World Cup
Sudan hold Senegal in goalless thriller to stay top of Group B
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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The road to the FIFA World Cup 2026 is gradually taking shape, with African nations contesting the nine guaranteed places for Africa at the global showpiece, with a possible tenth on the line.
With the stakes at an all-time high, the qualifiers have been nothing short of goals with some matches providing high-scoring outcomes, while others being highly tactical and closely contested.
CAFOnline takes a look at the top five scorers of the qualifiers following the conclusion of Match Day 5 on Saturday, 22 March.
Mohamed Salah (Egypt) – 6
The red-hot Mohamed Salah is replicating his club form in the national team with six goals of the 13 scored by the Pharaohs coming from the forward.
Egypt led Group A with 13 points from four wins and a draw, with Salah leading the overall scoring charts of the qualifiers after Match Day 5.
The Liverpool forward scored four times in their opening round of the qualifiers where they secured a commanding 6-0 win over Djibouti. He then contributed with a much-needed equaliser against Guinea-Bissau on Match Day 4, before scoring against Ethiopia in a 2-0 win on Friday to register six goals in five matches for Egypt.
Mahmoud Trézéguet (Egypt) – 5
Second on the goalscoring charts is Mahmoud Trézéguet, who is just one goal shy of matching teammate Mohamed Salah’s six goals.
Trézéguet has five goals, including a brace in a 2-0 win over Sierra Leonne on Match Day 2, a solitary goal in their 6-0 win over Djibouti, and another brace against Burkina Faso on Match Day 5.
Denis Bouanga (Gabon) – 5
Denis Bouanga also sits on five impressive goals for Gabon. The MLS star found his first of the qualifiers in a 2-1 win over Kenya on Match Day 1.
The forward continued with his goal-scoring form on Match Day 2 with a contribution to another 2-1 win which came at the expense of Burundi.
Bouanga returned on Match Day 4 with another goal contribution to a 3-2 win over The Gambia, before getting his fourth and fifth through a brace in a 3-0 win over Seychelles on Match Day 5.
Jordan Ayew (Ghana) – 5
Captain of the Black Stars, Jordan Ayew is leading his nation from the front as the country’s top goalscorer of the qualifiers.
The skipper’s hat-trick in the Black Stars’ 4-3 win over Central Africa Republic, which was preceded by a last-minute strike in a dramatic 2-1 win over Mali has put Ghana in promising position of the qualifiers.
The skipper made it five with a penalty conversion in a 5-0 drubbing of Chad in Match Day 5 of the qualifiers, as the Black Stars continues the chase to a World Cup spot.
Kamory Doumbia (Mali) – 5
Mali’s attacking midfielder, Kamory Doumbia has not only contributed to the Eagles’ build up play but has found the back of the net five times for his nation’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers campaign.
Doumbia first netted in a 3-1 win over Chad on Match Day 1 of the qualifiers to open his account.
The second came for Doumbia in an evenly contested 1-1 draw on Match Day 2 against Central African Republic before getting the third in a 2-1 loss against Ghana on Match Day 3.
Doumbia’s fourth and fifth came on Match Day 5 with a stunning brace that contributed to Mali’s 3-0 win over Comoros.
Other notable scorers of the qualifiers include
Musa Barrow (Gambia) 4
Rayan, Raveloson (Madagascar) 4
Steve Mounie (Benin) 3
Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso) 3
Lassina Traore (Burkina Faso) 3.
-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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The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup—jointly hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico—continues across Africa as national teams gear up for Matchday 6 of the qualifiers.
As the race intensifies, several continental giants will aim to consolidate their leads in the standings, while others hope to revive their qualification hopes in a fiercely competitive campaign spread over nine groups.
Below is the full list of Matchday 6 fixtures, along with kick-off times in GMT and group allocations:
Sunday, 23 March 2025
Group D
13:00: Eswatini vs Mauritius
Group F
13:00: Kenya vs Gabon
Group H
13:00: Namibia vs Equatorial Guinea
Monday, 24 March 2025
Group I
16:00: Central African Republic vs Mali
Group A
16:00: Guinea-Bissau vs Burkina Faso
Group H
16:00: Liberia vs Sao Tome and Principe
Group F
19:00: Ivory Coast vs Gambia
Group I
19:00: Madagascar vs Ghana
Group A
21:00: Ethiopia vs Djibouti
Group H
21:00: Tunisia vs Malawi
Tuesday, 25 March 2025
Group H
13:00: Botswana vs Somalia
Group D
16:00: Angola vs Cape Verde
Group C
16:00: Benin vs South Africa
Group C
16:00: Nigeria vs Zimbabwe
Group C
16:00: Rwanda vs Lesotho
Group G
16:00: Uganda vs Guinea
Group F
19:00: Burundi vs Seychelles
Group D
19:00: Cameroon vs Libya
Group A
19:00: Egypt vs Sierra Leone
Group K
19:00: Sudan vs South Sudan
Group G
21:00: Algeria vs Mozambique
Group I
21:00: Comoros vs Chad
Group C
21:00: Mauritania vs DR Congo
Group L
21:00: Senegal vs Togo
Group E
21:30: Morocco vs Tanzania
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