Salah scores for Egypt as big guns flex muscles in World Cup qualifiers ()
<img src="https://thesun.my/binrepository/328x225/0c0/0d0/none/11808/NCJY/2025-03-20t131532z-1695743935-rc28v9akfsgj-rtrmadp-3-soccer-egypt-hassan_5065487_20250322090427.jpg"><p><b>CAPE TOWN: </b>Captain Mohamed Salah scored for Egypt as they eased to a 2-0 victory over Ethiopia in their 2026 World Cup qualifier on Friday, but 2022 semi-finalists Morocco needed a late winner from Bilal El Khannouss to defeat unfancied Niger.</p><p>Zizo bagged Egypt's second goal as they opened up a commanding five point lead in Group A at the halfway point of the qualification campaign.</p><p>Burkina Faso earlier defeated Djibouti 4-1 to move into second in the pool.</p><p>The top team in each of the nine groups earns a place at the finals in the United States, Mexico and Canada, while the four best runners-up enter an arduous inter-continental playoff campaign for one further berth.</p><p>Morocco had the luxury of playing their 'away' clash with Niger at home in Oujda with their opponents having no suitable stadiums to host international matches.</p><p>But they needed an equaliser on the hour-mark from Ismael Saibari, and then a winner two minutes into stoppage time from El Khannouss to claim victory and lead Group E by six points from second-placed Niger.</p><p>Relebohile Mofokeng and Jayden Adams both scored their first international goals as South Africa were made to toil for a 2-0 home win over neighbours Lesotho as they went top of Group C.</p><p>South Africa travel to neutral Abidjan to play second-placed Benin on Tuesday where coach Hugo Broos' side could potentially open up a sizeable lead in the pool.</p><p>Nigeria claimed a first win of the qualification campaign at the fifth attempt with a 2-0 success over Rwanda in Kigali. Victor Osimhen scored a brace to take Nigeria to six points, four behind South Africa.</p><p>Ghana, who failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco later this year, moved top of their qualification pool with a 5-0 hammering of Chad in Accra.</p><p>Antoine Semenyo, Inaki Williams, Jordan Ayew, Mohammed Salisu and Ernest Nuamah all scored for the home side, who lead Madagascar in Group I by two points.</p><p><b></b></p><p><b>Elephants go top</b></p><p></p><p>Ivory Coast took over at the top of their pool as they claimed a narrow 1-0 win over Burundi in a game played in Morocco.</p><p>Evann Guessand scored his first goal for the Ivorians to settle the contest.</p><p>Mohamed Amoura netted a brace as Algeria won 3-1 in Botswana to move top of Group G on goal difference from Mozambique. Amine Gouiri scored the opener for the visitors.</p><p>Guinea were held to a goalless draw by minnows Somalia in neutral Abidjan in a blow to their chances.</p><p>The Democratic Republic of Congo edged South Sudan thanks to Theo Bongonda's first half winner as they moved into second in Group B behind leaders Sudan, who play Senegal on Saturday.</p><p>Emilio Nsue scored on his return to the Equatorial Guinea side in their 2-0 win over minnows Sao Tome and Principe.</p><p>Nsue served a six-month ban imposed by FIFA after previously being ruled ineligible to represent the central African nation, despite being their all-time leading scorer.</p>
