Thomas Partey and Mohammed Kudus strengthened Ghana’s bid for a place at the 2026 Fifa World Cup, while Ivory Coast won to return to the top of their qualifying group.
Four-time continental champions Ghana failed to reach the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations but the Black Stars sit five points clear of second-placed Madagascar in Group I following their 3-0 victory away against the islanders.
Ghana’s cause was also helped as Mali, the top seeds in their group, were held to a goalless draw away against Central African Republic.
The Eagles are third, six points behind Ghana, with four rounds of the 10-game campaign remaining.
Ivory Coast moved to the top of Group F, a point ahead of Gabon, as Sebastien Haller’s first-half header was enough to settle a nervy home encounter with The Gambia.
Only the nine group winners in African qualifying are assured of a place at the expanded 48-team World Cup finals.
The four best second-placed sides will play off for a space at an intercontinental qualifier which will provide the chance for a 10th side to reach the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Elsewhere, Tunisia scored two late goals against 10-man Malawi to move four points clear at the top of Group H.
The Flames, who had Lloyd Aaron sent off midway through the second half, frustrated the hosts in Rades until an unmarked Seifeddine Jaziri broke the deadlock with a back-post header in the 86th minute.
Elias Achouri added a stoppage-time penalty and there was still time for Carthage Eagles goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen to keep out a 98th-minute spot kick from Richard Mbulu to preserve a clean sheet.
Tunisia’s closest challengers are Namibia, who drew 1-1 at home against Equatorial Guinea in neutral Polokwane.
In Group A, Lassina Traore scored twice as Burkina Faso won 2-1 away against Guinea-Bissau to cut Egypt’s lead at the top of the table to two points.
Meanwhile, Bereket Desta and Abubeker Nasir both scored hat-tricks as Ethiopia registered their first victory by thrashing Djibouti 6-1.
The sixth round of qualifiers will be completed on Tuesday, when there are 15 fixtures spread across eight groups.
Ayew bags hat-trick of assists
Ghana’s dismal Afcon qualifying campaign at the end of last year means they will be missing from the tournament for the first time since 2004, but the West Africans are in pole position to secure back-to-back appearances at the World Cup finals.
Partey gave the Black Stars the perfect start against Madagascar when the Arsenal midfielder powerfully met Jordan Ayew’s pinpoint free-kick in the 11th minute.
The same two players combined to make it 2-0 eight minutes into the second half as Partey again found space to head home Ayew’s corner from the right.
And five minutes later newly-appointed Ghana captain Ayew was the creator again, threading a through ball into the box for Kudus to convert.
The Black Stars, who thrashed Chad 5-0 on Friday, extended their lead in Group I after Mali were frustrated by CAR in neutral Casablanca.
The Eagles struggled to create clear chances, with Yves Bissouma firing a volley over the bar and Abdoulaye Diaby heading narrowly side.
Haller header enough for Elephants
Ivory Coast continued their unbeaten start in Group F, but the reigning African champions had goalkeeper Yahia Fofana to thank for several crucial saves in the second half against The Gambia.
The Elephants had started well in Abidjan, as Brighton winger Simon Adingra clipped in a cross for Haller to guide home in the 15th minute.
Mohammed Diomande rattled the crossbar for the hosts after the break but The Gambia carved out several chances on the counter attack as the game wore on.
Fofana showed alertness to rush off his line to foil Alieu Fadera and shortly afterwards the Scorpions man skewed wide from 12 yards out.
Fofana was called into action again to push away a low effort from Mahmudu Bajo, while Alassana Jatta placed his effort too close to the Elephants keeper with seven minutes remaining.
The Gambia then came close to grabbing a point in stoppage time, but Fofana cut out Abdoulie Sanyang’s cross before it reached Jatta, who was poised for a tap-in.
Ivory Coast are yet to concede a goal in African World Cup qualifiers, but Emerse Fae’s side have been far from convincing in their performances against Burundi and the Scorpions this month.
Monday’s African World Cup qualifying results
Guinea-Bissau 1-2 Burkina Faso (Group A)
Ethiopia 6-1 Djibouti (Group A)
Ivory Coast 1-0 The Gambia (Group F)
Namibia 1-1 Equatorial Guinea (Group H)
Liberia 2-1 Sao Tome e Principe (Group H)
Tunisia 2-0 Malawi (Group H)
Central African Republic 0-0 Mali (Group I)
Madagascar 0-3 Ghana (Group I)
