World Cup
Great expectations this week as Africa’s World Cup 2026 Qualifiers enter Match Day 6
Following the successful conclusion of Match Day 5 of the qualifiers, CAFOnline takes a look at some exciting fixtures lined up for Match Day 6 of the qualifiers set to take place between 23 – 26 March 2025.
Group A
● Egypt – Sierra Leone: Egypt, the leader of the group with 13 points, recently secured a 2-0 victory against Ethiopia, strengthening their position at the top. Sierra Leone, on the other hand, is looking to improve its standing.
● Guinea-Bissau – Burkina Faso: Burkina Faso, second with 8 points, must win to stay in the race for direct qualification. Guinea-Bissau, although ranked lower, could play the role of a spoiler. Past encounters show a slight advantage for Burkina Faso, but every match remains open.
● Ethiopia – Djibouti: Both teams, at the bottom of the standings, are not going down without a fight. Ethiopia, despite its recent loss to Egypt, is the favourite against Djibouti, which has often struggled in these qualifiers.
Group B
● Sudan vs. South Sudan: After holding Senegal to a 0-0 draw, Sudan remains at the top of Group B with 11 points. The Nile Crocodiles approach their next match against their neighbours with the ambition to assert their superiority and move closer to a historic World Cup qualification. Buoyed by positive momentum, Sudan faces a South Sudanese team still searching for its first win in these qualifiers.
● Senegal vs. Togo: As the runner-up behind Sudan, Senegal must win to secure its position. Historically, Senegal has often dominated Togo, which could influence the morale of both teams.
● Mauritania vs. DR Congo: A crucial match for both teams aiming to move up the table. DR Congo has recently shown strong performances, but Mauritania, playing at home, could surprise.
Group C
● Nigeria vs. Zimbabwe: The Super Eagles begin their comeback operation. With only 6 points, Nigeria lags in the qualification race, but their first win against Rwanda has revived confidence in the former African champions, led by Eric Chelle. Zimbabwe hopes to secure its first win in these qualifiers.
● Benin vs. South Africa: South Africa, the group leader with 10 points, aims to maintain its lead over its closest rival, Benin, with 8 points. The Cheetahs will play at home, looking to take advantage of this.
● Rwanda vs. Lesotho: Both teams, in search of points, often play close matches. Rwanda recently suffered a 2-0 loss at home to Nigeria, while Lesotho aims to capitalize on this opportunity.
Group D
● Eswatini vs. Mauritius: A match between two teams at the bottom of the standings. Eswatini has a slight advantage over Mauritius, but both will seek victory for pride.
● Angola vs. Cape Verde: Cape Verde, leading the group with 10 points, looks to consolidate its position. Angola, with the home advantage, could cause problems.
● Cameroon vs. Libya: After being held to a 0-0 draw by Eswatini, Cameroon must win to reassure itself. But Libya who are under Aliou Cissé cannot be ruled out just yet.
Group E
● Burundi vs. Seychelles: Burundi aims to capitalize on this match to improve its position. Seychelles, often struggling, will attempt to cause an upset.
● Morocco vs. Tanzania: Morocco, the group leader with an almost perfect record, aims to continue its momentum. Tanzania, although competitive, will need to outperform past performances to challenge the Atlas Lions.
Group F
● Kenya vs. Gabon: A crucial match for both teams aiming to move up the table. Gabon, one point behind leaders Côte d’Ivoire, has shown strong recent performances, but Kenya, playing at home, could benefit from the support of its fans.
● Côte d’Ivoire vs. Gambia: Côte d’Ivoire, leading with a perfect record, seeks to continue its streak. Gambia, though competitive, will need a great performance to destabilize the African champions.
Group G
● Botswana vs. Somalia: After losing 3-1 to Algeria, Botswana will look to bounce back. Somalia, on the other hand, held Guinea to a 0-0 draw, demonstrating its defensive solidity and potential to surprise in this qualification campaign.
● Algeria vs. Mozambique: Algeria, the group leader, demonstrated its superiority with a convincing 3-1 victory over Somalia in the first match day of the qualifiers. Mozambique, despite a loss to Algeria in the second matchday, will attempt to cause an upset.
● Uganda vs. Guinea: Uganda recently suffered a 3-1 defeat to Mozambique, while Guinea disappointed with a 0-0 draw against Somalia. Past encounters between these two teams have often been balanced, suggesting an intense match ahead.
Group H
● Liberia vs. São Tomé and Príncipe: After strong resistance against Tunisia, Liberia eventually lost 1-0. This leaves them in a delicate position ahead of their match against São Tomé and Príncipe, who are still seeking their first points in these qualifiers.
● Tunisia vs. Malawi: Tunisia started the qualifiers strongly with a 1-0 win over São Tomé and Príncipe. Malawi, after a 1-0 victory over Liberia, will look to continue from the confidence boosting result.
● Namibia vs. Equatorial Guinea: Namibia lost 1-0 to Equatorial Guinea on the first match day. This return match offers Namibia a chance for revenge, but Equatorial Guinea will look to repeat its victorious performance.
Group I
● Central African Republic vs. Mali: Mali began the qualifiers with a 3-1 victory over Chad, while the Central African Republic suffered a 4-2 loss to Comoros. Past encounters between these two teams are rare, making the outcome of this match hard to predict.
● Madagascar vs. Ghana: Ghana won 1-0 against Madagascar on the first match day. Madagascar will look to reverse the trend in this return match, but Ghana, with its positive historical record, is the favourite.
● Comoros vs. Chad: Comoros started the qualifiers with a 4-2 victory over the Central African Republic, while Chad lost 3-1 to Mali. Comoros, on the rise in recent years, could capitalize on its momentum to claim the win.
-CAF
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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have received a significant lift following the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision to revise the criteria for determining the four best runners-up in the African qualifiers.
But in the end, it may boil down to the use of calculators to determine number of goals and points to be deducted from the runners-up in eight of the nine World Cup qualifying groups.
Only Niger’s position in Group E will remain constant as Eritrea’s withdrawal prompts recalibration of “best runners-up” ranking system.
The change, prompted by Eritrea’s withdrawal from Group E of the qualifiers, has forced CAF and FIFA to adjust the ranking formula to ensure fairness across all nine qualifying groups. Eritrea’s exit left Group E with only five teams instead of six, creating an imbalance in the points system.
In a circular dated March 14, 2025, signed by CAF Director of Tournaments and Events, Samson Adamu, CAF explained that results against the lowest-ranked or withdrawn teams in each group will no longer count when comparing second-placed teams.
The rule, drawn from Article 11.5 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 preliminary competition regulations, aims to standardize the evaluation process across all groups.
“Whenever a group has fewer than five teams due to withdrawal or disqualification, results against the lowest-ranked or withdrawn teams will not be considered when determining the best runners-up,” the circular stated.
The new regulation could reshape the qualification standings. According to early projections, several teams currently in contention — such as Burkina Faso, DR Congo, Madagascar, and Gabon — could each lose up to six points once results against bottom-placed teams are excluded. Meanwhile, Cameroon may lose four points, but Nigeria could benefit substantially, potentially climbing higher in the overall runners-up table. But they have to win their remaining two matches to be in contention for the group leadership or the secondary qualifying series of play-off.
Why the Rule Favours Nigeria
Nigeria currently sit outside the top spot in their qualifying group but remain in contention for one of the playoff positions reserved for the best four runners-up.
The Super Eagles have drawn both their matches against Zimbabwe, who presently occupy the bottom of Group C. In essence, the last minute goal conceded in Uyo last March could be blessing in disguise.
Under the new rule, those two draws — worth two points — would be removed from Nigeria’s total if Zimbabwe remain bottom. However, while Nigeria would lose only two points, many rival second-placed teams could lose between four and six points, giving the Super Eagles a relative advantage.
In practical terms, this adjustment means that if Nigeria finish second behind South Africa or Benin, their overall points tally could still place them among the top four second-placed teams — especially if they secure maximum points from their remaining fixtures against Lesotho and Benin Republic.
Analysis: CAF’s Balancing Act and Nigeria’s Renewed Hope
CAF’s decision reflects an attempt to maintain competitive integrity after Eritrea’s withdrawal disrupted the symmetry of the qualification groups.
By nullifying results against the lowest-ranked teams, the governing body ensures all second-placed nations are compared on a level playing field — based on equal numbers of matches and similar competitive balance.
For Nigeria, this adjustment offers a mathematical lifeline. The Super Eagles’ path to automatic qualification — by topping their group — remains the primary goal. But should they fall short, this rule revision provides a crucial backup route to the playoffs.
The timing of the rule change is also significant. With only a few matches left in the campaign, Nigeria’s qualification fate could hinge not only on their performance but also on how other second-placed teams are recalculated under the new system.
It also serves as a reminder of the fine margins in World Cup qualifying — where even administrative revisions can alter a nation’s destiny.
What Lies Ahead
Nigeria face Lesotho in Polokwane and Benin in Uyo in their upcoming fixtures, knowing that six points could transform their campaign. Head coach Eric Chelle will be urging his players to treat every match as a final, given the complex permutations now in play.
With the CAF revision effectively narrowing the gap between groups, Nigeria’s fate is once again in their hands — a rare turn of fortune after a turbulent qualifying run.
In a qualification series marked by unpredictability, this rule change might just be the break the Super Eagles need to return to the global stage after missing the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
The stakes could not be higher as Nigeria’s Super Eagles face Lesotho in a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying encounter at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa, this Friday evening.
It is another desperate situation for Nigeria as it was in the qualifying duels for 2002 World Cup and that of 2010.
In both instances, qualification tickets were snatched at the last moments. In the 2002 race where a George Weah-inspired Liberia became the front runner, it was a dramatic 4-0 away win against Sudan and concurrent Liberia home loss to an already eliminated Ghana that turned the tide in Nigeria’s favour.
History might also repeat itself on this day. Similarly, in the final race to the 2010World Cup, Tunisia were the leaders as the Nigerian team displayed epileptic form just in this current qualifier.
A dramatic turn-around came when Nigeria beat Kenya away and Mozambique also beat Tunisia in the dying-minutes of an encounter that was going the North Africans’ way.
Now with only two matches left in the qualifying campaign, Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the 2026 finals hang delicately in the balance.
The recent decision by FIFA to dock South Africa three points for fielding an ineligible player against Lesotho has reopened the group, giving Nigeria a narrow but vital lifeline.
The Group C table remains tight, with Nigeria needing nothing short of victory to keep their World Cup dreams alive before the final group clash against Benin Republic.
Results elsewhere in Group C matter. Nigeria will hope both Benin Republic and South Africa falter in their respective away games to Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
Rwanda, with 11 points like Nigeria remain a potential qualifier. Zimbabwe, playing their home game away in South Africa can only play a ‘spoiler’s role. The three matches are expected to be played concurrently.
Only the team that finishes top will qualify automatically, while the runners-up must rely on a playoff route.
Lesotho, meanwhile, are fifth in the group but have shown flashes of resilience throughout the campaign.
The Crocodiles, as they are nicknamed, have shared their goals among several players — Motlomelo Mkwanazi, Lehlohonolo Fothoane, Rethabile Rasethuntsa and Jane Thabantso — and are expected to adopt a cautious, counter-attacking style against the Nigerians.
Though officially designated as a “home” fixture for Lesotho, the match will again be played in South Africa, where they host their international games due to stadium limitations in Maseru.
For Nigeria, this is a game they simply cannot afford to drop. The Super Eagles have endured an inconsistent campaign, managing only two wins from eight matches so far.
Injuries have also complicated the team’s preparations. Defender Ola Aina remains sidelined with a hamstring problem, while there are fitness concerns around Bright Osayi-Samuel and striker Cyriel Dessers.
The possible return of forward Victor Osimhen could prove decisive, as head coach Eric Chelle is expected to deploy an attacking line-up that reflects the urgency of the occasion. Nigeria are likely to set up in a 4-3-3 formation, pressing high and pushing for early goals.
Despite their struggles, Nigeria’s record against Lesotho offers encouragement. The Super Eagles have never lost to the Crocodiles, though the reverse fixture in Uyo ended in a shock 1–1 draw — a result that Nigeria will be desperate to avoid repeating.
Analysts and betting markets strongly favour Nigeria to win, with most predictions pointing to a 2–0 or 3–1 outcome in their favour.
Goals will be crucial as they may be the ultimate decider as the Group C could get to the last match day next week will all top four – Benin, South Africa, Nigeria and Rwanda all going to the final day on 14 points in the event of possible Nigeria, Rwanda and Zimbabwe victories this Friday.
Yet, the Crocodiles have proven capable of frustrating superior opposition, and their disciplined defending may once again test the Nigerians’ patience.
For Lesotho, it is another chance to play spoilers in one of African football’s most competitive qualification groups. For Nigeria, it is a moment of reckoning — a battle for pride, redemption, and survival on the road to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
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Algeria sealed qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ after a commanding victory over Somalia, while Uganda boosted their playoff hopes with a crucial win against Botswana.
The Desert Warriors became the latest African side to book their place in North America, maintaining an unassailable lead at the top of Group G.
Uganda, meanwhile, strengthened their grip on second place, moving three points clear of Mozambique, whose defeat to Guinea effectively ended their qualification bid.
In Group H, Liberia revived their hopes of reaching the continental play-offs after beating Namibia, while Kenya claimed a morale-boosting win over Burundi in Group F.
Group G: Algeria cruise past Somalia to seal World Cup return
Somalia 0–3 Algeria
Scorers: Amoura (6′, 58′), Mahrez (19′)
Algeria confirmed their return to the world stage with a 3–0 win over Somalia in Oran.
Mohamed Amoura opened the scoring early on, volleying home from Riyad Mahrez’s cross. The captain then turned scorer, rifling in a bouncing ball to double the lead.
Mahrez later turned provider again, delivering another precise cross for Amoura to head home his second.
The victory marks Algeria’s fifth World Cup qualification and their first since 2014, when they reached the Round of 16 before losing narrowly to eventual champions Germany.
Group G: Uganda tighten grip on second place
Botswana 0–1 Uganda
Scorer: Ssemugabi (54′)
Jude Ssemugabi’s header early in the second half proved decisive as Uganda earned a vital win over Botswana to consolidate second place in the group.
The Cranes dominated possession and created the better chances, with Rogers Mato forcing a fine save in the first half.
Ssemugabi’s close-range finish was enough to seal victory, despite late pressure from the hosts.
Uganda now need just a draw in their final match against already-qualified Algeria to secure a top-two finish — and a potential spot among the four best runners-up heading into the playoffs.
Group G: Mozambique slip up as Guinea exit
Mozambique 1–2 Guinea
Scorers: Reinildo (19′) – Traore (2′, 59′)
Mozambique’s qualification hopes suffered a major blow after a surprise home defeat to Guinea.
Abdoul Traore’s early header put the visitors ahead before Reinildo levelled for Mozambique with a powerful finish from Geny Catamo’s cross.
However, Traore restored Guinea’s lead in the second half with a fierce strike that slipped through goalkeeper Ernan Siluane’s hands.
Despite the win, Guinea’s campaign came to an end as they were mathematically eliminated, along with Botswana.
Group H: Liberia stun Namibia to stay alive
Liberia 3–1 Namibia
Scorers: Kosiah (pen 3′), Bah (9′), Ledlum (81′) – Ndeunyema (86′)
Liberia kept their playoff hopes alive with an emphatic victory over Namibia, closing the gap on the second-placed Brave Warriors to just one point.
The hosts made a dream start when Ayouba Kosiah converted an early penalty before Sulahmana Bah added a second after rounding the goalkeeper.
Substitute Edward Ledlum sealed the win late on with a curling effort from the edge of the area. David Ndeunyema scored a consolation goal for Namibia in the final minutes.
Group F: Kenya edge Burundi in fiery contest
Burundi 0–1 Kenya
Scorer: Ogam (73′)
Ten-man Burundi fell to a narrow defeat against Kenya in a hard-fought encounter.
Burundi’s Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana was sent off after just two minutes for a reckless challenge on Kenyan goalkeeper Brian Bwire, who had to be stretchered off.
Substitute keeper Byrne Odhiambo impressed, making several key saves to preserve Kenya’s clean sheet.
The decisive moment came when Ryan Ogam, introduced midway through the second half, curled home a stunning long-range effort to secure the win.
Cafonline
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