WC Qualifiers: Eswatini Shock Cameroon, Tunisia Open 5-Point Gap

Travel Chaos Disrupts Cameroon: A delayed flight and overnight bus ride left the Indomitable Lions arriving just hours before their World Cup qualifier against Eswatini.
Goalless Frustration: Despite dominating possession, Cameroon failed to break down Eswatini’s defense, settling for a 0-0 draw.
Group D Tightens: Cameroon remains top with nine points, but their lead is under threat as Libya and Cape Verde prepare for their matches.

Cameroon’s World Cup qualifying hopes took a hit on Wednesday as they were held to a goalless draw by Eswatini, following a disrupted travel schedule that left the Indomitable Lions arriving just hours before kick-off.

Despite fielding a strong lineup featuring Premier League stars Andre Onana and Bryan Mbeumo, Cameroon struggled to break down Eswatini’s resolute defense.

The match, played in Nelspruit, South Africa, saw the hosts claim their first point of the campaign, while Cameroon missed the chance to extend their lead in Group D.

Cameroon’s preparations were thrown into disarray after their chartered flight from Yaoundé was delayed.

The delay forced the squad to land in Johannesburg instead of Nelspruit, as the airport had already closed for the night. After a three-hour wait, the team endured a five-hour bus ride, arriving at their hotel just 15 hours before the match.

The travel woes appeared to take a toll, as Cameroon delivered a sluggish performance. Despite dominating possession, they failed to create clear-cut chances against an Eswatini side that remained disciplined throughout

With the draw, Cameroon remains top of Group D with nine points at the halfway mark, but their lead is now just two points ahead of Libya and Cape Verde, who play their respective fixtures on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Tunisia and Madagascar enjoyed better fortunes. Tunisia defeated Liberia 1-0 in Monrovia thanks to an early goal from Hazem Mastouri, while Madagascar cruised to a 4-1 win over the Central African Republic, moving to the top of Group I.

Cameroon will need to regroup quickly as the race to secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup intensifies. The winners of each African qualifying group earn direct qualification, while the four best runners-up will compete for one additional slot through a playoff.

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