World Cup
2026 World Cup qualifiers: Egypt, Cote d’Ivoire, and Morocco lead – Nigeria, Ghana under pressure
As the CAF World Cup qualifiers return this week, African nations are entering a crucial phase with matchdays five and six set to shape the race for World Cup 2026 in North America.
With only group winners securing direct qualification and the four best runners-up fighting for a playoff spot, every match matters.
Egypt, Sudan, Côte d’Ivoire, Tunisia, and Morocco currently lead their groups, but traditional powerhouses like Nigeria and Ghana are under immense pressure.
Here’s a detailed analysis of each group, followed by the latest fixtures and standings.
Group A: Egypt Set to Extend Lead, Burkina Faso Aim to Bounce Back
Egypt remain firm favourites to top Group A, boasting an unbeaten record and a squad led by Mohamed Salah and Mahmoud Trezeguet, the joint-top scorers in qualifying.
With Omar Marmoush now in the mix, Egypt will look to strengthen their position with an away match against Ethiopia before hosting Sierra Leone.
Guinea-Bissau, who held Egypt to a 1-1 draw, continue to fight for second place. Meanwhile, Burkina Faso must take full points against Djibouti to stay in contention after a slow start.
Upcoming Fixtures:
Matchday 5: Burkina Faso vs Djibouti | Sierra Leone vs Guinea-Bissau | Ethiopia vs Egypt
Matchday 6: Guinea-Bissau vs Burkina Faso | Egypt vs Sierra Leone | Ethiopia vs Djibouti
Standings:
- 1. Egypt – 10 pts
- 2. Guinea-Bissau – 6 pts
- 3. Burkina Faso – 5 pts
- 4. Sierra Leone – 5 pts
- 5. Ethiopia – 3 pts
- 6. Djibouti – 1 pt
Group B: Sudan and Senegal Locked in a Top-of-the-Table Battle
This group is set for a crucial showdown between Sudan and Senegal, both of whom have been in fine form. Senegal, led by captain Sadio Mane, are unbeaten but trail Sudan by two points.
Their head-to-head clash could decide the group’s outcome.
DR Congo, despite early struggles, still have a chance to stay in contention with must-win matches against South Sudan and Mauritania. Meanwhile, Togo are still chasing their first win in the group.
Upcoming Fixtures:
Matchday 5: DR Congo vs South Sudan | Togo vs Mauritania | Sudan vs Senegal
Matchday 6: Mauritania vs DR Congo | Senegal vs Togo | Sudan vs Senegal
Standings:
- 1. Sudan – 10 pts
- 2. Senegal – 8 pts
- 3. DR Congo – 7 pts
- 4. Togo – 3 pts
- 5. South Sudan – 2 pts
- 6. Mauritania – 1 pt
Group C: Nigeria in Crisis as Rwanda, South Africa, and Benin Lead the Charge
This is one of the tightest groups, with three teams – Rwanda, South Africa, and Benin – all tied on seven points. Nigeria, however, are in danger of missing out on qualification, sitting fifth with just three points.
Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen celebrates with teammates. Such celebrations are anticipated by Nigerians on Friday.
The Super Eagles must win at Rwanda to revive their hopes before a home clash against Zimbabwe.
Meanwhile, South Africa, boosted by their TotalEnergies CAF AFCON qualification, will be aiming for two wins to take control of the group.
Upcoming Fixtures:
Matchday 5: South Africa vs Lesotho | Zimbabwe vs Benin | Rwanda vs Nigeria
Matchday 6: Benin vs South Africa | Nigeria vs Zimbabwe | Rwanda vs Lesotho
Standings:
- 1. Rwanda – 7 pts
- 2. South Africa – 7 pts
- 3. Benin – 7 pts
- 4. Lesotho – 5 pts
- 5. Nigeria – 3 pts
- 6. Zimbabwe – 2 pts
Group D: Cameroon Look to Pull Away from Chasing Pack
Cameroon, with their eight World Cup appearances, lead the group but have Libya and Cape Verde just one point behind. A win against Eswatini, who have lost all their games, could create some breathing room.
Angola, who went unbeaten in the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON qualifiers, could also shake up the standings if they take points from Libya and Cape Verde.
Upcoming Fixtures:
Matchday 5: Cape Verde vs Mauritius | Libya vs Angola | Eswatini vs Cameroon
Matchday 6: Angola vs Cape Verde | Cameroon vs Libya | Eswatini vs Mauritius
Standings:
1. Cameroon – 8 pts
2. Libya – 7 pts
3. Cape Verde – 7 pts
4. Angola – 6 pts
5. Mauritius – 4 pts
6. Eswatini – 0 pts
Group E: Morocco Dominate as Eritrea’s Exit Leaves Just Five Teams
With three wins from three, Morocco are heavy favorites to qualify directly.
They face a tough test against Niger, who are still in contention, before hosting Tanzania in a must-win match for both teams.
Upcoming Fixtures:
Matchday 5: Niger vs Morocco | Tanzania vs Congo | Zambia vs Eritrea*
Matchday 6: Congo vs Zambia | Niger vs Eritrea* | Morocco vs Tanzania
Standings:
- 1. Morocco – 9 pts
- 2. Niger – 6 pts
- 3. Tanzania – 6 pts
- 4. Zambia – 3 pts
- 5. Congo – 0 pts
Group F: Côte d’Ivoire Face Strong Competition from Gabon and Burundi
Côte d’Ivoire, fresh from winning the 2023 TotalEnergies CAF AFCON, have maintained their dominance in World Cup qualification, sitting top of the group with 10 points.
Cote d’Ivoire’s Seko Mohamed Fofana celebrates goal with teammates during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations
Their squad, featuring Jean-Philippe Krasso and Oumar Diakite, has looked solid, but the race for qualification is far from over.
Gabon, just one point behind, will look to maintain pressure, especially with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leading their attack.
Burundi, sitting in third with seven points, are also in contention. Kenya and Gambia must win their upcoming matches to avoid falling further behind.
Upcoming Fixtures:
Matchday 5: Gabon vs Seychelles | Gambia vs Kenya | Burundi vs Côte d’Ivoire
Matchday 6: Kenya vs Gabon | Côte d’Ivoire vs Gambia | Burundi vs Seychelles
Standings:
- 1. Côte d’Ivoire – 10 pts
- 2. Gabon – 9 pts
- 3. Burundi – 7 pts
- 4. Kenya – 5 pts
- 5. Gambia – 3 pts
- 6. Seychelles – 0 pts
Group G: Algeria and Mozambique in Tight Battle for Top Spot
Algeria, the only team in this group with World Cup experience, are locked in a tense battle with Mozambique, as both sides sit on nine points. The Fennecs will rely on in-form Amine Gouiri, who has been instrumental in their qualification campaign.
With Botswana, Guinea, and Uganda all sitting on six points, the group remains wide open. The upcoming matches could be decisive in determining who takes control before the final phase of qualifiers. Somalia, yet to register a point, are effectively out of contention.
Upcoming Fixtures:
Matchday 5: Guinea vs Somalia | Mozambique vs Uganda | Botswana vs Algeria
Matchday 6: Uganda vs Guinea | Algeria vs Mozambique | Botswana vs Somalia
Standings:
- 1. Algeria – 9 pts
- 2. Mozambique – 9 pts
- 3. Botswana – 6 pts
- 4. Guinea – 6 pts
- 5. Uganda – 6 pts
- 6. Somalia – 0 pts
Group H: Tunisia Look to Extend Lead, Namibia and Liberia in Pursuit
Tunisia have been the standout team in this group, leading with 10 points and securing an early AFCON 2025 qualification spot. They are looking to edge closer to a seventh World Cup appearance, with upcoming matches against Liberia and Malawi.
Namibia and Liberia, sitting in second and third, remain in contention, while Equatorial Guinea, despite their AFCON qualification, have been inconsistent in this campaign. São Tomé and Príncipe have struggled to make an impact, losing all their matches so far.
Upcoming Fixtures:
Matchday 5: Equatorial Guinea vs São Tomé and Príncipe | Malawi vs Namibia | Liberia vs Tunisia
Matchday 6: Namibia vs Equatorial Guinea | Tunisia vs Malawi | Liberia vs São Tomé and Príncipe
Standings:
- 1. Tunisia – 10 pts
- 2. Namibia – 8 pts
- 3. Liberia – 7 pts
- 4. Malawi – 6 pts
- 5. Equatorial Guinea – 3 pts
- 6. São Tomé and Príncipe – 0 pts
Group I: Ghana Face a Must-Win Situation as Comoros Hold Surprise Lead
One of the biggest surprises in the CAF qualifiers has been Comoros, who sit top of Group I alongside Ghana, both on 9 points. The island nation has been one of Africa’s fastest-rising teams, with impressive performances in both AFCON and World Cup qualifiers.
Ghana, however, are under immense pressure, as they were expected to dominate this group. With Mali and Madagascar still in the race, the Black Stars must win their matches against Chad and Madagascar to keep their qualification hopes alive.
Mali, with just 5 points, are struggling to keep up, while Chad remain without a point and are effectively out of the running.
Upcoming Fixtures:
Matchday 5: Ghana vs Chad | Central African Republic vs Madagascar | Comoros vs Mali
Matchday 6: Madagascar vs Ghana | Central African Republic vs Mali | Comoros vs Chad
Standings:
- 1.Comoros – 9 pts
- 2. Ghana – 9 pts
- 3. Madagascar – 7 pts
- 4.Mali – 5 pts
- 5. Central African Republic – 4 pts
- 6. Chad – 0 pts
With only the group winners securing a direct ticket to World Cup 2026, the stakes have never been higher.
Egypt, Sudan, Côte d’Ivoire, Tunisia, and Morocco look on course for qualification, but giants like Nigeria and Ghana must fight to stay in contention.
The next two matchdays will be critical in shaping Africa’s representation at the World Cup, with several must-win matches on the horizon.
Expect high-intensity battles across all groups as teams push for a place on the world stage.
CAF
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By Kunle Solaja
The Democratic Republic of Congo has named several players at the centre of Nigeria’s eligibility protest in its squad for the decisive inter-continental play-off for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, underlining the lingering controversy surrounding the Leopards’ qualification campaign.
DR Congo will face the winner of the play-off between Jamaica and New Caledonia in Guadalajara, Mexico, on March 31, 2026, in a match that could send the Central African nation back to the World Cup for the first time in 52 years.
But the squad announced by coach Sébastien Desabre has drawn attention because many of the players whose eligibility Nigeria questioned after last November’s African play-off defeat have again been included.
Players at the centre of Nigeria’s protest
Nigeria’s protest to FIFA following the African play-off in Morocco focused most strongly on three players whose nationality switches were approved only days before the decisive match: Michel-Ange Balikwisha, Mario Stroeykens and Matheu Epolo
Balikwisha and Stroeykens, both Belgian-born and former Belgium youth internationals, were granted FIFA approval to switch allegiance to DR Congo in the days leading up to the November 16 play-off against Nigeria.
Epolo, a Belgian-born goalkeeper who also represented Belgium at the youth level, had his nationality switch approved within the same period.
Nigeria argued that the Congolese federation had called up the players before FIFA had formally approved their change of association, raising questions about whether proper procedures had been followed.
Of the three players at the centre of the protest, Epolo has been included in the squad for the Guadalajara play-off, while Balikwisha and Stroeykens have not been listed among the selected players.
Several other contested players retained
Beyond the three players highlighted in Nigeria’s complaint, several other footballers whose eligibility was questioned by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have also been retained in the squad.
These include: Lionel Mpasi, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe, Arthur Masuaku, Samuel Moutoussamy, Noah Sadiki, Ngal’ayel Mukau, Nathanaël Mbuku, and Cédric Bakambu
Most of those players were involved in the controversial African play-off match against Nigeria last November, with Mpasi, Wan-Bissaka, Tuanzebe and Masuaku forming part of the starting defence.
Midfielders Sadiki, Moutoussamy and Mukau also started the match, while Mbuku and Bakambu featured in the attacking line.
Substitute appearances were made by Edo Kayembe, Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Fiston Mayele, with Balikwisha scoring one of the penalties in the shoot-out that ultimately eliminated Nigeria.
Legal basis of Nigeria’s complaint
Nigeria’s petition to FIFA was based on two principal arguments.
The first concerned the timing of FIFA approval for nationality switches.
According to the NFF, the Congolese federation called up several dual-nationality players around November 1, 2025, but FIFA only approved their change of association between November 11 and 12, just days before the match on November 16.
Nigeria argued that this raised questions about how the players could have been selected before their eligibility was officially confirmed.
The second argument related to DR Congo’s constitutional position on dual nationality.
The NFF contended that because the Congolese constitution does not formally recognise dual citizenship, players who still held European passports might not have been eligible to represent the country unless they had renounced their other nationalities.
Historic opportunity in Guadalajara
Despite the controversy, DR Congo now stands within touching distance of its first World Cup appearance since 1974, when the country competed under the name Zaire.
Desabre’s squad blends experienced European-based players with emerging talent as the Leopards attempt to secure a historic return to the global stage.
In defence, Wan-Bissaka and Masuaku are expected to provide width, while Chancel Mbemba and Tuanzebe offer experience and physical presence at the heart of the backline.
Midfielders Sadiki and Moutoussamy will be tasked with controlling the tempo, supported by attacking outlets such as Grady Diangana and Edo Kayembe.
Up front, DR Congo will rely on the firepower of Bakambu, Fiston Mayele, Simon Banza and Yoane Wissa.
If the Leopards prevail in Guadalajara, they will become the tenth African nation to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, joining Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Ghana, Cape Verde, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal.
Yet as they prepare for the decisive match, the presence of several players named in Nigeria’s protest ensures that the controversy surrounding last November’s play-off remains part of the broader narrative of DR Congo’s quest for a place at football’s biggest tournament.
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U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday the Iranian men’s national soccer team was welcome to participate in the 2026 World Cup but that he believed it was not appropriate that they be there “for their own life and safety.”
“The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to the World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
Iran’s sports minister said on Wednesday, opens new tab that it was not possible for his nation’s athletes to participate after the U.S. launched airstrikes alongside Israel against Tehran. The attacks triggered a region-wide conflict that has shown no signs of abating.
The 48-team World Cup will be held in the U.S., Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, with Iran scheduled for matches in Los Angeles and Seattle.
An official withdrawal by Iran from the showpiece event, which has not yet happened, would be a first in the modern era and would leave soccer’s global governing body FIFA with the urgent task of finding a replacement team.
Iran was the only nation missing from a FIFA planning summit for World Cup participants held last week in Atlanta.
FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Late last year it awarded Trump — who has campaigned aggressively for the Nobel Peace Prize — its own inaugural peace prize .
Earlier this week, Australia granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian women soccer players after they sought asylum, fearing persecution on their return home for their refusal to sing the national anthem at an Asia Cup match.
Trump had urged Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to grant asylum to members of the Iranian women’s team, saying the U.S. would if Australia did not.
-Reuters
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Democratic Republic of Congo striker Yoane Wissa has returned to the squad for their World Cup playoff this month after missing the Africa Cup of Nations finals at the turn of the year.
The Newcastle United forward suffered a knee injury playing for his country against Senegal in a World Cup qualifier in early September, only returning to action in December, and was not chosen for the Cup of Nations in December and January.
The Congolese were eliminated in the round of 16 at the tournament in Morocco.
They now have a chance to become the 10th African country at the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. starting in June.
They are competing in the inter-confederation playoff in Guadalajara, Mexico on March 31 against either Jamaica or New Caledonia, who meet five days earlier.
The winners of the March 31 game qualify for the World Cup and will be in Group K with Colombia, Portugal and Uzbekistan.
DR Congo coach Sebastien Desabre named 26 players for the playoff with defender Dylan Batubinsika of Greek side AEL and Watford right back Jeremy Ngakia returning.
Elche’s former England under-21 midfielder Grady Diangana, who missed the Cup of Nations finals, is also included.
Reuters
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