2026 World Cup qualifiers: Mané to win his 100th cap, Benin on a mission in South Africa

Sadio Mané, the centurion

The qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup have set the rhythm for African football fans since Wednesday 15 November. Big nations such as Ivory Coast, Mali, Egypt and Tunisia, along with Cameroon, have held their own. Senegal, the reigning African champions, begin their campaign on Saturday 18 November with something special: the 100th cap for star man Sadio Mané. Having first joined the Lions of Teranga in May 2012 against Morocco (a 0-1 win), Mané has over time established himself as Senegal's playmaker.

The two-time African Ballon d'Or winner was a key figure in his country's title triumph in 2021. Sadly, he will not be celebrated tonight by the fans in a way that matches his talent, as Senegal will host South Sudan behind closed doors. The reason? A FIFA suspension after the incidents that marred the second leg of the 2022 World Cup play-off between Egypt and Senegal on 29 March 2022. Mané will therefore be the second Senegal international to reach 100 caps, after Idrissa Gana Guèye. The two senior figures should help the Lions see off the Brights Stars comfortably on matchday 1 of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Group B.

Even if Senegal's firepower looks impressive on paper, national team coach Aliou Cissé is keeping a modest tone. "Returning to the World Cup is one of Senegal's ambitions. So it is important for us to start with a win. We are focused on getting that good result, which will naturally give us a confidence boost before our trip to Togo on matchday two. We have prepared well," he said.

Read more on the same subject : 2026 World Cup (Q): Fixtures and results for matchdays 1 and 2

This is the first time Senegal and South Sudan have met. Knocked out in the preliminary round of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, the Bright Stars have this time made it to the group stage. However, South Sudan have not played an official match since March 2023, a 2-1 game against Congo in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Their last outing was a 1-0 friendly win over Kenya in September 2023.

Benin aiming to spring a surprise in South Africa

Benin have gone 11 matches without winning an official game. It is time for the Cheetahs to wake up. To do that, they will need a positive result in South Africa this Saturday 19 November. "We are the underdogs against South Africa and that is exactly the role we like. We will come to spring a surprise. The aim is to play a good game. If we play good football, we have a better chance of getting a good result. It's true that we are not favourites in South Africa, but as outsiders our ambition is to do the best we can to get a result," said Gernot Rohr. Meanwhile, Benin are in Group C alongside Lesotho, Nigeria, Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

Jim CEESAY

Schedule (times GMT)

13:00 : South Africa-Benin

16:00 : Niger-Tanzania

19:00 : Senegal-South Sudan