Tunisia secure 2026 World Cup spot with victory in Equatorial Guinea
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Tunisia players celebrating a goal in the 3-0 win over Liberia in their World Cup qualifier at Rades stadium in Tunis on Sept 4, 2025.
PHOTO: EPA
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Mohamed Ben Romdhane scored a 94th-minute winner as Tunisia booked their place at the 2026 World Cup with a 1-0 victory over hosts Equatorial Guinea in Malabo on Sept 8, taking an unassailable lead in their qualifying Group H.
The victory moves Tunisia to 22 points from their eight qualifiers, 10 points ahead of second-placed Namibia, who have three games left to play.
Tunisia, who are coached by Sami Trabelsi, will make their seventh appearance at the World Cup, which is to be staged in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11-July 19, and their third in a row.
It looked as though they would have to wait to seal their spot, but Ben Romdhane was presented with a simple tap-in deep into injury time after a defensive error from the home side allowed Firas Chaouat to tee him up.
Tunisia are the second African side to confirm their place at the global finals after 2022 semi-finalists Morocco booked their spot on Sept 6.
The Moroccans were 2-0 winners in Zambia on Sept 8, as Youssef En Nesyri and Hamza Igamane scored the goals that keep up their momentum.
Mozambique kept their qualification hopes alive with a 2-0 win over Botswana in Group G. They are three points behind leaders Algeria, but have played a game more.
Witi and Faisal Banga scored in either half to give them the victory in Maputo.
Nine teams from Africa will qualify automatically for the World Cup, with a 10th place available through an inter-continental play-off. REUTERS
