CAF World Cup Qualifiers — Matchday 8 Highlights & Insights

South Africa 1–1 Nigeria — Drama in Bloemfontein

In a match dripping with tension, South Africa and Nigeria shared the spoils in a 1–1 draw.

South Africa took the lead through a tough moment William Troost-Ekong’s own goal.

Nigeria drew level thanks to a well-placed header from Calvin Bassey, marking his growing influence.

Victor Osimhen was absent due to a foot injury from the Rwanda game, a blow to Nigeria’s firepower.

This result keeps Bafana Bafana top of Group C with 16 points, while Nigeria sit just behind on 11 making every remaining match a must-win.

Zambia 0–2 Morocco — Group Leaders Stay Strong

Already qualified, Morocco delivered a solid away win in Zambia, with goals from Youssef En-Nesyri and Hamza Igamane, pushing their dominance further.

Libya 2–0 Eswatini — Momentum Builders

Libya secured a routine 2–0 victory over Eswatini with early strikes from Al Mariami and Issa, asserting their Group D credentials.

Ghana 1–0 Mali — Slender But Significant

Ghana held their nerve with a narrow 1–0 win over Mali, thanks to a decisive goal, strengthening their position atop Group I.

Madagascar 3–1 Chad — Vital Points for the Eagles

Madagascar pulled off a big 3–1 win against Chad, delivering a much-needed boost in Group I’s tight race.

Guinea-Bissau 2–0 Djibouti — Stay in the Hunt

Guinea-Bissau kept their form, beating Djibouti 2–0 and staying competitive in their group standings.

Full Round Summary

Match Score Who Shined / What it Means

South Africa vs Nigeria 1–1 Bafana stay top; Eagles fight on without Osimhen

Zambia vs Morocco 0–2 Soldiers of Atlas remain unbeaten, ready for next round

Libya vs Eswatini 2–0 Libya march on with controlled win

Ghana vs Mali 1–0 Eagles edge close Group I still very much in play

Madagascar vs Chad 3–1 Malagasy surge up the table with spirited home win

Guinea-Bissau vs Djibouti 2–0 Steady win, morale lift in their campaign

Expert Insight: Why These Results Matter

Group C drama: Bafana’s draw keeps Nigeria’s fate slippery. Every game is a must and hopefully CAF/FIFA deduct points from South Africa .

Morocco’s blueprint: Qualified but relentless. Their consistency could make them dark horses come the finals.

Pressure mounting: Teams like Madagascar and Ghana are showing grit in CAF qualifiers, that mindset wins games.

Head-to-head intensity: These results won’t settle standings but will shape qualifiers momentum, forcing some exploitable pressure by October.