Egypt are getting closer to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making progress one step at a time. Today’s step was gigantic and although Hossam Hassan’s crew didn’t shine, they still brushed Sierra Leone aside – 1-0.Mohamed Salah’s performance was adequate evidence of the Pharaohs’ “mood” tonight. The best Premier League player and one of the Ballon d’Or candidates was almost invisible, making two notable attempts. Yet, luckily for the home team, Zizo was focused enough to convert Trezeguet’s timely pass into the winner in the second minute of first-half added time and bring his national team a new three points.Egypt defeat Sierra Leone to remain undefeated in their 2026 World Cup CAF Qualifiers 🇪🇬 👏 pic.twitter.com/4tqokrvTJo— OneFootball (@OneFootball) March 25, 2025 Despite expectations that Egypt would crush Sierra Leone at home, the Pharaohs let the first half pass with rather low intensity. Moreover, until the dying minutes, Egypt’s penalty shout, one Mohamed Salah’s effort that went over the bar, and a yellow card for Leone Stars’ Abu Dumbuya were the only notable moments.Bafana Bafana are almost there! South Africa beat Benin to make a WC reservationStill, the seven-time champions of Africa are dangerous even when they seem uninterested and uninspired, and they proved it once again tonight. In the second minute of added time, Trezeguet sent an excellent through ball for Zizo, surprising the visitors’ defence, and Zamalek forward took no prisoners, giving the Pharaohs the lead in the nick of time.⚽️ GOAL: Zizo🇪🇬 Egypt 1-0 Sierra Leone 🇸🇱pic.twitter.com/f9Rpk30Aod— Goals Xtra (@GoalsXtra) March 25, 2025 On the wings of the late first-half opener, Egypt pushed for more from the first second after the break, pursuing another goal that would seal the deal and guarantee them a triumph. Two minutes into the second half, Marwan Attia tried from outside the area, but his effort crashed against the post, while Salah’s 54th-minute attempt grazed the left post and went wide.World Cup remains a hollow dream?! Nigeria stunned by minnows in added time!Conversely, the visitors were primarily focused on defence despite being 1-0 down. Still, that result gave them hope that they could threaten the Pharaohs through counters and perhaps manage to snatch at least a point.By the end of the game, the experienced Egyptians successfully defended their minimal advantage for new three points, which provide Egypt a five-point advantage in front of the second-placed Burkina Faso with four matches left to play.2026 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS – AFRICASaturday 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/Ivory Coast – Gambia 1-0 (1-0)/Haller 15/Madagascar – Ghana 0-3 (0-1)/Partey 11, 54, Kudus 59/Ethiopia – Djibouti 6-1 (3-0)/Desta 19, 52, 70 pen, Nasir 34, 37, 58 pen – Akinbinu 51/Tunisia – Malawi 2-0 (0-0)/Jaziri 86, Achouri 90+2/TuesdayAngola – Cape Verde 1-2 (0-1)/Gelson Dala 50 – Rocha Livramento 45+2, 63/Benin – S.Africa 0-2 (0-0)/Foster 53, Adams 84/Nigeria – Zimbabwe 1-1 (0-0)/Osimhen 74 – Chirewa 90+1/Rwanda – Lesotho 1-1 (0-0)/Kwizera 58 – Fothoane 82/Uganda – Guinea 1-0 (1-0)/Okello 36/Botswana – Somalia 2-0 (0-0)/Mohutsiwa 73, Johnson 82/Burundi – Seychelles 5-0 (3-0)/Nduwarugira 23, Bimenyimana 25, 32, Kanakimana 50, Girumugisha 57/Cameroon – Libya 3-1 (1-0)/Aboubakar 26, 61, Mbeumo 51 – El Mariamy 90/Egypt – Sierra Leone 1-0 (1-0)/Zizo 45+2/Sudan – South Sudan 1-1 (0-0)/Eisa 76 – Sebit 90+9/00:00: (1.38) Algeria (4.40) Mozambique (10.0)00:00: (1.17) Comores (7.50) Chad (16.0)00:00: (3.20) Mauritania (2.80) Dr Congo (2.60)00:00: (1.30) Senegal (5.20) Togo (11.0)00:30: (1.12) Morocco (9.50) Tanzania (19.0)***odds are subject to changes***
