By KUNLE SOLAJA.

Hypertensive football fans are advised to be on sedative on Tuesday as the Group C World Cup qualifiers reaches a crescendo. It is not a moment for the faint-hearted.

It is a battle on two fields  and all three combatants having just one dream.

Mathematics, momentum and madness, perhaps best describe the three-way battle that defines Africa’s toughest World Cup qualifying group.

The battle for the Group C ticket has been thrown wide open, with Benin Republic, South Africa, and Nigeria all heading into Tuesday’s final round of matches still in contention.

Friday’s dramatic results ensured that the group—already touted as one of Africa’s toughest—will go right down to the wire.

Benin Republic now lead the standings with a slender two-point cushion following a remarkable late surge in form, capped by a crucial 1–0 away win over Rwanda in Kigali.

That victory not only put the Cheetahs in control of the group but also pushed Rwanda out of mathematical contention for a World Cup place.

In Durban, however, South Africa faltered when it mattered most. Bafana Bafana were held to a goalless draw by a spirited Zimbabwe side in a match that could have sealed their qualification.

The stalemate left South Africa in second place, two points behind Benin, and needing both a win in their final fixture and a favourable result elsewhere to reach the World Cup for the first time since hosting it in 2010.

Nigeria, meanwhile, reignited their fading hopes with a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Lesotho in Polokwane.

The Super Eagles, who have endured a turbulent qualifying campaign, now sit third in the group and face the most complex route to qualification.

Mathematics of the Final Day

The permutations are delicately poised heading into Tuesday’s decisive fixtures:

• Benin Republic (18 points) have the clearest path—they need only to beat Nigeria to secure a historic first-ever World Cup appearance. A win guarantees them an unassailable 20 points, regardless of results elsewhere.

• South Africa (15 points) must defeat Rwanda in Johannesburg and hope Nigeria beat Benin. A draw in the Benin–Nigeria clash would end their hopes.

• Nigeria (15 points) must not only beat Benin in Uyo, but do so by at least a two-goal margin to overcome the Cheetahs’ superior points and goal-difference advantage. They will also need Rwanda to hold or defeat South Africa to stand any realistic chance of finishing top.

A Group of Fine Margins

Group C has proven to be a cauldron of unpredictability. Every point has come at a premium, with unexpected upsets and narrow scorelines defining the campaign.

Benin, once underdogs, have emerged as the surprise package, while traditional powerhouse Nigeria have struggled for consistency and cutting edge.

South Africa, too, have mixed moments of brilliance with bouts of frustration—symbolised by their failure to break down Zimbabwe at home.

The Stakes and the Sentiment

For Benin, Tuesday could be the most important football day in the nation’s history. For South Africa, it is a chance to return to the world stage after 16 years in the wilderness.

And for Nigeria, a footballing giant now on the brink, it is a test of resilience, pride, and calculation.

As the nine African qualifying groups reach their climax, none promises more drama than Group C—a group where one slip, one goal, or even one missed chance could determine who marches to the world’s biggest football stage and who watches from home.

Current Table Ahead Tuesday’s Showdown

Position	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Benin	9	5	2	2	12	7	+5	17
2	South Africa	9	4	3	2	12	9	+3	15
3	Nigeria	9	3	5	1	11	8	+3	14
4	Rwanda	9	3	2	4	5	6	-1	11
5	Lesotho	9	2	3	4	8	12	-4	9
6	Zimbabwe	8	0	5	4	5	11	-6	5

FINAL DAY FIXTURES

 (Monday, October 13)

• Lesotho v Zimbabwe

 (Tuesday, October 15)

• South Africa vs Rwanda
• Nigeria vs Benin

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An avalanche of goals for the Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal on Friday put both teams on the brink of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, which they can secure with home success in their last group matches next week.

African champions Cote d’Ivoire beat the Seychelles 7-0 away to stay one point ahead of Gabon in the Group F standings and they will qualify if they win their final game at home to Kenya on Tuesday.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored all four goals for Gabon, before being sent off, as they came from behind to beat the Gambia 4-3 in a thrill-a-minute affair in Nairobi that kept alive their hopes.

Senegal maintained their two-point advantage in Group B over the Democratic Republic of Congo as they beat South Sudan 5-0, while the Congolese recorded a 1-0 triumph in Togo. Senegal will qualify for a third successive World Cup if they beat neighbours Mauritania at home on Tuesday.

In Friday’s later matches, Aiyegun Tosin scored late to put Benin two points clear in Group C with a 1-0 victory in Rwanda.

Benin have 17 points while South Africa, who drew 0-0 with neighbours Zimbabwe, sit on 15.

Nigeria moved back into contention with 14 points following a 2-1 away victory over Lesotho with a penalty from captain William Troost-Ekong and a late effort from substitute Akor Adams.

The group will be decided on Tuesday when Benin go away to Nigeria and South Africa host Rwanda.

Ismaila Sarr gave Senegal a 29th-minute lead as Iliman Ndiaye delivered a cross to the back post from the right flank and the Everton winger was also the provider for Sadio Mane to score early in the second half.

Sarr then scored his second goal while Nicolas Jackson and Pape Cherif Ndiaye also found the net.

Cedric Bakambu broke away after an interception in the seventh minute to win the game for DR Congo in Lome, moving them to 19 points, two behind Senegal.

IVORIAN OPENED SCORING WITH GIFT PENALTY

The Ivorians were always expected to run riot against the Seychelles, who are 203rd out of 210 countries in the FIFA rankings, but were handed a gift of a penalty after six minutes, which Ibrahim Sangare converted to get things going.

After that followed goals for Emmanuel Agbadou, Oumar Diakite and Evann Guessand before halftime, and Yan Diomande, Simon Adingra and Franck Kessie after the break.

The 36-year-old Aubameyang kept alive Gabon’s hopes in a remarkable individual performance with two goals in each half before a needless red card late in the game.

He was booked for breaking the corner flag as he kicked it in celebration and then collected a second caution for a petulant shove on an opponent that means he is suspended for their last game at home to Burundi on Tuesday.

Already qualified Tunisia had a 6-0 win over minnows Sao Tome e Principe in Group H with two goals each for Mohamed Ali Ben Romndhane and Elias Saad.

The final round of African group qualifiers start on Sunday and conclude on Tuesday

-Reuters

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles have suffered a major setback ahead of their decisive 2026 World Cup qualifier against Group C leaders Benin Republic on Tuesday in Uyo, as star forward Ademola Lookman will miss the encounter due to suspension.

Lookman, one of Nigeria’s standout performers in the qualifiers so far, picked up a second yellow card of the campaign during Friday’s 2–1 win over Lesotho in Polokwane, South Africa. The booking automatically rules him out of the must-win tie against Benin.

The incident occurred in the 64th minute when Lookman, after being harshly tackled in midfield by a Lesotho defender, reacted by body-checking his opponent. Chadian referee Alhadi Allaou Mahamat deemed the action as retaliation and promptly issued a yellow card.

It was Lookman’s second caution of the qualifying series, the first coming in the 18th minute of last month’s away match against South Africa. The cumulative bookings have now triggered an automatic one-match suspension.

Lookman’s absence is a huge blow for Nigeria, who must defeat Benin to keep their World Cup qualification hopes alive.

The Atalanta forward has been instrumental in recent matches, contributing pace, creativity, and attacking spark to the Super Eagles’ frontline.

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