In the recent 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Sadio Mane’s opportunity for a hat-trick was cut short when Senegal’s coach Aliou Cisse substituted him shortly after the 60-minute mark in the game against South Sudan.
Kicking off their campaign for the 2026 World Cup, the reigning African champions Senegal secured a commanding 4-0 win over South Sudan in a home game on Saturday. This victory came alongside successful starts for both South Africa and Tanzania.
Launching into the game with high energy, Senegal’s Group B match saw Tottenham’s Pape Matar Sarr netting a goal just 40 seconds in. Mane, celebrating his 100th national cap, swiftly added another goal four minutes later.
Newcomer Lamine Camara, only 19, scored Senegal’s third goal right before halftime. Post-interval, former Liverpool star Mane scored once more, this time via a penalty.
With a subsequent match against Togo in Lome looming, Coach Cisse substituted several players, including Mane and Sarr, a bit past the hour mark.
South Sudan, meanwhile, had a challenging game, with Senegal’s late goal by Habib Diallo disallowed for offside.
Senegal leads Group B, tied on points but ahead on goal difference over DR Congo after the first round of matches.
In other matches, Tanzania secured a 1-0 win against Niger in Marrakesh, marking the start of their Group E journey. Australian-based Charles M’Mombwa marked his national debut with a second-half goal.
South Africa Kicks Off with a Victory
Percy Tau, formerly with Brighton, propelled South Africa ahead in under two minutes in their match against Benin.
South Africa’s World Cup qualifying journey in Africa began with a 2-1 victory against Benin in Durban, placing them in Group C. Tau’s early goal was followed by Khuliso Mudau doubling the lead just before halftime. Benin’s Steve Mounie scored in the 70th minute, adding tension, but South Africa managed to maintain their lead.
South Africa currently leads Group C, which also features Nigeria.
Other Highlights and Upcoming Matches
Ghana narrowly escaped defeat, while Ivory Coast triumphed with a nine-goal spree against Seychelles. Egypt’s Salah impressed with four goals, but Nigeria faced a setback with a draw against Lesotho.
Nigeria, after a 1-1 home draw with Lesotho, faces pressure to win against Zimbabwe in Rwanda. Like Niger, Zimbabwe is playing their home qualifiers on neutral ground due to stadium standards or safety concerns.
The second round of qualifiers includes matches like Burundi vs. Gabon, Algeria at Mozambique, Egypt vs. Sierra Leone, and Sudan against DR Congo.
With nine guaranteed spots for Africa in the 2026 finals in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, the competition is fierce, with only the group winners securing a place in the tournament.
In unrelated news, the Australian drama ‘The Newsreader’ returns to television, and Roman Kemp highlights the importance of mental health support for young people.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about 2026 World Cup Qualifiers
Who scored for Senegal in their 2026 World Cup qualifying match against South Sudan?
Pape Matar Sarr, Sadio Mane, and Lamine Camara scored for Senegal in their 4-0 victory over South Sudan. Mane, marking his 100th appearance, scored twice, including a penalty.
Did Sadio Mane complete his hat-trick in the World Cup qualifier?
No, Sadio Mane did not complete a hat-trick. He was substituted just after the hour mark by Coach Aliou Cisse, despite scoring twice in the match against South Sudan.
Which teams started with wins in the 2026 World Cup African qualifiers?
Senegal, South Africa, and Tanzania started with wins in their respective groups in the 2026 World Cup African qualifiers.
What was the result of South Africa’s match against Benin?
South Africa won 2-1 against Benin in their Group C World Cup qualifying match, with goals from Percy Tau and Khuliso Mudau.
How are the 2026 World Cup qualifiers structured for African teams?
African teams compete in various groups for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, with the group winners securing a spot at the tournament. Africa has nine guaranteed qualifiers for the finals.
More about 2026 World Cup Qualifiers
- FIFA World Cup 2026
- Senegal National Football Team
- African Football Confederation (CAF)
- Sadio Mane Player Profile
- World Cup Qualifying – Africa
4 comments
Nigeria drawing with Lesotho is a big shocker, they really need to up their game in the qualifiers.
It’s great to see young talent like Camara stepping up, the future of African football looks bright!
Percy Tau is proving his worth again, South Africa might just surprise a few this time around.
wow, Senegal is on fire this season, Mane is just unstoppable! but hey, why sub him off when he’s so close to a hattrick, doesn’t make sense…