World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Africa’s Road to the Tournament

The draw for the African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup has been made, and it’s an exciting time for football fans across the continent. The top team in each of the nine groups will qualify automatically for the World Cup, while the four best runners-up will enter an African playoff stage.

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Qualification Process

The qualification process for the 2026 World Cup is straightforward. The nine groups, each containing six countries, will compete against each other, with the top team in each group earning a spot at the World Cup. The four best runners-up will then compete in an African playoff stage, with the winners advancing to the inter-confederation playoffs. This means that Africa is guaranteed nine places at the expanded 48-team finals, with a 10th spot possible through the playoffs.

Group Draw

The group draw has thrown up some interesting matchups. Morocco, who had a thrilling run to the World Cup semi-finals in Qatar last year, have been handed a relatively easy group. They will face Zambia, Congo-Brazzaville, Tanzania, Niger, and Eritrea, and will be heavy favorites to finish top of the pool.

Tough Draws for Some Teams

Not all teams have been as fortunate, however. African champions Senegal face a tough group, with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mauritania, Togo, Sudan, and South Sudan providing stiff competition. Nigeria and South Africa, two of Africa’s football powerhouses, have been drawn together in Group C, along with Benin, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, and Lesotho. This group is likely to be one of the most competitive, with Nigeria and South Africa having a long-standing bitter rivalry.

Other Notable Groups

Other notable groups include Group I, which features a west African clash between Mali and Ghana. They will also face Madagascar, Central African Republic, Comoros, and Chad. Tunisia, who have been to five of the last seven World Cups, have been handed a relatively easy draw, and will face Equatorial Guinea, Namibia, Malawi, Liberia, and Sao Tome e Principe.

Schedule

The first two match days in the groups will be played on November 13th-21st, 2023, and the last two on October 6th-14th, 2025. The African playoff stage is scheduled for November 10th-18th, 2025.

Groups

The nine groups are as follows:

• Group A: Egypt, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Djibouti
• Group B: Senegal, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mauritania, Togo, Sudan, South Sudan
• Group C: Nigeria, South Africa, Benin, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Lesotho
• Group D: Cameroon, Cape Verde, Angola, Libya, Eswatini, Mauritius
• Group E: Morocco, Zambia, Congo, Tanzania, Niger, Eritrea
• Group F: Ivory Coast, Gabon, Kenya, The Gambia, Burundi, Seychelles
• Group G: Algeria, Guinea, Uganda, Mozambique, Botswana, Somalia
• Group H: Tunisia, Equatorial Guinea, Namibia, Malawi, Liberia, Sao Tome e Principe
• Group I: Mali, Ghana, Madagascar, Central African Republic, Comoros, Chad

Conclusion

The road to the 2026 World Cup is set to be an exciting one for African teams. With the group draw complete, teams can now start planning their campaigns. Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia will be among the favorites to qualify, but other teams, such as Nigeria, South Africa, and Ghana, will also be hoping to make a strong impression. With the expanded 48-team format, more African teams than ever before will have the chance to compete on the world stage.