Benin, Cape Verde, Gabon and Mozambique all moved top of their 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifying groups as the fifth round of the African campaign continued following a nine-month hiatus.
Among nine games on Thursday, Mali revived their challenge as Kamory Doumbia scored twice in their 3-0 away win against Comoros in neutral Morocco.
The Eagles had sacked Eric Chelle last June after winning just one of their first four games in Group I, and his replacement Tom Saintfiet is hoping to lead the West Africans to the finals for the first time.
Mali are now two points behind group leaders Madagascar and one below Ghana and Comoros.
The continent has nine guaranteed spots at the expanded 48-team tournament, and several traditional heavyweights are struggling as preliminaries reach the halfway stage.
Benin rose to the top of Group C despite squandering a 2-0 lead to draw against Zimbabwe after Wolves forward Marshall Munetsi started the comeback for the Warriors.
That result will be welcomed by Nigeria, who sit five points below their West African neighbours and will look to get their qualification bid back on track against Rwanda in one of 11 matches scheduled on Friday.
Mozambique beat 10-man Uganda 3-1 to move three points ahead of Algeria in Group G, although the North Africans could regain top spot with victory over Botswana.
Denis Bouanga’s double helped Gabon claim a 3-0 win over Seychelles in Group F – a result which puts the Panthers two points above Ivory Coast before the reigning continental champions travel to Burundi.
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