AFCON qualifiers Ivory Coast lead Group C, Digi Mart USA News: Ivory Coast took sole lead of Group C in the AFCON qualifiers on Thursday with a 2-1 win over Gambia in Bouaké, while Senegal beat Sudan 4-1 in Dakar and DR Congo extended their perfect record to nine points.
The third round of AFCON qualifiers reshaped several groups ahead of the return legs on 16 and 17 November. According to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the finals are due to be hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from 19 June to 17 July 2027.
Ivory Coast went ahead through Yalcouyé in the 18th minute and Elye Wahi in the 24th, and Gambia pulled one back through Barrow in the 37th, Ouest-France reported in French. The second half passed without a goal, though Gambia pressed late and the Ivorian defence held out under coach Hervé Renard.
The result gives Ivory Coast three wins from three and a three-point lead over Gambia in Group C. The return fixture is scheduled for Tuesday 17 November in Gambia, the same report said.
Ghana, in the same group, won their first qualifier of the campaign, beating Somalia 2-0 at Sekondi through Jonas Adjetey and Felix Afena-Gyan, CAF said. The Black Stars have three points, while Somalia remain bottom without a point after three defeats.
Senegal led through Nicolas Jackson in the 31st minute, but Sudan levelled through Abuagla on the stroke of half-time, according to Ouest-France. Dia, Mbaye and substitute Mboup then scored in the second half in Dakar, and the newspaper said the result keeps Senegal top of Group J.
In Group E, DR Congo beat Sierra Leone 3-1, CAF reported. Yoane Wissa scored in the fourth minute, Samuel Moutoussamy added a second in the 35th and Edo Kayembe a third in the 58th, before substitute Stephen Bekoe pulled one back for Sierra Leone in the 83rd.
DR Congo have nine points from three matches and play the return leg in Sierra Leone on 17 November.
Equatorial Guinea and Zimbabwe drew 0-0 in Group E, leaving both on four points from three matches, CAF said. They meet again in Zimbabwe on 16 November.
In Group L, Madagascar held Guinea-Bissau 1-1. Warren Caddy put Madagascar ahead in the 59th minute and Renato Nhaga equalised in the 84th. Guinea-Bissau stay top with seven points from three matches, and the two sides meet again on 17 November, according to CAF.
Other Thursday fixtures, including Guinea against Eritrea, Cameroon against Namibia and Benin against Central African Republic, are not covered here because results could not be confirmed with two sources by publication.
The fourth round of AFCON qualifiers is scheduled for 16 and 17 November, Foot Africa reported. Ivory Coast and Gambia meet again in Gambia, Ghana face Somalia on 16 November, and DR Congo travel to Sierra Leone.
