We're halfway through a pulsating international break for Africa's national sides, as the continent's World Cup hopefuls look to give themselves a boost on the road to USA-Mexico-Canada 2026.
Sudan on course for World Cup despite backdrop of civil war
For over two years, Sudan has been in the midst of a devastating civil war, with over 150,000 lives lost, over 12 million displaced people, and the country fragmented between warring groups.
Despite the turmoil back home, which has forced the Sudanese national team to play on neutral ground, Kwesi Appiah's Falcons of Jediane are enjoying a footballing renaissance.
Once one of the continent's powerhouses -- they were African champions in 1970 -- the erstwhile heavyweights have fallen on hard times in recent decades, and have qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations just once since 2012.
This changed last year, when former Ghana boss Appiah secured the Falcons' place at the continental showpiece in Morocco -- eliminating his beloved Black Stars in the process -- and they're now in pole position to reach a first ever World Cup.
Already well placed heading into the international break, Sudan were topping their group before the 'visit' of Senegal to neutral Benghazi.
Well-drilled, rugged, and utterly committed, Sudan neutralised their most illustrious opponents -- Sadio Mané enduring a particularly frustrating outing -- while also troubling the visitors on the counterattack.
The goalless draw leaves the Falcons one point ahead of the Democratic Republic of Congo ahead of Tuesday's derby with neighbours South Sudan, with Appiah, despite tensions with the Sudanese federation over unpaid wages, establishing a defensive unit that has conceded once in five outings so far.
Appiah, who oversaw Ghana's qualification to the 2014 World Cup, tasted competitive defeat just twice in 2024, and was nominated for CAF's Coach of the Year award. He'd surely be a contender to win the prize this year if he can secure Sudan's first ever World Cup berth.
...and Senegal?
The Teranga Lions remain undefeated during this qualifying campaign, but there's a sense that this collective are still finding their feet under Pape Thiaw.
The former international attacker replaced long-term AFCON-winning head coach Aliou Cisse last year and enjoyed a strong end to 2024 -- reaching Morocco '25 with ease -- but Édouard Mendy was troubled by Sudan on occasion, and the Lions were unable to make the most of their possession.
Two points off the pace, it's surely imperative that Togo are dispatched at Diamniadio on Tuesday, with only the group winners guaranteeing their spot at the World Cup. Thiaw has described the match as a final for the 2021 African champions.
Cisse denied in the 93rd minute
On Thursday, ex-Senegal boss Cisse took the reins of Libya for the first time, just over a week after being appointed as the Mediterranean Knights head coach.
It's the first time in his 13-year coaching career that he's overseen a side that's not been part of the Senegalese national-team set-up, and he came close to an unexpected victory in Benghazi.
Libya took the lead against AFCON-bound Angola through substitute Muaid Ellafi, 16 minutes from time, and provisionally moved to first place in Group D.
It wasn't to last, however, with wideman Fredy equalising for the visitors in the third minute of stoppage time with an acute freekick that squeezed past goalkeeper Murad Al-Wuheeshi from a tight angle.
Disappointment at the death, but the display should at least give Libya and Cisse confidence ahead of Tuesday's trip to Cameroon.
Cameroon unravelling again amid travel chaos?
Despite his tumultuous reign as president of the Cameroon Football Association, Samuel Eto'o was nonetheless elected to CAF's Executive Committee at the organisation's general assembly on March 12.
His election came after things appeared to have settled domestically, with regional discontent towards Eto'o in Cameroon having been quelled, and the former Barcelona striker's feud with head coach Marc Brys having quietened down as results improved through 2024.
However, two steps forward, one step back for the Indomitable Lions, with the continental heavyweights stumbling again in the first international break of 2025 amidst all-too familiar logistical failings.
The staunchest patriot would struggle to deny that Cameroon have lost some of their lustre in recent years, but even against that backdrop, a 0-0 draw with Eswatini -- ranked 159th in the world -- in front of 700 spectators in Mbombela felt like a new low.
Despite having the likes of Bryan Mbeumo, Vincent Aboubakar and André Onana in action, Cameroon, clearly underprepared and having had little time to get ready for the fixture due to travel disruption and logistical chaos, lacked sharpness and cohesion, finding themselves utterly neutralised by a staunch Eswatini defensive display.
The Lions' original flight to Mbombela was delayed, with the team landing in Johannesburg in the evening, and they then embarked on a road journey to the capital of the Mpumalanga province. They arrived at their accommodation in the early hours of the morning, just over 14 hours before kickoff, and were clearly far from their best.
Nonetheless, don't be surprised if tensions between Eto'o and Brys begin to bubble once again amidst this latest humiliation for the five-time African champions.
Cameroon host Libya in Yaounde on Tuesday evening; it's surely a 'must win' for Brys, with the Lions falling one point behind Cape Verde at the top of the group.
Mahrez hits 100
Algeria saw off Botswana 3-1 in Francistown thanks to two second-half goals from Mohamed El Amine Amoura as they consolidated their grip on top spot in Group G, where they're tied on 12 points with Mozambique.
The match was notable for Riyad Mahrez picking up his 100th cap for Les Fennecs, an outstanding milestone in an international career that stretches back to 2014 and included 2019 AFCON glory in Egypt.
Mahrez featured for Algeria alongside centreback Aïssa Mandi -- currently the Desert Foxes' record appearance holder -- and his landmark appearance prompted words of homage from Vahid Halilhodzic, the head coach who gave him his debut 11 years ago.
"He's had an exceptional career and he's become the captain of the national team, showing many qualities," the 72-year-old told FIFA. "Technically, he has real qualities: he never loses the ball, he knows how to dribble, he's capable keeping possession against two or three opponents, to take them out, to give the ball, set up goals. "He has a pretty exceptional technical quality."
Mahrez can make it 101 caps when Algeria host fellow group leaders Mozambique in Tizi Ouzou on Tuesday.
Aubameyang on track for WC debut?
Unlike Mahrez, who was part of Algeria's squad for their 2014 World Cup adventure, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has never had the chance to test himself on the grandest stage of all.
One of the finest African players of his generation, Aubameyang's decision to represent Gabon -- rather than France or Spain -- may have cost him the opportunity to feature at a Mondiale, although he still may have one opportunity to reach next year's tournament.
Six games into their qualifying campaign, the Panthers sit atop Group F, and can look back on an excellent international break where they defeated Seychelles 3-0 -- thanks to a Denis Bouanga double -- before Auba struck twice as Gabon saw off Kenya 2-1 away.
Their nearest rivals -- Africa's champions Ivory Coast -- were unconvincing as they beat Burundi 1-0 away on Friday, and Aubameyang and Co. will surely be watching on hoping that the Elephants slip up when they host Gambia in Abidjan on Monday.
Victory for the 2024 African champions would see the Ivorians replace Gabon as Group F leaders, and the meeting between the pair in Franceville in gameweek eight has all the makings of a blockbuster.
Ghana and Nigeria silence the doubters -- for now
Few teams in Africa needed positive results to kick off the international break as much as Ghana and Nigeria.
The Black Stars, reeling after an abject AFCON qualifying campaign that'll leave them watching on from the outside at the continental jamboree later this year, kept faith with Otto Addo after a disastrous 2024.
The former Ghana international desperately needed a response from his team, particularly after making the big call to overlook the influential André Ayew from the squad, and got exactly that as the West African giants demolished Chad 5-0 in Accra.
It was the Black Stars' biggest victory since the 7-1 demolition of Mauritius in 2015, and represents the first step in their public rehabilitation under Addo.
While Nigeria did find their way through the AFCON qualification campaign, the start to their World Cup programme has been miserable, with incoming Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle inheriting a team that had taken three points from their first four matches.
They got the victory they needed -- a Victor Osimhen brace seeing them past Rwanda away -- and could put further pressure on group leaders South Africa with victory at home against Zimbabwe on Tuesday.
The Super Eagles are on six points heading into game week six, four off Bafana Bafana, two behind Benin, and one off Rwanda in third.