Africa’s road to the World Cup resumes

Africa’s qualification tournament for the 2026 Fifa World Cup resumes with Matchday 7 fixtures, running from 3 to 6 September, and is set to bring into sharper focus the continent’s likely representatives at next year’s global showpiece in North America.

The action resumes with a Group F match on Wednesday afternoon in which Gabon will back themselves to win away to the Seychelles and leapfrog reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions Ivory Coast at the top of the log – with the Elephants having their chance to reply on Friday night when they welcome Burundi to Abidjan.

Ivory Coast coach Emerse Fae is hoping that the addition of German-based 19-year-old winger Bazoumana Toure brings an extra attacking dimension to his squad, “[Toure] is an attacking winger who is fast. We have been following him for six months, he is structured and technical. He will bring us his freshness and dynamism.”

A busy Thursday opens with Ghana looking to consolidate their place at the top of Group I by defeating Chad in N’Djamena, while Cape Verde and Cameroon will aim to continue their thrilling race at the top of Group D (the Blue Sharks hold a one-point lead over the Indomitable Lions) with must-win matches away to Mauritius and at home to Eswatini respectively.

Thursday also features North African heavyweights Algeria and Tunisia continuing their seemingly inevitable march toward direct qualification at the top of Groups G and H respectively.

The Fennec Foxes will back themselves to beat Botswana in Tizi Ouzou and pile the pressure on nearest chasers Mozambique (who are away to Uganda on Friday), while Tunisia host Liberia in Tunis and could open a seven-point advantage over second-placed Namibia (who host Malawi on Friday).

Morocco (semifinalists at the last World Cup) could become the first African team to secure guaranteed qualification for 2026, as a win at home to Niger in Rabat on Friday night will secure top spot in Group E – regardless of the result between Congo and Tanzania in Brazzaville earlier the same day.

Atlas Lions coach Walid Regragui has called up several newcomers to his squad and is hoping to secure a win against Niger, before giving those players a chance in the following match against Zambia next week.

“The Niger game will be the key to qualification. If we secure the ticket, we will give new faces the chance against Zambia,” said Regragui.

“African matches are always tough, and Zambia will not be an easy opponent on their home ground. We have played several games outside Morocco and understand the challenges of these fixtures, but first we need to focus on winning against Niger in Rabat.”

Egypt are also looking strong at the top of Group A and a win over Ethiopia on Friday night in Cairo will take them to the cusp of qualification, while a tense Group B – where one point separates the top three of DR Congo, Senegal and Sudan – is set to have another nail-biting day: DRC will be away to South Sudan in Juba in the afternoon, while the evening features a crunch showdown between the Teranga Lions and Falcons of Jediane in Diamniadio.

Group C will also feature prominently, with South Africa looking to keep up their stranglehold at the top of the log by winning ‘away’ to Lesotho in Bloemfontein on Friday evening, while Saturday’s lone game is a must-win for Nigeria, as they host second-placed Rwanda in Uyo.

“People have already written us off. But I am not bothered by that,” said Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle. “We need to take it game by game, win the next match, and then move on to the next.”

If the Super Eagles can beat Rwanda, then they will have the chance to truly resurrect their hopes with a match away to South Africa next Tuesday.

2026 Fifa World Cup Qualifiers (CAF/Africa)

Matchday 7 fixtures, times CAT

Wednesday 3 September

3pm: Seychelles v Gabon

Thursday 4 September

3pm: Chad v Ghana

6pm: Madagascar v Central African Republic

6pm: Sao Tome and Principe v Equatorial Guinea

6pm: Angola v Libya

6pm: Guinea-Bissau v Sierra Leone

6pm: Mauritius v Cape Verde

9pm: Cameroon v Eswatini

9pm: Algeria v Botswana

9pm: Mali v Comoros

9pm: Tunisia v Liberia

Friday 5 September

2pm: Somalia v Guinea

2pm: South Sudan v DR Congo

3pm: Kenya v Gambia

3pm: Namibia v Malawi

6pm: Uganda v Mozambique

6pm: Benin v Zimbabwe

6pm: Congo v Tanzania

6pm: Djibouti v Burkina Faso

6pm: Lesotho v South Africa

9pm: Mauritania v Togo

9pm: Senegal v Sudan

9pm: Morocco v Niger

9pm: Ivory Coast v Burundi

9pm: Egypt v Ethiopia

Saturday 6 September

6pm: Nigeria v Rwanda