Full Fixtures: 2026 FIFA World Cup CAF qualifiers this week
The following are the World Cup qualifying fixtures in Africa for Matchday Six of the 2026 FIFA World Cup CAF qualifiers.
Algeria Sport News
Haaland helps Norway start their World Cup qualifying campaign with 5-0 rout
CHISINAU: Erling Haaland helped Norway make a positive start to their World Cup qualifying campaign by scoring in a 5-0 rout at Moldova on Saturday. Norway’s third and last World Cup appearance was back in 1998, two years before Haaland was born. Now, Haaland lead a team featuring Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard that bear high expectations of reaching the 2026 tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The Scandinavian side are favored to win Group I, which also includes Estonia and Israel. Haaland scored Norway’s second goal against the outmatched Moldova. That took his exceptional career haul to 39 goals in 40 appearances for his country since his 2019 debut. Dortmund defender Julian Ryerson opened the scoring for Norway five minutes after kickoff in Chisinau.
Spain coach hails emerging talent ahead of Netherlands clash
VALENCIA: Spain coach Luis de la Fuente hailed his team’s “inexhaustible” supply of talent on Saturday, ahead of the Nations League quarter-final second leg clash against the Netherlands. Euro 2024 winners Spain fought back in the 2-2 first leg draw to stay unbeaten in their last 22 competitive games, with Bournemouth center-back Dean Huijsen making his debut as a substitute in Rotterdam on Thursday and impressing. The defender could be paired with the uncapped Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio on Sunday against the Netherlands, after Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsi hurt his ankle in the first leg. “For us, many of the (breakthrough) players are not surprising, we know the quality of the raw material we have in this country,” De la Fuente told a news conference. “We can use players who have made history and who are great players today, with exceptional experience...
France midfielder Rabiot has a calf problem and could miss Croatia match
PARIS: France midfielder Adrien Rabiot has a minor calf injury and is doubtful to face Croatia in the return leg of the Nations League quarterfinals on Sunday. Rabiot came off midway through the second half on Thursday in Split, where Les Bleus lost 2-0. “Rabiot has a calf problem and will not train this (Saturday) evening,” Deschamps said at a pre-match news conference. “It looks complicated for tomorrow.” France won the Nations League in 2021 but lost to Croatia 1-0 at home the following year. Before Sunday’s game, France will pay tribute to all-time leading scorer Olivier Giroud, who retired from the national team last year after scoring 57 goals in 137 matches. Thierry Henry is second with 51 followed by Kylian Mbappé on 48.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL opener
KOLKATA: Virat Kohli scored 59 not out off 36 balls as Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Kolkata Knight Riders by seven wickets Saturday in the opening game of the Indian Premier League. The star batsman hit four fours and three sixes as Bengaluru chased down the defending champions’ 174-8 with 22 balls to spare. Phil Salt scored 56 off 31 balls, adding 95 off 51 balls with Kohli in a whirlwind opening stand that powered Bengaluru’s total of 177-3 in 16.2 overs. Salt, who played a prominent role for Kolkata in their 2024 triumph, was picked by Bengaluru in this season’s player auctions and made an impression in the very first game. For Kolkata, skipper Ajinkya Rahane scored 56 off 31 balls, including six fours and four sixes. Rahane is leading the defending champions after last year’s winning captain Shreyas Iyer was not retained by the franchise and moved to Punjab Kings for this season. Bengaluru, led by Rajat Patidar for the first time, had won the toss and opted to bowl with the dew-factor in mind. Put into bat, Kolkata lost Quinton de Kock early when he was caught behind off Josh Hazlewood for four. A couple of catching chances went begging as the hosts fought back through Rahane and opener Sunil Narine. Narine hit 44 off 26 balls, with five fours and three sixes, and put on 103 off 55 balls with Rahane.
Green Falcons start training ahead of Tuesday’s 2026 World Cup qualifier against Japan
SAITAMA, Japan: Saudi Arabia’s national football team started training on Saturday at Saitama Stadium’s training pitch in preparation for their clash against their host Japan on Tuesday. The Green Falcons will face off with Japan at Saitama Stadium 2002 as part of the eighth round of the AFC qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. On the field, head coach Herve Renard divided the players into two groups. The first group included those who played their recent match against China, and were assigned recovery exercises at the health club. The second group, which consisted of the remaining players, had warm-up exercises followed by small-sided games.
Former Algerian international Djamel Menad dies aged 64
ALGIERS: Former Algeria forward Djamel Menad has died aged 64 following a short illness, his ex-club JS Kabylie announced on Saturday. “The wider Algerian football family and JS Kabylie are in mourning following the announcement of the death of Djamel Menad, a former player and true legend of football in the country,” JS Kabylie wrote on social media. “In recent weeks, the health of the former center-forward of the Algerian national team had deteriorated rapidly as a result of a devastating illness that struck him around two months ago,” indicated news website TSA. Menad died in a clinic in Algiers where he had been hospitalized on March 14, after returning from Brussels where he had been receiving treatment for a month, reported Algerian football media DZfoot. Born on July 22, 1960 in the town of El Bayadh, Menad represented his country 79 times, scoring 25 goals, over a 15-year international career. Menad’s efforts in helping Algeria reach the 1986 World Cup in Mexico resulted in him being named Algerian sportsman of the year in 1985. He was notably top scorer at the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations, with four goals in five appearances as Algeria claimed the trophy on home soil. Over his club career, Menad played for Algerian sides JS Kabylie, CR Belouizdad and USM Alger.
Algeria’s Muay Thai star Nabil Anane eyes undisputed world title at ONE 172 on Sunday
After six straight wins in martial arts organization ONE Championship, Algeria’s Nabil Anane is looking to earn the biggest win of his career at ONE 172: Takeru vs Rodtang this Sunday at Saitama Super Arena in Japan.