Crunch Time in African World Cup Qualifiers: Seven Spots Up for Grabs

The 2026 World Cup ball

Africa's group qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup conclude over the next week, determining the final seven teams to join the tournament in North America.

“I am responsible. I am the coach, I had to know that this guy had two yellow cards...”

The African World Cup qualifiers are heating up, with seven spots still up for grabs. The group qualifiers will conclude in the next week, determining the final teams to join the 2026 World Cup in North America. Morocco and Tunisia have already secured top spots in their groups, but the identity of the seven other group winners will be finalized by next Tuesday.

Several African teams are on the cusp of qualifying for the next stage of competition. Egypt is heavily favored to secure their spot when they face Djibouti in Group A. Meanwhile, Ghana can seal their position in Group I if they manage to beat the Central African Republic away from home and their closest rivals, Madagascar, fail to win simultaneously.

In Group G, Algeria is poised to join the list of qualified teams. They require just a point from their upcoming match against Somalia on Thursday to confirm their qualification.

Cape Verde is on the cusp of a historic achievement, leading Group D with a four-point advantage over Cameroon. To secure a spot in the finals, they need to win at least one of their remaining two matches. Their upcoming fixtures include an away game against Libya on Thursday and a home match against Eswatini on Monday.

The Blue Sharks are making a strong push in the qualifying campaign, and a finals spot would be a remarkable feat for the island nation. With their upcoming matches, Cape Verde can seal their fate with a win, regardless of the other results in the group. The team will be looking to capitalize on their momentum and make history for Cape Verdean football.

Senegal is in a strong position in Group B, holding a two-point lead over the Democratic Republic of Congo. To secure qualification, they simply need to win their remaining two matches: against South Sudan on Friday and Mauritania on Tuesday.

In Group F, the Ivory Coast is working to maintain their one-point advantage over Gabon. They can ensure qualification by winning their next two games: against Seychelles on Friday and Kenya on October 14.

South Africa's three-point lead in Group C has been reduced to zero after they were stripped of points for fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in their match against Lesotho. This decision has leveled the playing field, with Benin now tied with South Africa in points, but leading on goal difference.

Benin, however, play their last two qualifiers away to Rwanda on Friday and Nigeria next Tuesday while South Africa are at home to Zimbabwe on Friday and Rwanda next Tuesday.

Upcoming Fixtures

Benin:

• Away to Rwanda on Friday
• Away to Nigeria on Tuesday

South Africa:

• Home against Zimbabwe on Friday
• Home against Rwanda on Tuesday

The final matches will determine the group winner, who will directly qualify for the World Cup. Benin and South Africa are poised for an intense battle, with both teams having a chance to secure the top spot.

South Africa's upcoming match against Zimbabwe, formally an away game, will be played at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, giving the home team a significant advantage. This decision comes after Zimbabwe's stadium failed to meet international competition standards. The match is scheduled for October 10, 2025, and is crucial for South Africa's World Cup qualifying campaign.

South Africa's hopes of qualifying for the World Cup suffered a setback after FIFA docked them three points and three goals for fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in a qualifier against Lesotho. Mokoena had accumulated two yellow cards and was serving a suspension. Coach Hugo Broos has taken full responsibility for the mistake, acknowledging it was a collective failure involving his technical staff, team management, and the player.

Broos' Response

Broos expressed disappointment over the FIFA decision, suggesting there was lobbying behind the scenes. However, he has urged fans not to lose faith and to support the team in their remaining matches. Broos emphasized that South Africa still has a chance to qualify, with victories in their upcoming matches against Zimbabwe and Rwanda.

“I am responsible. I am the coach, I had to know that this guy had two yellow cards. So, stop with it,” he said of the ongoing outrage from South African fans.

“Just focus on the two games remaining now and support us. We will do everything to win these games, and for me, it’s an extra motivation.”

Groups Nearing Conclusion

Several teams are on the verge of qualifying, including:

Algeria: Needs just a point against Somalia to confirm qualification

Ivory Coast: Can seal qualification by beating Seychelles and Kenya

Cape Verde: Can qualify with a win in either of their last two matches against Libya or Eswatini

Ghana: Can secure top spot with a win over the Central African Republic, provided Madagascar drops points against Comoros

Senegal: Holds a two-point lead over DR Congo and can qualify with wins in their remaining matches

Egypt: Can join Morocco and Tunisia with a win over Djibouti

These teams will face intense competition, and the final matches will be crucial in determining the last qualifiers.