Cameroon's World Cup Qualifying Hopes Dented by Eswatini's Stunning Draw

Cameroon's World Cup Qualifying Campaign Stumbles Against Eswatini

In a surprising turn of events, Cameroon was held to a draw by Eswatini in the 2026 FIFA World Cup African qualifiers. The match, which took place on Wednesday, saw Cameroon struggle to break down a resilient Eswatini side, despite being ranked significantly higher.

Key Moments of the Match

• Bryan Mbeumo's Near Miss: The Brentford forward came closest to scoring for Cameroon with a curling effort that hit the woodwork in the first half.
• Eswatini's Defensive Resilience: Eswatini's goalkeeper, Mlamuli Makhanya, made crucial saves, including tipping a header from Cameroon captain Vincent Aboubakar over the crossbar.
• Andre Onana's Late Effort: The Manchester United keeper almost scored a freak winner with a clearance that bounced narrowly over the Eswatini bar.

Implications for Group D

Cameroon remains unbeaten after five games but could lose their top spot in Group D if they fail to secure a win in their next match against Libya. Eswatini, on the other hand, registered their first point of the qualification campaign.

Other African Qualifying Highlights

• Tunisia's Narrow Victory: Tunisia continued their unbeaten run with a hard-fought 1-0 win against Liberia, moving five points clear at the top of Group H.
• Madagascar's Comeback: Madagascar came from behind to win 4-1 against Central African Republic, moving to the summit of Group I.

Looking Ahead

With nine qualifiers scheduled for Thursday, the race for World Cup spots in Africa remains intense. Comoros have a chance to regain the top spot in Group I when they host Mali.

Conclusion

The draw against Eswatini serves as a reminder of the challenges Cameroon faces in their quest for World Cup qualification. The Indomitable Lions will need to regroup and refocus as they aim to secure their place in the 2026 World Cup finals.