World Cup
Behold, Africa’s World Cup Qualifiers’ leading scorers
The road to the FIFA World Cup 2026 is gradually taking shape, with African nations contesting the nine guaranteed places for Africa at the global showpiece, with a possible tenth on the line.
With the stakes at an all-time high, the qualifiers have been nothing short of goals with some matches providing high-scoring outcomes, while others being highly tactical and closely contested.
CAFOnline takes a look at the top five scorers of the qualifiers following the conclusion of Match Day 5 on Saturday, 22 March.
Mohamed Salah (Egypt) – 6
The red-hot Mohamed Salah is replicating his club form in the national team with six goals of the 13 scored by the Pharaohs coming from the forward.
Egypt led Group A with 13 points from four wins and a draw, with Salah leading the overall scoring charts of the qualifiers after Match Day 5.
The Liverpool forward scored four times in their opening round of the qualifiers where they secured a commanding 6-0 win over Djibouti. He then contributed with a much-needed equaliser against Guinea-Bissau on Match Day 4, before scoring against Ethiopia in a 2-0 win on Friday to register six goals in five matches for Egypt.
Mahmoud Trézéguet (Egypt) – 5
Second on the goalscoring charts is Mahmoud Trézéguet, who is just one goal shy of matching teammate Mohamed Salah’s six goals.
Trézéguet has five goals, including a brace in a 2-0 win over Sierra Leonne on Match Day 2, a solitary goal in their 6-0 win over Djibouti, and another brace against Burkina Faso on Match Day 5.
Denis Bouanga (Gabon) – 5
Denis Bouanga also sits on five impressive goals for Gabon. The MLS star found his first of the qualifiers in a 2-1 win over Kenya on Match Day 1.
The forward continued with his goal-scoring form on Match Day 2 with a contribution to another 2-1 win which came at the expense of Burundi.
Bouanga returned on Match Day 4 with another goal contribution to a 3-2 win over The Gambia, before getting his fourth and fifth through a brace in a 3-0 win over Seychelles on Match Day 5.
Jordan Ayew (Ghana) – 5
Captain of the Black Stars, Jordan Ayew is leading his nation from the front as the country’s top goalscorer of the qualifiers.
The skipper’s hat-trick in the Black Stars’ 4-3 win over Central Africa Republic, which was preceded by a last-minute strike in a dramatic 2-1 win over Mali has put Ghana in promising position of the qualifiers.
The skipper made it five with a penalty conversion in a 5-0 drubbing of Chad in Match Day 5 of the qualifiers, as the Black Stars continues the chase to a World Cup spot.
Kamory Doumbia (Mali) – 5
Mali’s attacking midfielder, Kamory Doumbia has not only contributed to the Eagles’ build up play but has found the back of the net five times for his nation’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers campaign.
Doumbia first netted in a 3-1 win over Chad on Match Day 1 of the qualifiers to open his account.
The second came for Doumbia in an evenly contested 1-1 draw on Match Day 2 against Central African Republic before getting the third in a 2-1 loss against Ghana on Match Day 3.
Doumbia’s fourth and fifth came on Match Day 5 with a stunning brace that contributed to Mali’s 3-0 win over Comoros.
Other notable scorers of the qualifiers include
Musa Barrow (Gambia) 4
Rayan, Raveloson (Madagascar) 4
Steve Mounie (Benin) 3
Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso) 3
Lassina Traore (Burkina Faso) 3.
-CAF
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By Kunle Solaja, Vancouver
Morocco’s players insist they are not satisfied with making history in Qatar 2022 and are now focused on pushing African football to even greater heights.
The Atlas Lions head into their opening World Cup match against Brazil buoyed by a series of achievements that have transformed the country’s football landscape.
In addition to the senior team’s World Cup exploits, Morocco’s Under-20 side captured the nation’s first FIFA title in 2025, defeating Argentina 2-0 in the FIFA U-20 World Cup final in Chile.
The success has reinforced Morocco’s growing reputation as a football powerhouse, backed by significant investment in infrastructure, youth development and coaching.
Facing Brazil presents the ultimate benchmark.
While the South Americans remain favourites, Morocco have already shown they can overcome football’s aristocrats. Their victories over Spain and Portugal in Qatar changed perceptions worldwide, while the win over Brazil in Tangier provided further evidence of their growing stature.
Now, with another World Cup campaign beginning, the Atlas Lions are determined to show that Moroccan football’s rise is far from over. Their first test comes against the most decorated nation in World Cup history, but Morocco have built a reputation for thriving when the odds are stacked against them.
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By Kunle Solaja
Nearly three decades after Brazil ended Morocco’s 1998 World Cup campaign with a 3-0 victory in France, the Atlas Lions have a chance to settle an old score when the two nations meet again in Group C.
The teams have met only once before at a World Cup, when goals from Brazilian stars Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Bebeto secured victory in Nantes.
Morocco have never defeated South American opposition at the World Cup, having also suffered a 3-0 loss to Peru in 1970. Yet the current generation has repeatedly shattered barriers that once appeared impossible.
The Atlas Lions arrive unbeaten in their last four World Cup group-stage matches, having won two and drawn two during their memorable run in Qatar. Another positive result against Brazil would further cement their reputation as one of world football’s emerging powers.
For many Moroccan supporters, the match represents more than just a group-stage fixture. It is an opportunity to demonstrate how far the national team has progressed since its previous World Cup encounters with football’s traditional giants.
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World Cup
Morocco Ready to Test Themselves Against Brazil as Atlas Lions Chase More World Cup History
By Kunle Solaja
Morocco will launch another chapter of their remarkable World Cup journey when they face five-time champions Brazil in a heavyweight Group C clash, determined to prove that their historic run at Qatar 2022 was no one-off achievement.
The Atlas Lions arrive in North America carrying the hopes of a continent after becoming the first African nation to reach the FIFA World Cup semi-finals four years ago. Now, they are seeking to build on that achievement against one of football’s most successful nations.
Morocco’s path to the 2026 World Cup was flawless. The North Africans won all eight of their qualifying matches, becoming the first African country to secure a place at the tournament and underlining their status as one of the continent’s leading football powers.
Despite Brazil’s rich World Cup pedigree, Morocco will draw confidence from their most recent meeting. In March 2023, the Atlas Lions defeated Brazil 2-1 in Tangier, a victory that demonstrated their ability to compete with the world’s elite teams.
The challenge, however, remains immense. Brazil have won a record five World Cup titles and boast the tournament’s records for victories and goals scored. Yet Morocco believe they possess the quality and experience to upset the South Americans once again.
Much attention will focus on the battle between Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi and Brazil skipper Marquinhos, who are teammates at Paris Saint-Germain but rivals for 90 minutes in New Jersey.
The Atlas Lions also carry memories of their remarkable Qatar campaign, where they topped a group featuring Croatia and Belgium before eliminating Spain and Portugal en route to the semi-finals.
With confidence high and expectations growing, Morocco view the encounter as an opportunity to announce themselves once again as genuine contenders on football’s biggest stage.
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