Matchday 10 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers brought intense action across Africa, with teams fiercely competing for a coveted spot at the global tournament, according to Soccernet.ng.
While countries such as Tunisia celebrated significant strides forward, Nigeria’s Super Eagles found themselves under increasing pressure ahead of their pivotal encounter with the Benin Republic.
In Group C, Nigeria’s position remains precarious despite a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Lesotho. This outcome, coupled with Benin’s win-in-group-opener/” title=”U-20 FIFA World Cup: Nigeria fall short as Norway seal narrow 1-0 win in … opener”>narrow 1-0 win against Rwanda and South Africa’s goalless draw with Zimbabwe, has left the group standings tightly contested.
Results from Matchday 10: African World Cup Qualifiers
Tunisia dominated Namibia with a commanding 3-0 win, solidifying their lead in Group H. Cape Verde also impressed, securing a 3-0 triumph over Eswatini.
Lesotho edged Zimbabwe 1-0, while Equatorial Guinea and Liberia played out a 1-1 stalemate.
Elsewhere, Togo and South Sudan ended their match in a 0-0 draw, São Tomé and Príncipe narrowly defeated Malawi 1-0, and both Libya and Cameroon were held to draws by Mauritius and Angola, respectively.
Cape Verde become the sixth African nation to advance in the #FIFAWorldCup qualifiers after a busy day of #WCQ. pic.twitter.com/bdGdWno7d2
– CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) October 13, 2025
Group C Standings: Nigeria’s Road Ahead
Benin currently leads Group C with 17 points, closely pursued by South Africa on 15 points and Nigeria trailing with 14. With only one fixture remaining, Nigeria must secure a win-and hope for a favourable outcome in the other match-to keep their World Cup aspirations alive.
Lesotho’s narrow 1-0 win over Zimbabwe on Monday elevated them to 12 points, effectively ending their qualification hopes. Meanwhile, Rwanda aims to surpass Lesotho as they prepare to face South Africa later today.
Taye Taiwo Criticizes Nigeria’s Preparation for World Cup Qualifiers
Former Super Eagles defender Taye Taiwo voiced his disappointment over Nigeria’s ongoing struggles to secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup.
“It’s disheartening. Considering the talent we have, it’s frustrating that we might miss out on the World Cup… Preparation is key. When targeting the World Cup, you must begin early-there’s no room for delay.”
The ex-AC Milan left-back attributed Nigeria’s difficulties to inadequate planning and instability within the football federation, contrasting this with the well-organized campaigns of teams like Egypt and Tunisia.
Captain Troost-Ekong Motivates Team Ahead of Decisive Benin Match
As Nigeria gears up for what is widely regarded as their toughest challenge yet against Benin, captain William Troost-Ekong acknowledged the mounting pressure the squad has endured since March.
“This will be another significant challenge, but the squad is prepared,” he stated. “We’ve been operating under pressure for months, and everyone understands this is the final hurdle. We’re putting in maximum effort to reach the World Cup.”
A win on home soil in Uyo is essential for Nigeria to maintain their qualification hopes. Additionally, they will rely on South Africa dropping points against Rwanda to realistically top the group and secure their place at the World Cup.
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