Mohamed Ben Romdhane scored a 94th-minute winner as Tunisia booked its place at the 2026 World Cup with a 1-0 victory over host Equatorial Guinea in Malabo on Monday, taking an unassailable lead in their qualifying Group H.
The victory moves Tunisia to 22 points from its eight qualifiers, 10 points ahead of second-placed Namibia, which has three games left to play.
Tunisia, which is coached by Sami Trabelsi, will make its seventh appearance at the World Cup, which is to be staged in the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11-July 19, and its third in a row.
It looked as though it would have to wait to seal its spot, but Ben Romdhane was presented with a simple tap-in deep into injury time after a defensive error from the home side allowed Firas Chaouat to tee him up.
Tunisia is the second African side to seal its place at the global finals after Morocco booked its spot on Saturday.
ALSO READ: FIFA World Cup Qualifiers – France coach Deschamps defends handling of Dembele and Doue’s fitness
The Moroccans were 2-0 winners in Zambia on Monday as Youssef En Nesyri and Hamza Igamane scored the goals that keeps up their momentum.
Mozambique kept its qualification hopes alive with a 2-0 win over Botswana in Group G. It is three points behind leader Algeria, but has played a game more.
Witi and Faisal Banga scored in either half to give them the victory in Maputo.
Nine teams from Africa will qualify automatically for the World Cup, with a 10th place available through an inter-continental play-off.
Published on Sep 08, 2025
