World Cup Qualifiers: Morocco Makes History, African Teams Battle On
Latest updates on the World Cup qualifiers from Africa, including Morocco's historic qualification, Egypt's strong lead, and Ivory Coast's comeback.
Morocco's qualification is a significant achievement for African football, paving the way for other strong contenders...
Morocco has become the first African country to secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup finals. They achieved this milestone with a dominating 5-0 victory over Niger at home, showcasing their strength in the qualifiers. This win marks their sixth successive victory, highlighting their impressive performance so far.
The match saw outstanding contributions from Moroccan players, including two goals from Ismael Saibari and one goal each from Ayoub El Kaabi, Hamza Igamane, and Azzedine Ounahi. This team effort solidifies Morocco's position at the top of their group, demonstrating their potential to excel in the World Cup. Led by captain Achraf Hakimi, the team has shown remarkable skill and determination.
Morocco's qualification is a significant achievement for African football, paving the way for other strong contenders. Teams like Egypt, Ivory Coast, and Senegal are also in contention for the remaining spots. The 2026 World Cup will feature 48 teams, with Africa allocated nine direct qualification spots. The winners of each group will qualify directly, while the best runners-up will enter a playoff to determine the final African representative.
Morocco Makes History in 2026 World Cup Qualifiers
Morocco has become the first African country to secure a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, achieving this milestone with a convincing 5-0 victory over Niger in Rabat. This win marked their sixth consecutive success in the qualifiers, showcasing their dominance in their group.
Star Performances
The Moroccan team's victory was fueled by outstanding performances from its players, including:
- Ismael Saibari: Scored two crucial goals, highlighting his skill and contribution to the team's success.
- Ayoub El Kaabi: Netting one goal, demonstrating his prowess on the field.
- Hamza Igamane: Adding to the scoreboard with a well-taken goal.
- Azzedine Ounahi: Rounding off the scoring with a fifth goal, sealing the win for Morocco.
Implications for the 2026 World Cup
This achievement not only marks a historic moment for Moroccan football but also sets the stage for their participation in the 2026 World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. With nine groups in the African qualifiers, Morocco's early qualification demonstrates their strength and readiness for the tournament.
Morocco's Unbeaten Record in World Cup Qualifiers
Morocco stands alone as the only team across Africa's nine qualifying groups with a flawless record. Their nearest contender in Group E, Tanzania, recently drew 1-1 against Congo, earning 10 points from six games. Meanwhile, Morocco has accumulated 18 points, solidifying its position at the top of the group.
Morocco's Historic Achievement
The Moroccan national team made history in 2022 by becoming the first African country to reach the World Cup semifinals. They topped a challenging group featuring Croatia and Belgium, then eliminated Spain and Portugal in the knockout stages. Although they lost to France in the semifinals, this achievement marked a significant milestone for African football. Morocco has maintained its position as the top-ranked African side since then.
Egypt Strengthens Grip on Group A
Egypt solidified its top position in Group A of the World Cup qualifiers with a convincing 2-0 victory over Ethiopia at home in Cairo. Mohamed Salah opened the scoring with a penalty kick, marking his seventh goal in the qualifiers. Omar Marmoush sealed the win with another penalty, scoring his first goal of the campaign.
Egypt's Dominant Performance
With this win, Egypt maintains a five-point lead over Burkina Faso, which secured a 6-0 thrashing of Djibouti. Dango Ouattara and defender Edmond Tapsoba each scored twice in Burkina Faso's dominant display. Egypt now has three games left to secure a spot in the World Cup.
Group A Standings
- Egypt: 5 points clear at the top
- Burkina Faso: 5 points behind Egypt in second place
- Sierra Leone: third in the group with 8 points
- Ethiopia and Guinea-Bissau: tied for fourth place with 6 points each
- Djibouti: at the bottom with 1 point.
DR Congo and Senegal Neck and Neck in Group B
The Democratic Republic of Congo and Senegal are currently tied for the top spot in Group B, separated by just a single point. This sets the stage for a thrilling matchup between the two teams in Kinshasa on September 9, 2025, at 16:00 UTC. The stakes are high, with the winner potentially taking control of the group.
DR Congo recently secured a convincing 4-1 victory over South Sudan, with Cedric Bakambu scoring twice and Yoane Wissa adding one to the tally. Meanwhile, Senegal dominated Sudan 2-0 on home soil, courtesy of goals from captain Kalidou Koulibaly and Pape Matar Sarr. These wins have set up an intriguing clash between the two top contenders.
Head-to-Head Statistics
In their previous encounters, Senegal have had the upper hand, winning 5 out of 7 matches against DR Congo, with 2 draws. DR Congo have struggled to score against Senegal, averaging 0.57 goals per match, while Senegal have averaged 2 goals per match in their head-to-head encounters.
South Africa Maintains Lead in Group C
South Africa is currently leading Group C, five points ahead of second-placed Benin. Both teams secured wins on Friday, with South Africa defeating Lesotho 3-0 and Benin beating Zimbabwe 1-0. Burnley striker Lyle Foster contributed to South Africa's victory, while Steve Mounie's goal was enough for Benin to edge out Zimbabwe.
Nigeria's Path to Topping the Group
Despite struggling in the campaign, Nigeria still has a chance to top Group C. However, they need to win their upcoming matches against Rwanda at home on Saturday and then against South Africa on Tuesday. These wins would be crucial in determining Nigeria's position in the group standings.
Algeria on the Verge
Algeria's chances of qualifying for the World Cup received a significant boost when Mozambique, their closest competitor in Group G, suffered a 4-0 defeat in Uganda. This result increases Algeria's chances of topping the group and securing a direct spot in the World Cup.
In Group H, Namibia's loss to Malawi means Tunisia is on the brink of qualification. A win over Equatorial Guinea on Monday would likely secure Tunisia's spot in the World Cup. Both Algeria and Tunisia had won their home matches on Thursday, setting the stage for their potential qualification.
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