Tunisia Secures World Cup Qualification with Romdhane’s Late Winner
Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane secured Tunisia’s path to the World Cup finals with an 82nd-minute penalty goal, leading his team to a 1-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea. The win keeps Tunisia at the top of Group H with a perfect record after three matches, leading Namibia by two points.
The victory puts Tunisia on course for their third consecutive World Cup appearance, with a crucial match against Namibia coming up. The nine African group winners will qualify for the 2026 finals in Canada, Mexico, and the USA, while the four highest-ranked runners-up will compete for an inter-continental play-off spot.
Equatorial Guinea faced challenges during the match with star forward Emilio Nsue absent due to a ban from FIFA. Nsue, the leading scorer at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, was suspended for failing to comply with the procedures for changing allegiance from Spain to Equatorial Guinea. Despite his absence, Equatorial Guinea fought hard but ultimately could not secure a win against Tunisia.
In other matches, Namibia faced off against Liberia, with Namibia impressing early on before succumbing to second-half pressure from the Liberians. Sierra Leone and the Central African Republic recorded their first wins, while Togo settled for a draw for the third time in the qualifiers.
The road to the World Cup finals is heating up for African teams, with each match becoming more crucial as teams vie for a spot in the prestigious tournament. Tunisia’s victory stands as a testament to their determination and skill as they aim to make their mark on the global stage once again.
