If there was ever an easy task for Mali in these World Cup qualifications, it was the game with Central African Republic. The ‘Wild Beasts‘ were more like ‘Domestic Pussycats‘ so far in this tournament, with just four points from five games and with just one point more than rock-bottom Chad. They also have the fifth worst defense in the whole qualifications (13) and yet The Eagles found it difficult to win against such a team. What‘s worse, they didn‘t even scored a goal: Central African Republic – Mali 0-0.PLAYER RATINGS: Lenkupae, Bajaber fight on, but Kenya fails to beat GabonBoth team were guests as they played in Morocco and Mali was a firm favorite, not only because they were the third-placed team, but because they have three players from Europe: Yves Bissouma (Tottenham), El Bilal Toure (Stuttgart), and Nene Dorgeles (RB Salzburg). But all three players were awful (especially Dorgeles) and made no difference. With this unexpected draw, Mali remains in third place and will have to fight with Madagascar for the second place in Group I.TACTICAL ANALYSIS: How Gabon exploited Erick ‘Marcelo’ Ouma to beat Harambee StarsThere were two chances for Mali in the first half, while the nominal hosts didn‘t record a single shot. They were so woeful in the attack that when their forwards somehow managed to reach the penalty area of the opponent, instead of a shot, they only managed to get the ball 20 meters back so a big 0 in the ‘shots overall‘ column was not a surprise. The Eagles had the advantage in possession (65-35) but the most embarrassing moments came from Red Bull Salzburg forward Nene Dorgeles. The scorer of two goals in the Champions League group stage tried to make a chance from a free kick, but he neither took the shot on the goal or assisted, but rather blasted the ball 10 meters of the goal. The same player than had the best opportunity of the first half, when he found himself just five meters away from the goal and the clumsy reaction from CAR keeper allowed him to get the ball, but he managed to miss the whole goal from close range in Darvin Nunez style. The other chance came in the 20th minute, when Brest‘s Kamory Doumbia broke from the right, but his shot, which was destined to the top right, was saved by Lembet.What’s going on with Divock Origi?Dieng jumped above all others in the CAR penalty area, but his header sent the ball meters from the right post at the start of the second half. Cheick Konate was the next one with a chance as he unintentionally hit the bar trying to sent a cross from the edge of the penalty area in the 55th minute.2026 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS – AFRICARound 5Saturday Togo – Mauritania 2-2 (1-0)/Klidje 4, Denkey 69 – Koita 52, Mahmoud 55/Sudan – Senegal 0-0Sunday Eswatini – Mauritius 3-3 (2-0)/Mkhontfo 13, 18, Mabuza 75 – Rose 47, Aristide 50, Vincent 90+1/Kenya – Gabon 1-2 (0-1)/Olunga 62 – Aubameyang 16, 52 pen/Monday Namibia – Equatorial Guinea 1-1 (0-0)/Shalulile 51 – Coco 54/Central African Republic – Mali 0-0Guinea B. – Burkina Faso 1-2 (1-1)/Banjaqui 36 – Traore L. 6, 73/Liberia – Sao Tome 2-1 (2-1)/Andrews 4, Farkarlun 32 – Do Sacramento 44/22.00: (1.37) Ivory Coast (4.80) Gambia (9.00)22.00: (4.50) Madagascar (3.45) Ghana (1.85)00.00: (1.37) Ethiopia (4.50) Djibouti (10.0)00.00: (1.23) Tunisia (6.25) Malawi (13.0)***odds are subject to changes***__________________________
