World Cup qualifiers throw up shock wins and disappointing defeats

The first two rounds of 2026 World Cup qualifiers threw up some surprise results, with great wins and disappointing defeats for our 14 competing teams from the COSAFA region.

Here to talk us through the pools is African football guru Mark Gleeson, who is respected across the continent for his views on the game.

Comoros have emerged as perhaps the surprise package of the qualifiers so far, downing the mighty Ghana, while South Africa and Zambia will be dreaming of what might have been after opening day wins were followed by disappointing losses.

It is early days, with the qualifiers running for a length of two years, but with only the top team in each pool advancing automatically to the finals in the United States, Mexico and Canada, the margin for error is slim.

With the Africa Cup of Nations finals in the Ivory Coast rapidly approaching, there could be much change across the squads and coaches by the time the qualifiers resume in June 2024.