The bid to qualify for USA/Canada/Mexico by African teams continued on
Saturday with three matches being played.

WHAT HAPPENED? Three 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers were witnessed on
Saturday at different venues across Africa on a day that was a bit
quiet.

Bafana Bafana beat visiting Benin 2-1 at Moses Mabhida Stadium as Hugo
Broos' men kicked off their qualification campaign on a promising
note.

Senegal then hosted South Sudan in Diamniadio while Niger welcomed
Tanzania in Marrakech on a day where draws were never recorded.

SENEGAL 4-0 NIGER

Senegal kicked off their bid to qualify for the World Cup with an
emphatic 4-0 victory over South Sudan in this Group B match at Stade
Me Abdoulaye Wade.

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Pape Sarr opened the scoring for the
Teranga Lions in the first minute of the contest before Sadio Mane
doubled the home side's advantage five minutes later.

Lamine Camara beat the halftime whistle to make it three up for
Senegal before Mane completed his brace from the penalty spot 11
minutes after the break.

NIGER 0-1 TANZANIA

DR Congo-born Charles M'Mombwa grabbed the only goal of the match that
separated these two Group E teams at Stade de Marrakech.

M'Mombwa struck on 56 minutes to help Tanzania begin their World Cup
qualification campaign with victory.

THE BIGGER PICTURE: Senegal have taken an early lead in Group B which
also has DR Congo, Sudan, Togo, Mauritania and South Sudan.

The Teranga Lions' opponents know that Aliou Cisse's men could be
difficult to topple from now on.

Despite beating Niger, Tanzania are second in Group E behind leaders
Zambia in a group that also includes Morocco and Congo. Eritrea were
also in this pool but have pulled out of the tournament.

WHAT NEXT? Senegal would be hoping to make it two out of two when they
visit Togo in Lome on Tuesday.

The Taifa Stars now prepare for a tougher assignment when they host
Morocco at Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium on Tuesday.