JOHANNESBURG: Tiny Cape Verde Islands kept up top place in their World Cup qualifying group as they won away on Thursday, while Algeria and Tunisia moved closer to qualifying for next year’s finals with victories of their own.

But Ghana suffered a setback as they dropped unexpected points after giving up a last-minute equaliser away in Chad.

Cape Verde, who draw most of their side from migrant communities across Europe, scored a goal in either half to beat Mauritius 2-0 away with Jovane Cabral and Diney ensuring they stayed top of Group D with 16 points, one ahead of Cameroon, who had a 3-0 win over tiny Eswatini in Yaound.

Cameroon, who have been to an African record eight previous World Cups, strode into a three-goal lead in the opening 28 minutes but proved unable to add more thereafter.

Libya’s 1-0 away win in Angola, where Ezzedine El Mariamy scored early in the second half, keeps them in third place in Group ‘D’ with 11 points.

The winners of the nine qualifying groups automatically head to the World Cup with the four best runners-up advancing to a playoff in November, with the potential of a further place at the finals.

Hazem Mastori’s fifth-minute goal, followed by second half efforts from Ferjani Sassi and Elias Saad, saw Tunisia beat Liberia 3-0 at home to open a seven-point lead in Group ‘H’ while Algeria are five points clear in Group ‘G’ after edging Botswana 3-1 in Tizi-Ouzou with two second half strikes from Baghdad Bounedjah.

Group ‘I’ leaders Ghana conceded a late goal to draw 1-1 in Chad -- a result which ended a run of four straight victories by the Black Stars.

Ghana top the table with 16 points and are three above Madagascar, who beat the Central African Republic 2-0 in Casablanca.

Mali’s 3-0 victory in Berkane over Comoros Islands means they are four points behind the leaders and must beat Ghana away on Monday to have any hopes of coming back to win the group when the last two rounds of qualifiers are played in October.

Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2025