The long journey for the automatic nine slots for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Africa concluded on Tuesday night, with Senegal becoming the last nation
The long journey for the automatic nine slots for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Africa concluded on Tuesday night, with Senegal becoming the last nation to qualify.
In Group A, Egypt won the slot after winning eight games and drawing two. The Pharaohs finished five good points ahead of the second-placed team, Burkina Faso, who failed to secure one of the four slots in the second place due to inferior goal difference.
Senegal qualified for their third successive World Cup after smashing Mauritania 4-0 to win the slot ahead of D.R. Congo.
The Teranga Lions incredibly won their last five games in the qualifiers, including a wonderful 3-2 comeback victory away to their rivals, D.R. Congo.
The Congolese are in the play-off after finishing second behind Gabon in the play-off table.
Bafana Bafana on Tuesday night destroyed Rwanda 3-0 with Talenthe Mbatha, Oswin Appollis and Evidence Magkopa scoring the crucial goals for Hugo Broos’ side to win the group to put Nigeria and Benin in a tight corner.
Super Eagles, through Victor Osimhen’s hat-trick and a sumptuous volley from Frank Onyeka late in the game, helped Nigeria to steal a slot in the final four play-offs. Nigeria needed a four-goal difference against the table-toppers, Benin and worked hard to secure that victory.
Cape Verde became the smallest African country to ever qualify for the World Cup after a 3-0 win over Eswatini, which helped them to finish above the imperious Cameroon. Cape Verde has a population of around 550,000 people, and its achievements are worth celebrating. Cameroon finished second and will be in the play-off.
2022 World Cup semi-finalist Morocco in Group E won all eight games they played to easily win the sole slot. The Atlas Lions under Walid Regragui scored 22 goals and conceded two, as expected. The attention will now be switched to the AFCON 2025, which they are set to host.
Ivory Coast will return to the world stage after missing the 2018 and 2022 editions. The West Africans beat Kenya 3-0 to finish with just a point ahead of the incredible Gabon, who narrowly pipped Burundi 2-0 to finish with the highest number of points in the play-off table.
Algeria in Tizi Ouzou came from behind to beat Uganda 2-1 to enjoy a successful return to the pinnacle of world football. They finished 7 points ahead of second-placed Uganda to win Group G.
In Group H, Tunisia won it easily as opponents like Equatorial Guinea, Namibia, Liberia, Mali and Sao Tome and Principe were no match for the North Africans. With nine wins and a draw, the Carthage Eagles won an unbelievable 28 points to book a place at next summer’s football party.
Ghana defeated their recent bogey side, Comoros, 1-0, thanks to Kudus’ second-half strike to finish six points clear of Madagascar, whose slim chances were ended by Mali in Bamako after being mauled by the wounded Eagles by 4-1.
Qualified teams
North Africa: Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia
West Africa: Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Cape Verde
Southern Africa: South Africa
Play-Off teams
D.R. Congo, Gabon, Nigeria, Cameroon
Play-off fixtures
Nigeria v Gabon
Cameroon v D.R Congo
* Games to be played in Morocco. Winners will meet in the finals. The winner in the finals will play the inter-continental play-off for the final slot.
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