Captain Mohamed Salah scored for Egypt as they eased to a 2-0 victory over Ethiopia in their 2026 World Cup qualifier on Friday, but 2022 semi-finalists Morocco needed a late winner from Bilal El Khannouss to defeat unfancied Niger.
The battle for a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is heating up as African teams fight for qualification. The latest round of CAF World Cup qualifiers saw several thrilling matches, with Morocco and Ivory Coast earning narrow victories, while Ghana put on a dominant display against Chad. Elsewhere, Egypt continued their impressive campaign, Nigeria finally picked up their first win, and South Africa remained in control of Group C. Here’s a full breakdown of the latest action in the African qualifiers.
Morocco Leaves It Late Against Niger
Despite being strong favorites, Morocco struggled to break down a resilient Niger side in their Group E clash. The Atlas Lions, who played their ‘away’ fixture at home in Oujda due to Niger’s lack of a suitable stadium, fell behind early in the game.
It took Morocco until the 60th minute to find an equalizer, with Ismael Saibari scoring to restore parity. Just as the match seemed destined for a draw, Bilal El Khannouss stepped up in stoppage time to score a dramatic late winner. The 2-1 victory strengthens Morocco’s position at the top of Group E, where they now lead by six points over second-placed Niger.
4️⃣ games 4️⃣ wins.
The Atlas Lions aren’t messing around in the 2026 #WCQ. pic.twitter.com/V7RKSAQg16
— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) March 22, 2025
Egypt Cruises Past Ethiopia to Extend Lead in Group A
Egypt continued their dominant run in the qualifiers with a 2-0 win over Ethiopia. Led by captain Mohamed Salah, the Pharaohs took control of the game early on, with Salah scoring the opener. Zizo added a second goal, sealing a comfortable victory for the seven-time African champions.
The win extends Egypt’s lead at the top of Group A to five points, putting them in a commanding position for direct qualification. Meanwhile, Burkina Faso remains in the hunt after securing a 4-1 victory over Djibouti, moving into second place in the group.
Ivory Coast Secure Narrow Win to Go Top
African champions Ivory Coast climbed to the top of their group after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Burundi. The match, played in Morocco, was settled by a single goal from Evann Guessand, who found the net for the first time in international football.
With this win, Ivory Coast takes control of their qualification destiny and looks set to book a spot at the 2026 World Cup if they maintain their form.
MD1: 9-0
MD2: 0-2
MD3: 1-0
MD4: 0-0
MD5: 0-14 wins, 1 draw & 13 points. The African Champions remain invincibles in the 2026 #WCQ. pic.twitter.com/eyQHO2yVrm
— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) March 21, 2025
Ghana Demolishes Chad in Five-Goal Masterclass
Ghana, who shockingly failed to qualify for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, responded in emphatic fashion with a dominant 5-0 victory over Chad in Accra. The Black Stars were unstoppable from start to finish, showcasing their attacking firepower.
⚽️ 2′ Antoine Semenyo
⚽️ 31′ Inaki Williams
⚽️ 36′ Jordan Ayew
⚽️ 56′ Mohammed Salisu
⚽️ 68′ Ernest Nuamah5-star performance from the Black Stars. #WCQ pic.twitter.com/Cu218835hX
— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) March 21, 2025
Antoine Semenyo opened the scoring, followed by goals from Inaki Williams, Jordan Ayew, Mohammed Salisu, and Ernest Nuamah. The win pushes Ghana to the top of Group I, where they now lead Madagascar by two points.
With such a commanding performance, Ghana has sent a strong statement to their rivals, showing they are determined to secure a place at the 2026 World Cup.
South Africa Maintains Group C Lead with Win Over Lesotho
South Africa faced some resistance from their neighbors Lesotho but eventually secured a 2-0 victory to stay top of Group C. Rising stars Relebohile Mofokeng and Jayden Adams both scored their first international goals, giving Bafana Bafana a well-earned win.
Next up, South Africa travels to Abidjan to take on second-placed Benin. A win in that match could put Hugo Broos’ side in a strong position to qualify directly for the tournament.
Nigeria Finally Secures First Win Against Rwanda
After a slow start to their qualification campaign, Nigeria finally grabbed their first victory with a 2-0 win over Rwanda in Kigali. Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen was the hero, scoring both goals to secure three vital points.
Despite the win, Nigeria still finds themselves four points behind group leaders South Africa. The Super Eagles will need to win their remaining matches to stand a chance of securing direct qualification.
Algeria, DR Congo, and Equatorial Guinea Also Claim Victories
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Algeria moved to the top of Group G on goal difference after a 3-1 win over Botswana. Mohamed Amoura starred with a brace, while Amine Gouiri added another goal to seal the victory.
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Democratic Republic of Congo edged South Sudan 1-0 thanks to Theo Bongonda’s first-half goal, pushing them into second place in Group B behind leaders Sudan.
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Equatorial Guinea celebrated the return of Emilio Nsue with a 2-0 win over Sao Tome and Principe. Nsue, the nation’s all-time leading scorer, had been sidelined for six months due to a FIFA-imposed suspension but made a strong comeback with a goal in this match.
Guinea Suffer Shock Draw Against Somalia
One of the biggest surprises of the round came in Abidjan, where Guinea was held to a goalless draw by Somalia. The result is a significant setback for Guinea’s qualification hopes, as they dropped crucial points against one of the lowest-ranked teams in the competition.
With every match becoming more decisive, the road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is getting tougher for African teams. The nine group winners will qualify automatically, while the four best second-placed teams will have to battle it out in an intercontinental playoff for the last available spot.
As the qualification campaign enters a crucial phase, Africa’s top teams will need to step up their performances to secure a ticket to the world’s biggest football tournament.
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