CAPE TOWN: Africa’s road to the 2026 World Cup reaches its climax this week, with seven automatic qualification places still to be decided in the final two rounds of group matches. Morocco and Tunisia have already secured top spots in their respective groups, leaving intense battles across the continent for the remaining berths.
Egypt are widely expected to confirm their qualification on Wednesday when they face bottom-ranked Djibouti in Group A, while Ghana could seal Group I on the same day if they beat the Central African Republic and Madagascar drop points. Algeria need just a draw against Somalia on Thursday to guarantee progress from Group G.
One of the biggest stories could come from Group D, where Cape Verde sit four points clear of Cameroon and need only one win from their remaining games against Libya and Eswatini to complete a remarkable qualification journey.
In Group B, Senegal hold a slim two-point advantage over DR Congo and can book their ticket with victories over South Sudan and Mauritania. Ivory Coast are also close to qualification, leading Group F by one point and needing wins over Seychelles and Kenya to confirm their place.
Group C remains the most unpredictable after South Africa were docked points for fielding an ineligible player, allowing Benin to move level on points. With both sides facing tricky fixtures over the coming week, the battle for top spot could go down to the final day.
By next Tuesday, Africa’s seven representatives for the expanded World Cup in North America will be known, marking the end of an intense qualifying campaign across the continent.
