Africa’s Road to the 2026 World Cup Heats Up As Qualifiers Resume Today
The qualification tournament for the 2026 FIFA World Cup resumes today, with Matchday 7 set to take place from September 3 to September 6.
As African nations vie for a spot in next year’s global showcase in North America, the upcoming fixtures promise to be thrilling and pivotal.
The action kicks off in the afternoon today when Gabon travels to face the Seychelles, aiming for a victory that would elevate them past reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions Ivory Coast in Group F. The Elephants will have their chance to respond on Friday night when they host Burundi in Abidjan.
Thursday’s matches feature Ghana looking to strengthen their hold on Group I as they take on Chad in N’Djamena.
Meanwhile, Cape Verde and Cameroon will engage in a fierce battle at the top of Group D, with the Blue Sharks holding a precarious one-point lead over the Indomitable Lions. Both teams are in must-win situations, with Cape Verde facing Mauritius and Cameroon hosting Eswatini.
In Groups G and H, North African powerhouses Algeria and Tunisia are on track for direct qualification. Algeria will host Botswana in Tizi Ouzou, while Tunisia faces Liberia in Tunis, where a win could give them a seven-point cushion over second-placed Namibia.
Morocco, semifinalists in the last World Cup, have the chance to secure qualification early with a home win against Niger on Friday night.
Egypt is also in a strong position at the top of Group A, and a win over Ethiopia in Cairo will bring them closer to qualification.
Group B remains tightly contested, with DR Congo, Senegal, and Sudan all in the mix. DR Congo will face South Sudan, while Senegal takes on the Falcons of Jediane in a crucial encounter.
Group C features South Africa, who aim to maintain their lead with a match against Lesotho in Bloemfontein on Friday. Nigeria, needing a win to revive their hopes, will host Rwanda in Uyo on Saturday.
