Bryan Mbeumo had a hand in Cameroon’s first two goals against Eswatini.Photo/AFP
Bryan Mbeumo helped Cameroon remain a point behind leaders Cape Verde in their qualifying group for the 2026 Fifa World Cup as the Indomitable Lions saw off lowly Eswatini 3-0 at home.
Manchester United forward Bryan Mbeumo produced a top-class performance, helping Cameroon to a comfortable 3-0 victory over lowly Eswatini.
Mbeumo settling into life at United
Mbeumo has certainly looked the part since joining United during the summer transfer window from Brentford.
He has undoubtedly been one of United’s better players during what has been an uncertain start to the new season, with his displays earning him a nomination for the club’s August Player of the Month award.
Mbeumo scored his first goal for United in the embarrassing EFL Cup defeat to Grimsby Town before opening his Premier League account in the subsequent game against Burnley.
The 26-year-old was named in the starting XI for Cameroon’s World Cup qualifier against Eswatini on Thursday and led his nation to a dominant win.
Mbeumo shines against Eswatini
Mbeumo wasted no time in asserting himself on the game, playing a big role in Cameroon’s opener just six minutes into proceedings.
He fired a shot from outside the box, which struck Gift Gamedze before looping over the Eswatini goalkeeper and into the back of the net. Unluckily for Mbeumo, it was judged to be an own goal.
Less than 20 minutes later, the United man was at it again, this time delivering a sumptuous pinpoint cross inside the box to Georges-Kevin Nkoudou, who rose highest to head home.
Arthur Nvom added a third just moments after, securing the victory for Cameroon and dashing whatever hopes Eswatini may have harboured of a comeback.
Mbeumo was on the pitch for 82 minutes before he was taken off.
Also on the pitch for the Indomitable Lions was Andre Onana, although he was largely a bystander in front of goal and didn’t have much to do.
Mbeumo and Onana are back in action on Tuesday, 9 September, when Cameroon take on table leaders Cape Verde at Estádio Nacional de Cabo Verde.
BBC:
For Cape Verde’s opener, Mauritius’ Dorian Chiotti fumbled Jovane Cabral’s shot over the line in the 22nd minute and centre-back Diney doubled the lead for the Blue Sharks with a free header with 20 minutes remaining in St Pierre.
With three rounds of games remaining, Cape Verde face a defining game in their bid to reach the World Cup finals for the first time when the islanders host Cameroon in Praia on Tuesday (16:00 GMT).
Only the nine group winners are assured of a place in the finals hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States next year, but the four best second-place African sides will have another chance to pick up a ticket via play-offs and an intercontinental qualifier.
Libya are third in Group D, five points behind the Cape Verdeans, after Ezoo El Mariamy’s volley early in the second half was enough to secure all three points against Angola in Luanda.
Wins for Algeria and Tunisia
Tunisia are unbeaten and are yet to concede a goal in seven outings in Group H
Elsewhere among 10 games in African qualifying on Thursday, Algeria and Tunisia extended their leads in their respective groups with victories.
Tunisia eased to a 3-0 triumph over Liberia in Rades and are now seven points clear of Namibia in Group H having played a game more than their closest challengers.
Hazem Mastouri capitalised on a defensive mistake to give the Carthage Eagles an early lead, Ferjani Sassi headed in Hannibal Mejbri’s free-kick to make it 2-0 midway through the second half, and Elias Saad rounded off the scoring with a sumptuous free-kick in injury time.
Equatorial Guinea are nine points behind the North Africans after coming from 2-0 down to beat Sao Tome e Principe 3-2.
The National Thunder could yet see that gap cut if they are successful in an appeal against the decision by world governing body Fifa to impose two forfeits for fielding an ineligible player.
Algeria are six points ahead of Mozambique in Group G after substitute Baghdad Bounedjah scored twice in a 3-1 win over Botswana.
Mohamed Amoura headed the Desert Foxes ahead but Botswana hit back through Tebogo Kopelang just before the break in Tizi Ouzou.
Bounedjah tapped in Amoura’s low cross to restore Algeria’s lead in the 71st minute and then made the game safe with a composed finish in the sixth minute of stoppage time.
African qualifying continues on Friday with Egypt and Morocco in action among 14 fixtures across the continent.