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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Tunisia left out captain Ferjani Sassi and key defender Yassine Meriah as new coach Sabri Lamouchi made expected changes on Friday when he named his squad for next month’s World Cup.
Sassi, who has played 101 times for Tunisia, and Meriah, five caps away from a century of appearances for the North Africans, were both dropped from the squad.
Lamouchi, who was appointed coach in January after Sami Trabelsi was dismissed following Tunisia’s exit from the Cup of Nations in the last 16, overhauled the squad for his first two matches in March.
At the time, Lamouchi, who has had spells at Nottingham Forest and Cardiff City, did not reveal whether he was using the friendlies against Haiti and Canada to look at alternative options or whether he was seeking to build a new-look side.
Friday’s squad announcement suggests a mix, as there were surprise call-ups for 21-year-old Khalil Ayari and teenager Rayan Elloumi.
Ayari has been signed by Paris Saint-Germain but has yet to make the first team squad, while Elloumi has made only two starts in Major League Soccer with the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Canadian-born Elloumi, 18, played earlier this year for the World Cup co-hosts in a friendly against Guatemala.
The Tunisia squad also includes 32-year-old midfielder Rani Khedira, whose brother Sami was a World Cup winner with Germany in 2014. Khedira had previously rejected overtures from Tunisia to play for them, but in March switched his footballing nationality and debuted for the North Africans.
Tunisia compete at their seventh World Cup and are in Group F with Sweden, Japan and the Netherlands.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Sabri Ben Hessen (Etoile Sahel), Abdelmouhib Chamakh (Club Africain), Aymen Dahman (CS Sfaxien)
Defenders: Ali Abdi (Nice), Adem Arous (Kasimpasa), Mohamed Amine Ben Hamida (Esperance), Dylan Bronn (Servette Geneva), Raed Chikhaoui (US Monastir), Moutaz Neffati (Norrkoping), Omar Rekik (NK Maribor), Montassar Talbi (Lorient), Yan Valery (Young Boys Berne)
Midfielders: Mortadha Ben Ouanes (Kasimpasa), Anis Ben Slimane (Norwich City), Ismael Gharbi (FC Augsburg), Rani Khedira (Union Berlin), Mohamed Hadj Mahmoud (Lugano), Hannibal Mejbri (Burnley), Ellyes Skhiri (Eintracht Frankfurt).
Reuters
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Fresh uncertainty surrounding Iran national football team’s participation at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has prompted emergency-level diplomacy, with senior FIFA officials set to hold crucial talks with the Iranian Football Federation in Istanbul on Saturday.
At the centre of the discussions will be FIFA Secretary-General Mattias Grafstrom, who is expected to meet officials of the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) to offer what sources described as “reassurance” over Iran’s place at next year’s World Cup.
The meeting comes amid mounting political and security concerns following escalating tensions between Iran, the United States and Israel after military strikes earlier this year. The situation has raised fears over whether Iranian players, officials and delegation members would be granted unhindered access into the United States and Canada, two of the three host nations for the expanded 48-team tournament.
Iran have already qualified for the World Cup and are scheduled to play all three group matches in the United States, beginning with a clash against New Zealand national football team in Los Angeles on June 15.
However, doubts intensified after FFIRI President Mehdi Taj was reportedly denied entry into Canada for the recent FIFA Congress in Vancouver because of alleged links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Both the United States and Canada classify the IRGC as a terrorist organisation and have maintained strict entry restrictions for individuals associated with the elite military body.
The development triggered alarm within Iranian football and diplomatic circles, with Tehran insisting that FIFA must guarantee equal access and participation for all qualified nations.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, warned this week that any barriers placed before the Iranian delegation would undermine the integrity of the World Cup itself.
“The Iranian national football team has earned its right to participate on the field in accordance with FIFA regulations,” Gharibabadi wrote on social media.
He argued that preventing players, officials or technical staff from entering host countries would violate the spirit of the competition and damage FIFA’s credibility as a neutral governing body.
Behind the scenes, FIFA is understood to be working closely with authorities in the host nations to ensure all participating teams can compete “in a safe and secure environment.”
The governing body now finds itself balancing football neutrality with the realities of international geopolitics — a challenge that could define preparations for the biggest World Cup in history.
Iran had reportedly requested that their matches be relocated to Mexico to avoid possible entry complications in the United States, but Gianni Infantino is said to have rejected the proposal, insisting that the original tournament schedule remain intact.
In a potentially calming intervention, U.S. President Donald Trump recently indicated he had no objection to Iran participating in the tournament despite the strained political relationship between the two countries.
Still, uncertainty lingers over whether all Iranian officials — not just players — will receive visas and security clearance.
The Iranian team is scheduled to leave Tehran for a training camp in Turkey on Monday before travelling to their World Cup base at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona in early June.
Saturday’s Istanbul meeting is therefore being viewed as far more than a routine administrative discussion. It represents a critical test of FIFA’s ability to protect the universality of football in an era where global politics increasingly threaten to spill onto the pitch.
For now, the message from FIFA appears to be one of reassurance. But until the first Iranian delegation members clear immigration checkpoints in North America, questions over Iran’s World Cup participation are unlikely to disappear completely.
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Haiti named their World Cup squad on Friday, with captain Johny Placide and all-time top scorer Duckens Nazon included as Les Grenadiers prepare for their first finals in 52 years.
French coach Sebastien Migne selected an experienced squad led by 38-year-old goalkeeper Placide, who plays for Bastia, while Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde is among the team’s most recognisable European-based players.
Nazon, who has 44 goals in 76 appearances, was also selected after playing a key role in qualification, with the striker from Iranian club Esteghlal netting six times during the campaign.
The Caribbean side will play at the men’s World Cup for only the second time, and first since the 1974 tournament in West Germany, after topping their CONCACAF qualifying group.
They had to play all of their home matches at neutral venues because of the country’s security crisis.
Haiti will play warm-up matches against New Zealand and Peru before opening their Group C campaign versus Scotland on June 13, followed by games with five-time champions Brazil and Morocco.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Johny Placide, Alexandre Pierre, Josue Duverger
Defenders: Carlens Arcus, Wilguens Paugain, Duke Lacroix, Martin Experience, JK Duverne, Ricardo Ade, Hannes Delcroix, Keeto Thermoncy
Midfielders: Leverton Pierre, Carl-Fred Sainte, Danley Jean-Jacques, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, Woodensky Pierre, Simon Dominique
Forwards: Louicius Deedson, Ruben Providence, Josue Casimir, Derrick Etienne, Wilson Isidor, Duckens Nazon, Frantzdy Pierrot, Yassin Fortune, Lenny Joseph
-Reuters
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