came out with renewed confidence in the second half. Just three minutes after the restart, Mendy was called into action again—parrying a long-range effort before smothering the rebound under pressure.

Sudan’s penalty appeals were waved away after their attacker went down in the box following the follow-up.

Senegal’s golden moment came in the 54th minute when Sadio Mané acrobatically connected with a loose ball in the box, only to send his overhead kick over the bar with the Sudanese keeper beaten.

Walieldin Khidir missed a glorious chance to win it for Sudan in the 76th minute, scuffing wide from inside the area. Mané again threatened at the other end four minutes later, but his shot was cleared off the line.

Despite late pressure, neither side could find a winner, and the spoils were shared in a pulsating encounter that showcased Sudan’s tactical discipline and Senegal’s growing frustration.

With this result, Sudan continues to dream of a first-ever World Cup appearance, while Senegal faces an uphill battle to reclaim the group’s top spot. The next round of fixtures on Tuesday could prove decisive.

-CAF

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Riyad Mahrez may have reached his 100th international cap this week during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, but the significance of the moment continues to echo across Algerian football.

The 33-year-old captain, who led Algeria to their second Africa Cup of Nations title in 2019, became just the seventh player in the nation’s history to reach the century milestone when he started against Botswana in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Thursday, 21 March, 2025.

It’s a moment that cements Mahrez’s legacy as one of Algeria’s most decorated and influential players, whose flair, leadership, and longevity have defined over a decade of international football.

From an unknown Ligue 2 winger at Le Havre to lifting trophies at Manchester City and wearing the armband for his country, Mahrez’s rise has been meteoric.

His milestone is more than just a personal achievement – it represents an era of transformation for Algerian football.

A humble beginning, a dazzling debut

Mahrez’s debut for Algeria came just weeks before the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, during a friendly against Armenia.

Then an unproven attacker freshly signed by Leicester City, his inclusion raised eyebrows. But it didn’t take long for him to silence the doubters.

With two assists and an electric performance in a 3-1 win, Mahrez forced his way into the squad for Brazil 2014, playing against Belgium in Algeria’s tournament opener.

Though it would be his only appearance in that World Cup, it laid the foundation for what would follow.

First goal, first glory

Later that same year, Mahrez scored his first international goal against Malawi in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. His combination of composure, dribbling and creative vision quickly made him a mainstay in the side.

But it was in 2019 that Mahrez truly etched his name into Algerian football history. Wearing the captain’s armband, he led a hungry Desert Warriors squad to the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON final in Cairo. 

His last-minute free-kick in the semi-final against Nigeria was one of the defining moments of the tournament – a moment of pure inspiration and technique.

Riyad Mahrez scored a fantastic free kick against Nigeria with the last shot of the game to take Algeria to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations final.

He became only the second Algerian captain to lift the continental crown after Rabah Madjer in 1990. For many, that moment alone secured his legacy.

A leader on and off the pitch

Mahrez’s influence has never been just about numbers. Over the years, he’s become a symbol of pride for Algerians at home and in the diaspora.

His calm leadership, ability to inspire, and unwavering belief in the team have helped steady Algeria through transitions and expectations.

With 100 caps now to his name, Mahrez joins an elite group of African internationals who have shown durability and excellence at the highest level.

Still aiming for more

The 2026 World Cup qualifiers provide one final frontier for the veteran winger.

Algeria have not qualified for a World Cup since 2014, and Mahrez – now playing his club football in Saudi Arabia – remains determined to help them return to the global stage.

If successful, it would complete a remarkable full circle: from a raw debutant in Brazil to a battle-hardened leader at 35, leading his nation into another World Cup.

The journey of Riyad Mahrez is far from over – but 100 caps is a fitting marker for one of Africa’s modern greats.

-CAF

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Sitting quietly at one corner of the departure hall of the Kigali International Airport on Saturday morning, Super Eagles’ captain William Ekong had a relaxed mien about him and minced no words in saying that Friday’s victory over Rwanda’s Amavubi was just the statement the Eagles needed to put out as the World Cup race reached halfway mark.

“It was important to make the statement that we did, and we’re all happy about it, and the way we did it.

Of course, we have not qualified and there’s still a lot of work, but we have started the recovery in a good way and we just have to keep working hard.

“I don’t want to go into the circumstances that made the first four matches go the way they went. The good thing is we can still recover and revive the campaign, and we have done that.”

Ekong’s firm leadership, and Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Simon Moses’ zest at the fore, were all too evident and impactful as the Eagles coasted to a 2-0 win over hosts Rwanda at the Amahoro Stadium, throwing up nostalgia of the strong squad that wowed all and came within 23 minutes of lifting the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire early last year.

As the chartered ValueJet Airline’s CRJ-900 aircraft touched down at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo at 2 pm on Saturday, Ekong told thenff.com that he would be rallying the troops ahead of Tuesday’s Day 6 encounter against the Warriors of Zimbabwe.

“We read somewhere that the Zimbabweans are being motivated to come to Uyo and get a result.

“They should forget it. We are hugely motivated by the ambition to play at the FIFA World Cup. Apart from myself, Alex (Iwobi) and perhaps a couple of others, who were part of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, this generation is hungry to play at the highest level.

“We want to make Nigeria proud and at the same time, do ourselves proud.”

Victor Osimhen, whose brace unscrambled the calculations of the Amavubi and made them disappoint the capacity crowd that included President Paul Kagame, said at the Victor Attah Airport: “We are ready. The remaining matches are wars and we must fight them with all that we have to win.”

Victory on Tuesday evening will take Nigeria to nine points, and in firm contention for the ticket, especially if Benin Republic and South Africa cancel themselves out inside Abidjan’s Stade Félix Houphouet-Boigny.

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