Both Algeria and Tunisia took significant steps toward qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals after their wins over Botswana 3-1 and Liberia 3-0 respectively on Thursday, in the seventh round of African qualifiers.

The nine group winners qualify automatically for the finals to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, while the four best runners-up enter the African playoff, with one advancing to the global playoff.

Big Step for Algeria

Algeria made a major stride toward the World Cup finals, which they missed in the last two editions, after securing their sixth win at the Hussein Ait Ahmed Stadium in Tizi Ouzou, narrowly beating Botswana 2-1 in Group 7.

From the start, the Algerians sought an early lead, with Swiss coach Vladimir Petkovic relying on the attacking trio of Al-Ahli Saudi player Riyad Mahrez, Marseille French striker Amine Gouiri, and Wolfsburg German player Mohamed Lamine Amoura. The Botswana goalkeeper Goitseone Foko made a brilliant save from Amoura’s volley (23).

The Algerian pressure paid off when Rami Bensebaini sent a precise cross that Amoura headed into the net (33).

Defensively, Algeria struggled, especially against quick counterattacks, and the visitors capitalized on a major defensive error to equalize through Tebago Kopilang, who followed a free-kick cross by Motlatsi Johnson into the net (43).

The Algerian post denied Gilbert Baruti’s shot, preventing another goal (45+7).

In the second half, Algeria pushed hard to avoid embarrassment, pressuring the retreating Botswana defense. Petkovic made a key substitution, bringing in veterans Youcef Belaïli and Baghdad Bounedjah to boost the attack, which resulted in Bounedjah restoring the lead by easily finishing Amoura’s cross (71).

Bounedjah confirmed Algeria’s superiority by adding a third goal with a strong side volley after a coordinated attack (90+7).

Eintracht Frankfurt’s Farès Chaïbi nearly added a fourth, but the crossbar denied his shot (90+8).

Algeria raised their tally to 18 points, ahead of Mozambique (12), Botswana (9), Uganda (9), Guinea (7), and Somalia (1).

Tunisia on the Brink of Qualification

Tunisia is on the verge of qualification after defeating Liberia 2-0 at the Hammadi Agrebi Stadium in Radès in Group 8.

Coach Sami Trabelsi’s men delivered a strong performance in front of about 30,000 spectators, taking an early lead through Dynamo Makhachkala’s Hazem Mestiri with a lob over the advancing goalkeeper following a defensive error by Liberia (5).

The “Eagles of Carthage” maintained control but missed several chances through Hannibal Mejbri and Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane. In the second half, Al-Gharafa’s midfielder Ferjani Sassi added a second goal with a close-range header from a free kick by Mejbri (66).

Augsburg’s Elyes Saad further extended the home side’s lead with a stunning direct free kick, marking his first goal in his fourth international match (90+4).

Equatorial Guinea defeated Sao Tome and Principe 3-2.

Tunisia leads the group with 19 points, six ahead of Namibia, which faces fifth-placed Malawi (6 points) on Friday. Liberia is third with 10 points, Equatorial Guinea fourth (10), and Sao Tome last without points.

Cape Verde maintained their lead in Group 4 by beating Mauritius 2-0 at the Stade de Saint-Pierre.

Goals were scored by Estrela Portuguese striker Jovane (22) and Al Bataeh UAE defender Dini Bourgesh (71).

Cameroon continued their chase for the top spot with a 3-0 win over Eswatini in Yaoundé.

Goals for Cameroon came from Gift Gamadzi (own goal, 6), Georges Gvin Nkoudou (25), and Lorient French striker Arthur Avoum (28).

Libya revived its hopes with a 1-0 victory over Angola in the same group.

The Libyan win came thanks to striker Ezzedine “Azzo” Al-Merrimi’s close-range header from a cross by Fadel Mansour after a quick counterattack (48). Angola, the better side for much of the match, failed to equalize due to the excellent performance of Libyan goalkeeper Murad Al-Wahishi and his defense.

Cape Verde leads the group with 16 points, followed by Cameroon (15), Libya (11), Angola (7), Mauritius (5), and Eswatini (2).

Ghana dropped two valuable points in Group 7 after a 1-1 draw with Chad in N’Djamena.

Veteran Jordan Ayew gave the “Black Stars” the lead with a precise pass from Tottenham’s Mohammed Kudus (17), but Celestin Ikwa equalized for Chad with a late shot (89).

Mali kept their hopes alive with a 3-0 win over Comoros in Bamako. Goals were scored by Fenerbahçe’s Turkish player Dorceless Nini (28), Brest French player Kamory Doumbia (70, penalty), and Lecce Italian player Lassana Coulibaly (76).

Madagascar defeated the Central African Republic 2-0 at the “Arabi Zaouli” stadium in Casablanca, Morocco, the home ground for the Malagasy team.

Warren Kadi opened the scoring (45+2) and Arnaud Randrianantenaina doubled the lead (59).

Ghana tops the standings with 16 points, three ahead of Madagascar. Mali is third with 12 points ahead of Comoros (12), Central African Republic fifth with five points, and Chad last with one point.