Overview
- Senegal beat Sudan 4-1 in Dakar to move top of Group J, with goals from Nicolas Jackson, Boulaye Dia, Ibrahim Mbaye and Pathé Mboup.
- Côte d’Ivoire recorded a third straight win by beating The Gambia 2-1 at Stade de Bouaké and Elye Wahi scored his first goal for the national team.
- Cameroon defeated Namibia 2-0 to strengthen its lead in its qualifying group while Benin swept the Central African Republic 4-1.
- Ivory Coast’s perfect start gives manager Hervé Renard a real chance to clinch qualification on the next set of fixtures, which would reduce the number of matches remaining to secure a finals berth.
- These results followed recent wins by DR Congo and Ghana and show how early consecutive victories by in-form club players are shaping which nations can close out qualification before the final matchdays.