Zimbabwe rallied to draw with Benin, while Namibia clinched an away win against Malawi. Sierra Leone’s victory over Guinea-Bissau lifted them to second place in Group A, Cape Verde edged past Mauritius, and Namibia’s win positioned them strongly in Group H. Overall, the matches intensified the fight for World Cup qualification across various groups.
On Match Day 5 of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers held on March 20, four early evening matches showcased high-stakes action as teams aimed to solidify their standings. Zimbabwe made a crucial comeback against Benin, while Namibia secured a key away victory against Malawi in the ongoing qualifiers.
In Group A, Sierra Leone achieved a 3-1 win over Guinea-Bissau, advancing to second place behind Egypt. Mustapha Bundu opened the scoring in the 19th minute, followed by Musa Kamara’s goal in the second half. Despite a late response from Tamble Monteiro for Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone sealed the match with Ibrahim Turay’s goal late on.
In Group C, Zimbabwe showed resilience by equalizing to draw with Benin after being two goals down. Steve Mounie and Dodo Dokou scored for Benin, but Zimbabwe’s Marshal Munetsi and Knowledge Musona (returning to international play) responded to keep Zimbabwe’s hopes alive with a last-minute equalizer. Benin remains atop Group C, while Zimbabwe is currently positioned last.
Cape Verde registered a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Mauritius in Group D, with Yannick Semedo netting the decisive goal in the 84th minute following a defensive slip by Mauritius. This victory puts Cape Verde in the lead of their group after Cameroon failed to claim points against Eswatini.
Group H featured Namibia’s narrow 1-0 win over Malawi, with Prins Tjiueza scoring just before halftime from a Peter Shalulile assist. This result lifted Namibia to second place in their group, while Malawi’s struggles leave them in fifth, jeopardizing their qualification prospects.
The matches on March 20 in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers saw significant developments. Sierra Leone’s win boosted their ranking in Group A, while Zimbabwe’s comeback showcased their fighting spirit in Group C. Cape Verde continued their ascent in Group D with a late victory, and Namibia’s away win solidified their position in Group H, making qualification challenging for Malawi. The outcomes heighten the competition as teams vie for World Cup spots.
Original Source: www.cafonline.com
