CAR snatch late winner as Chad’s fightback falls short in N’Djamena

The Central African Republic edged Chad 3-2 in a dramatic 2026 World Cup qualifier, settling a see-saw contest with a stoppage-time strike in N’Djamena on Sunday.

Both nations had already been eliminated, but the closing moments at the Stade Olympique Maréchal Idriss Déby Itno carried full competitive bite.

The visitors were two up by the interval. Delphin Mokonou pounced after three minutes, turning in Moustapha Djimet’s delivery, and Ghislain Baboula doubled the lead on 31 minutes, finishing after fine work by Yawanendji-Malipangou down the right.

Chad responded with purpose after the restart. Celestin Ecua halved the deficit on 51 minutes, squeezing a low finish past the goalkeeper, and the hosts’ momentum grew.

 CAR were rattled and collected a flurry of yellow cards as the Sao kept pressing.

The comeback looked complete in the 88th minute when Marius levelled from close range, meeting Tchoplauou’s cross to make it 2-2 and ignite the home crowd.

But the Fauves found a final word in added time: substitute Karl Namnganda stole into the box in the 90+3rd minute to steer home the winner and silence the stadium.

With qualification already out of reach, the result changes little in Group E arithmetic.

Yet for the Central African Republic, a last-gasp victory away from home offers a positive finish to the campaign; for Chad, it was a harsh lesson after clawing back from 0-2 to parity.