World Cup: Nigeria seek World Cup redemption, Kenya eye victory against Gambia

Harambee Stars players celebrating after scoring a goal against Malawi in the Four Nations Tournament in Lilongwe, Malawi. [Photo / Courtesy]
Underperforming Nigeria and disadvantaged Sudan share the
spotlight ahead of two 2026 World Cup qualifying matchdays in Africa from
Wednesday.
Seeded to win Group C and automatically qualify, a Nigerian
team boasting the past two African Footballers of the Year Victor Osimhen and
Ademola Lookman lie fifth in a six-team section.
In a qualifying competition spanning three years, the Super
Eagles drew with Lesotho, Zimbabwe and South Africa, then crashed to Benin in
pursuit of a seventh World Cup appearance.
Since finishing 2024 Africa Cup of Nations runners-up to
hosts Ivory Coast, Nigeria have had three coaches - locals Finidi George and
Augustine Eguavoen and now Eric Chelle.
Fired by Mali after a poor start to their World Cup
campaign, Ivory Coast-born Chelle admits he faces a "huge challenge",
starting with Rwanda away and Zimbabwe at home this month.
Blessed with outstanding forwards Osimhen and Lookman, the
coach says "football is about scoring goals and I favour an attacking
style".
Seeded fifth in Group B, Sudan occupy first place ahead of a
top-of-table clash with three-time World Cup qualifiers Senegal in Benghazi as
they try to reach the finals for the first time.
The match is in Libya because Sudan has been engulfed in a
civil war since April 2023. The conflict has claimed tens of thousands of lives
and uprooted more than 12 million people.
Sport highlights five matchday five clashes as the
African qualifying schedule reaches the halfway mark:
As if trying to contain star Egypt forwards Mohamed Salah
and Mahmoud Trezeguet is not sufficiently daunting, Ethiopia must also deal
with recent Manchester City recruit Omar Marmoush.
Salah and Trezeguet are the leading scorers in African
qualifying with five goals each -- between them netting all but one of the
Pharaohs' 11 in Group A, which they lead by four points.
Although this is a home fixture for Ethiopia, ranked 113
places below Egypt, it will be staged in Morocco because the east African
country lacks a FIFA-approved stadium.
Ghana-born Sudan coach Kwesi Appiah has told his squad to
imagine they are world superstars as they seek to stretch a two-point Group B
lead over Senegal.
"Look straight at the Senegalese stars and believe you
are as good as they are. There is a war raging in your homeland and you are
playing for your families and your country," he told them.
Senegal can call on 32-year-old two-time African Footballer
of the Year Sadio Mane, but will miss another high-profile forward, Nicolas
Jackson from Chelsea, due to a hamstring injury.
Nigeria may be ranked 80 places above Rwanda, but dare not
underestimate the Wasps after what happened in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying
last year.
Rwanda forced a 0-0 draw in Kigali, then stunned Nigeria 2-1
in Uyo with Innocent Nshuti and Jimmy Mutsinzi scoring within three minutes
during the second half.
Chelle will not be the only new coach on view. Rwanda did
not extend the one-year contract of German Torsten Spittler and hired Algerian
Adel Amrouche.
Former South Africa star Benni McCarthy, part of the
Manchester United backroom staff when Erik ten Hag was manager, debuts as Kenya
coach, vowing to take the Harambee Stars to the World Cup.
"With the right mindset and dedication from the
players, and a willingness to learn and give everything they have got, we can
surprise a lot of people," says the 47-year-old.
African champions Ivory Coast are set to win Group F, so
Kenya need wins away to Gambia and at home to second-placed Gabon to have a
realistic chance of coming second and reaching play-offs.
After failing to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations
and a World Cup loss away to shock Group I leaders Comoros, Ghana coach Otto
Addo cannot afford any more setbacks.
Chad are pointless, have scored just once, some stars are
boycotting this match due to "poor organisation" and coach Kevin
Nicaise quit to be replaced by Qatari Tahir Zakaria Gardia.
So, it is hard to imagine Ghana, bolstered by Premier League
trio Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew and Antoine Semenyo, failing to secure three
points before a tougher assignment against Madagascar.
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