Cameroon held to shock draw by Eswatini in World Cup qualifying

Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo came closest to scoring a winner for Cameroon against Eswatini

Cameroon were held to a shock draw away to unfancied Eswatini as African qualifying for the 2026 Fifa World Cup resumed on Wednesday.

Bryan Mbeumo came closest to breaking the deadlock for the Indomitable Lions when the Brentford forward hit the woodwork with a curling effort from distance in the first half.

Eswatini are ranked 159th in the world - 110 places below the central Africans - but were able to hold on in the second half, with Mlamuli Makhanya tipping a header from Cameroon captain Vincent Aboubakar over the crossbar.

Cameroon remain unbeaten after five games but could be replaced as Group D leaders before they host Libya on Tuesday next week.

Elsewhere, Tunisia continued their unbeaten start with a hard-fought 1-0 win away against Liberia to move five points clear at the top of Group H.

Madagascar moved to the summit of Group I after coming from behind to win 4-1 away against Central African Republic (CAR) in Corentin Martins' first match in charge.

The islanders lead Comoros and Ghana by a point.

There are nine qualifiers on Thursday, with Comoros having a chance to regain top spot in Group I when they host Mali at 21:00 GMT.

Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup finals resumed after a nine-month hiatus, with the final six rounds of group matches spread across March, September and October.

The nine group winners are guaranteed a place in the World Cup finals, hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Cameroon have appeared at an African-record eight editions of the tournament but their task has got trickier after dropping two points in neutral Mbombela.

Mbeumo also had a shot deflected wide in the first half while Aboubakar was wasteful with efforts either side of the break.

Andre Onana had little to do in the Cameroon goal but the Manchester United keeper almost scored a freak late winner for Marc Brys' side when his clearance from inside the centre circle bounced inside the six-yard box and narrowly over the Eswatini bar.

Eswatini survived six minutes of stoppage time to register their first point of the qualification campaign.

Tunisia hold nerve in West Africa

Hannibal Mejbri is looking to help Tunisia to a third successive qualification for the World Cup finals

Tunisia emerged as victors from an engaging contest against Liberia after Hazem Mastouri slotted in Ali Abdi's cross from close range to give the north Africans the lead in the fourth minute.

In an eventful first half in Paynesville, Monrovia, the hosts pushed for an equaliser with Tunisia's goalkeeper Aymen Dahman making a string of saves, as the impressive Ayouba Kosiah and Divine Teah provided a constant threat.

Tunisia came close to getting a second when captain Naim Sliti hit the bar in the 40th minute.

Liberia stepped up the tempo in the second half, but it was Tunisia who had the best chances.

The pick of them fell to Mastouri, who thought he had got his second just after the hour mark only for his header to be pushed away by Liberia keeper Tommy Songo.

Tunisia had been held to a 0-0 draw by Namibia in their previous Group H outing last June, but Sami Trabelsi registered victory in his first match since returning for a second stint as Carthage Eagles head coach.

Malagasy in hunt for maiden qualification

Cameroon legend Rigobert Song had been appointed as CAR boss in January, but Eloge Enza Yamissi was in the dugout instead after a dispute between the country's football federation and sports ministry.

CAR had the perfect start against Madagascar in neutral Casablanca when Hugo Gambor beat the offside trap from a free-kick in the ninth minute and volleyed in from nine yards out.

But Malagasy captain Rayan Raveloson turned the game around with two goals in the space of five minutes, levelling with a first-time finish which deflected in off Gambor and then putting his side in front in the 21st minute with a diving header from seven yards out.

Arnaud Randrianantenaina flicked in a cross to make it 3-1 four minutes after the break and substitute Lalaina Rafanomezantsoa made the points safe in the 89th minute when he drilled in.

Martins has previously guided Mauritania to the Africa Cup of Nations, and the Frenchman now has Madagascar firmly in contention to secure a place at the World Cup finals for the first time.