Match Day 5 of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers highlighted intense matches. Sierra Leone climbed to second in Group A with a 3-1 win over Guinea-Bissau. Zimbabwe staged a comeback to draw 2-2 against Benin in Group C. In Group D, Cape Verde secured a last-minute victory over Mauritius, while Namibia claimed an away win against Malawi in Group H.
Match Day 5 of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers saw captivating matchups on Thursday, 20 March, as teams contended fiercely for their positions. Four matches were held, highlighting the intensifying race for qualification.
In Group A, Sierra Leone achieved a narrow 3-1 victory over Guinea-Bissau, propelling them to second place behind Egypt. Mustapha Bundu opened the scoring in the 19th minute, followed by a second from Musa Kamara shortly after the hour. Despite Tamble Monteiro’s 68th-minute goal for Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone sealed the win with a final strike by Ibrahim Turay.
Group C featured a dramatic comeback by Zimbabwe, who drew 2-2 with Benin. Steve Mounie capitalized on a goalkeeping error to score the opener for Benin, with Dodo Dokou adding a second before halftime. However, Zimbabwe responded with a goal from Marshal Munetsi just before the break, and Knowledge Musona leveled the match in the second half, earning a critical point for his team.
Cape Verde triumphed in Group D with a late goal from Yannick Semedo in the 84th minute, defeating Mauritius and securing vital points. This win enables Cape Verde to ascend to the top of Group D, ahead of Cameroon, who dropped points against Eswatini earlier in the week.
Namibia garnered a significant away win against Malawi in Group H, courtesy of Prins Tjiueza’s goal in the 40th minute. This victory marked Namibia’s third in the group stage, positioning them second and pushing Malawi down to a challenging fifth place, jeopardizing their qualification hopes.
The FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Match Day 5 delivered thrilling encounters, notably featuring Sierra Leone’s strategic plays, Zimbabwe’s resilience, Cape Verde’s last-minute victory, and Namibia’s essential points earned on the road. Each match showcased the competitive spirit of the teams as they vie for crucial positions as the qualifiers progress.
Original Source: www.cafonline.com
