A raft of low-scoring games saw some big shifts on the opening round of Matchday four of FIFA World Cup 26™ qualifying. Djibouti and Ethiopia played out a 1-1 draw in the only game to feature more than one goal, with the result earning the hosts their first point of the section. Group B saw Senegal and Congo DR both move up a place into first and second respectively following 1-0 wins, while Liberia’s victory over São Tomé and Príncipe moved them into second in Group H ahead of Namibia who drew with group leaders Tunisia.

How qualifying works
The nine group winners will qualify automatically for the FIFA World Cup 26™. The four best runners-up will then compete for one place at the FIFA Play-Off Tournament.

Group A
Djibouti 1-1 Ethiopia

Two goals in as many first-half minutes saw the spoils shared between Djibouti and Ethiopia, with the result leaving both sides still searching for their first win of the group. Gabriel Dadzie scored for the second straight game to give the hosts the lead, only for that advantage to be cancelled out almost immediately when Menyelu Wondimu levelled on the half-hour mark. The result does give Djibouti their first point of the group but leaves them bottom, while Ethiopia sit one place ahead of them with three points.

Group B
Congo DR 1-0 Togo
Mauritania 0-1 Senegal

Meschack Elia’s 6th-minute goal proved enough for Congo DR to sink Togo and claim their first win since opening day. Brentford’s Yoane Wissa was sent away down the left before coming inside and firing a pinpoint cross to Elia who side-footed home from a narrow angle. The result keeps Les Léopards in third place but just a point behind leaders Senegal, while Togo remain winless in fourth position.

A well-timed Habib Diallo header did the damage as Senegal sunk Mauritania and rocketed to the top of the group. While the hosts gave as good as they got in the first half, a delicious Pape Matar Sarr cross from the left found Diallo, who glanced the ball home in the 27th-minute to see his side through. Mauritania remain bottom following a third defeat from four, while Senegal have moved to the top of the group, a point ahead of Sudan and Congo DR.

Group H
São Tomé and Príncipe 0-1 Liberia
Namibia 0-0 Tunisia

São Tomé and Príncipe were just moments away from securing their first point of the qualifying campaign against Liberia, only for Sheikh Sesay to net in the 90th-minute when his free-kick came off the crossbar and eventually fell back to him to turn home. The hosts remain bottom after four consecutive defeats and just one goal scored, while Liberia head into third spot.

Elsewhere, a battle between the sides that started the day in the top two ended all-square, as Namibia and Tunisia played out a goalless draw in Johannesburg. While a win for either would have guaranteed them pole position heading into the fifth round of qualifying next March, neither side could find the decisive goal. Namibia remain second and two points behind their opponents.