Seven African nations are on the verge of booking their places at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the continent’s qualifying campaign enters its decisive week. With Morocco and Tunisia already confirmed, several other teams are now within touching distance of automatic qualification.
The 2026 tournament, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will feature a record 48 teams, offering Africa nine direct qualification slots. Morocco and Tunisia secured early passage after finishing top of Groups E and H, respectively, while Egypt could join them as early as Wednesday if they defeat bottom-placed Djibouti in Group A.
The Pharaohs lead their group with 20 points, five clear of Burkina Faso, with two games remaining. A win would ensure they qualify for their fifth World Cup appearance, continuing their strong form under Portuguese coach Rui Vitória.
In Group B, reigning African champions Senegal hold a two-point advantage over the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). They will confirm qualification with victories in their final two fixtures—against South Sudan on Friday and Mauritania next Tuesday. The Teranga Lions are aiming for a third consecutive World Cup appearance after their impressive showing in Qatar.
However, Group C remains one of the most tightly contested. The group was thrown wide open when South Africa were docked three points for fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, against Lesotho in March. FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee overturned the 2-0 result, awarding Lesotho a 3-0 win and fining the South African Football Association 10,000 Swiss francs (Sh1.6 million). The sanction dropped Bafana Bafana to 14 points, level with Benin, who lead on goal difference.
Benin face Rwanda on Friday and Nigeria next Tuesday, while South Africa host Zimbabwe and Rwanda in their remaining matches. Nigeria and Rwanda trail with 11 points each, still in contention if the leaders stumble.
In Group D, Cape Verde are on the brink of making history. The island nation leads with 19 points, four ahead of Cameroon, and will qualify with a win against Libya on Wednesday or Eswatini next Monday.
Over in Group F, Ivory Coast can secure their World Cup ticket by defeating Seychelles on Friday and Kenya on October 14. The Elephants lead with 18 points, just one ahead of Gabon. Kenya, sitting on nine points after eight games, will look to upset the odds and finish their campaign on a high.
Group G sees Algeria needing only a draw against Somalia on Thursday to confirm qualification. They lead with 19 points, while Mozambique and Uganda trail on 15 points each.
Meanwhile, in Group I, Ghana could clinch their spot with a win over the Central African Republic on Wednesday, provided Madagascar drop points against The Comoros. The Black Stars top the group with 19 points, three clear of Madagascar.
This stage of the qualifiers has brought both excitement and controversy, with several unexpected results reshaping the race for the coveted slots. Teams like Morocco, Egypt, and Senegal have showcased consistency, while underdogs such as Cape Verde and Benin have impressed with disciplined performances.
As the final qualifiers unfold this week, African fans are witnessing one of the most competitive World Cup qualification campaigns in recent memory—one that promises new stories, fresh faces, and the potential for history as teams chase a place in North America 2026.
