Tunisia became Africa’s second team to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a late 1-0 victory away to Equatorial Guinea on Monday.

Mohamed Ben Romdhane scored a 94th minute winner as Tunisia booked their place at the 2026 World Cup with a 1-0 victory over hosts Equatorial Guinea in Malabo on Monday, taking an unassailable lead in their qualifying Group H.

The victory moves Tunisia to 22 points from their eight qualifiers, 10 points ahead of second-placed Namibia, who have three games left to play.

Tunisia, who are coached by Sami Trabelsi, will make their seventh appearance at the World Cup, which is to be staged in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11-July 19, and their third in a row.

It looked as though they would have to wait to seal their spot, but Ben Romdhane was presented with a simple tap-in deep into injury-time after a defensive error from the home side allowed Firas Chaouat to tee him up.

Tunisia are the second African side to seal their place at the global finals after Morocco booked their spot on Saturday.

The Moroccans were 2-0 winners in Zambia on Monday as Youssef En Nesyri and Hamza Igamane scored the goals that keeps up their momentum.

Mozambique kept their qualification hopes alive with a 2-0 win over Botswana in Group G. They are three points behind leaders Algeria, but have played a game more.

Witi and Faisal Banga scored in either half to give them the victory in Maputo.

Nine teams from Africa will qualify automatically for the World Cup, with a 10th place available through an inter-continental play-off.

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Nigeria’s Super Eagles arrived in Bloemfontein on Sunday evening to a rousing reception from the Nigerian community in South Africa, as anticipation builds for their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying clash with Bafana Bafana.

The delegation, led by Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President,  Ibrahim Musa Gusau, touched down at Bloemfontein Airport at 6:25 pm local time aboard a chartered ValueJet aircraft.

The flight, which lasted three and a half hours from Luanda, Angola, had earlier taken off from Uyo and made a two-and-a-half-hour stop in Luanda to refuel.

Welcoming the Super Eagles was Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Tope Ajayi, alongside the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development, Adeyinka Adeboye.

They were joined by senior officials of the National Sports Commission, including Salihu Abubakar,  Musa Amadu, Dr (Mrs) Kehinde Ajayi, Ebidowei Owiefie, and Seyi Johnson.

The Nigerian community in South Africa, mobilised by their president, Smart Nwobi, turned out in large numbers clad in traditional attire. They sang, drummed, and danced to create a carnival-like atmosphere that lifted the spirits of the team.

Also on the delegation were Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Sports, Kabiru Amadu, NFF General Secretary Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, former Super Eagles captain Nwankwo Kanu and Victor Ikpeba, as well as other stakeholders, management staff, and media representatives.

Twenty-two players made the trip, along with technical and administrative staff. The only absentee was striker Victor Osimhen, who picked up an injury during Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Rwanda in Uyo.

The Eagles are scheduled to hold their official training session at Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein, on Monday at 6 pm local time (5 pm Nigeria time), where coach Eric Chelle will put finishing touches to his tactical plans for Tuesday’s highly anticipated clash.

Nigeria currently sit in a tense Group C battle, with the outcome of Tuesday’s game likely to shape the course of the World Cup qualification campaign for both sides.

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With Victor Osimhen ruled out of the trip to South Africa, the Super Eagles will have to reshuffle their attack for Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier in Bloemfontein.

Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface is expected to lead the line. His combination of power, pace, and finishing ability makes him the natural replacement for Osimhen.

OGC Nice forward Terem Moffi provides another strong option, capable of holding up play and unsettling defenders with his physical presence.

Coach Eric Chelle could also opt for a more fluid front three, pushing Ademola Lookman into a central attacking role to add creativity and mobility.

Though Osimhen’s absence is a major blow, Chelle still has a variety of attacking weapons at his disposal as Nigeria seeks crucial points in Group C

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