- Onana was replaced in the 81st minute
- He picked up a muscular injury
- Cameroon beat Mauritius 3-0 in their first World Cup qualifier
Cameroon beat Mauritius 3-0 in their first game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, but the victory was tainted by an injury to goalkeeper Andre Onana. The Manchester United shot stopper came off late in the second half with injury, as the Indomitable Lionesses cruised to victory.
Onana who was recently recalled back to the Cameroonian national team limped off in the 81st minute clutching his muscles, news that will be trouble for Erik ten Hag back in Manchester.
Nonetheless, Cameroon managed to shake off that scare as they beat the Comoran side. Bryan Mbeumo as well as substitutes Georges-Kevin N’Koudou and Frank Magri scored the goals for Cameroon.
After a period of sustained resistance, Mbeumo, who plays his club football with Brentford hit the opener in the second minute of first half added time when he slammed the ball into the net from close range after a series of saves from the Mauritian keeper.
In the second half, coach Rigobert Song made some changes with N’Kodou coming on for Karl Toko Ekambi while Magri was on for Faris Moumbagna all in the 70th minute.
They however had to wait till the 87th minute for the second goal when N’Koudou scored from inside the box after the defense failed to clear a Mbeumo cross.
Magri completes the job for Cameroon
They completed the job in the third added minute when Magri thumped in a header from the edge of the six yard box off a Darlin Yongwa cross.
The win gives them top spot in Group D ahead of Libya who beat eSwatini 1-0 while Cape Verde and Angola are on a point after they drew 0-0.
Meanwhile in another match, Inaki Williams scored his first ever goal for Ghana as the Black Stars left it late to edge out Madagascar in their first game of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Williams, who switched his allegiance to Ghana last year finally got the goal he had much yearned for, earning himself a massive confidence boost.
“Inaki is a good professional and always takes up the role you give him on the pitch. I am happy for him and his performance,” said coach Chris Hughton after the victory.
The Athletic Bilbao forward connected a beautiful cross from Gideon Mensah in the 95th minute to give the Black Stars the victory at the Baba Yara Sports stadium. It was his first goal in 12 appearances for the Black Stars.
Ghana, pushed on by the crowd had a slow start to the game and had to wait till the 25th minute for their first effort at goal, but Jordan Ayew’s shot was easily picked out by the Madagascar goalie.
At the start of the second half, coach Hughton made two changes, bringing in Majeed Ashimeru and Denis Odoi for Baba Idrissu and Alidu Seidu.
The substitutions made Ghana more attacking minded with Mohammed Kudus firing from 20 yards out which was parried away by the goalkeeper.
Williams goal ruled out for offside
Inaki Williams had a goal ruled out for offside but Ghana kept pushing until the winner in injury time.
In Rades, Tunisia hit Sao Tome 4-0 as they kicked off their quest for a ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup on a positive note. The victory at home hoisted them top of the table in Group H.
After a period of sustained pressure, Sao Tome finally crumbled after 37 minutes when defender Yassine Merriah finished off after they struggled to clear a corner.
They took the 1-0 lead to the break, but definitely would have been more had they converted the chances that came their way.
In the second half, they sharpened their attack and needed just eight minutes to get the second, Youssef Msakni scoring with a well taken shot from inside the box after some quick feet earned him space.
Hamza Rafia then added the third in the 79th minute with a neet side footed finish off an Ali Abdi lay-off.
Firas Ben Larbi completed the job for the Carthage Eagles in the 88th minute with a close range finish after the Sao Tome defense failed to clear a cross.
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