The race for African qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is heating up, with major teams battling for a spot in the expanded tournament set to be hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. With CAF receiving nine guaranteed slots—and a possible tenth via playoffs—African nations are leaving no stone unturned in their quest for a place on football’s biggest stage.
CAF Qualification Format for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) introduced a new qualification format on May 19, 2023. The qualification process consists of two main stages:
Group Stage
- A total of nine groups of six teams each
- Teams play in a home-and-away round-robin format
- The group winners qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup
Playoff Stage
- The four best group runners-up advance to the CAF playoffs
- The winner of the playoffs proceeds to the inter-confederation playoffs, where they compete for an additional World Cup spot
With four rounds completed and the fifth round set to begin on March 17, several top African teams remain in strong contention, while others need to step up their performances to stay in the race.
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Current Performance of Major African Teams
Nigeria – Struggling to Find Form
Nigeria has endured a poor qualification campaign so far. The Super Eagles, placed in Group C, have failed to win any of their four matches, sitting in fifth place with three draws and one loss. They must win their next fixture against group leaders Rwanda (7 points) to have any chance of qualifying.
South Africa – Steady Progress
South Africa has had a solid start to their campaign, currently sitting second in Group C with seven points, equal with Rwanda. They face Lesotho (4th place, 5 points) in the next match and will need a win to strengthen their chances of qualifying.
Egypt – Dominating Group A
Egypt, led by Mohamed Salah, has been dominant, topping Group A with 10 points in four matches. With 11 goals scored and just two conceded, Egypt is on track for automatic qualification. Salah and Trezeguet have been in top form, leading the scoring charts with five goals each.
Senegal – Holding a Playoff Spot
The AFCON 2021 champions sit second in Group B with eight points from four matches. Currently, they are among the best second-placed teams that qualify for the CAF playoffs. Their next match against Sudan (group leader, 9 points) on March 23 will be crucial.
Morocco – Continuing Their 2022 World Cup Momentum
Morocco is leading Group E with nine points from three matches, maintaining an unbeaten record. They face Niger (2nd place, 6 points) on March 22 in a top-of-the-table clash.
Cameroon – Leading Group D
Cameroon sits top of Group D with eight points from four matches and remains unbeaten. They face Eswatini (last place, 0 points) in their next match, which should be an easy win.
Ivory Coast – AFCON Champions in Command
After winning the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, Ivory Coast is in strong form, leading Group F with 10 points. They remain unbeaten in the qualifiers and play Burundi next.
Algeria – On Course for Qualification
Algeria tops Group G with nine points from four matches, winning three and losing one. They face Botswana on March 21, a game they will expect to win.
Current Standings: Teams on Course for Direct Qualification
| Position | Team | Group | Matches Played | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Egypt | A | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 2 | +9 | 10 |
| 2 | Sudan | B | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 3 | +4 | 9 |
| 3 | Rwanda | C | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 7 |
| 4 | Cameroon | D | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 8 |
| 5 | Morocco | E | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | +7 | 9 |
| 6 | Ivory Coast | F | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | +6 | 10 |
| 7 | Algeria | G | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 9 |
| 8 | Tunisia | H | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 10 |
| 9 | Comoros | I | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 9 |
Best Runner-Up Teams (Playoff Contenders)
| Position | Team | Group | Matches Played | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ghana | I | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 9 |
| 2 | Gabon | F | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 9 |
| 3 | Mozambique | G | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 | +1 | 9 |
| 4 | Senegal | B | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 8 |
What’s Next?
With the next round of fixtures starting on March 17, the competition is heating up. While top teams like Egypt, Morocco, and Ivory Coast look set for direct qualification, others such as Nigeria and South Africa need to step up to stay in contention.
For now, the race for Africa’s nine automatic World Cup spots and one potential playoff place remains wide open. The coming matches will be crucial in shaping the final qualification picture.
