FIFA World Cup 2026 CAF qualifiers: Which African teams are in contention, best second-placed teams, format

FIFA World Cup 2026 CAF qualifiers: Which African teams are in contention, best second-placed teams, format

After the revamped World Cup format, for the first time, nine African teams are guaranteed to participate in the 2026 World Cup, which can increase to 10. 

The CAF executive committee announced a new qualification format on May 19, 2023. Teams were drawn into nine groups of six teams. The winner of each group will directly qualify for the World Cup, while the four best group runners-up will participate in play-offs to determine which team will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs. 

Four rounds of qualifiers have already taken place, with the fifth round scheduled to start on March 17 as Tanzania plays a home match against Congo. Ahead of the fifth round of matches, here is a look at how the major African teams have performed till now.

The Super Eagles have had a torrid qualification campaign till now. Placed in Group C, it has failed to win even one of the four matches it has played till now, leaving it in fifth place in the points standings. Out of the four it has played, it has drawn three and lost one. It will need to pick up pace if it wants to have a stand at qualifying, and that needs to start with their next match against Rwanda, which tops the standings with seven points. 

South Africa has also enjoyed an excellent qualification campaign so far. It sits second in the standings. With seven points, it is level with topper Rwanda, but the latter stays top due to a better goal difference. In the fifth round of qualifiers, it will play Lesotho, which is fourth in Group C with five points. 

Expectations are high from Egypt, especially because of the Mohamed Salah factor. Till now, it has kept those high expectations in check by topping Group A and is yet to lose a match in the World Cup qualifiers. It has 10 points in four matches, scoring 11 and conceding just two. Salah and Trezeguet have led the goalscoring charge for the Egyptians, as they sit on top of the charts with five goals each. 

Senegal, another heavyweight African team, is in Group B of the qualifiers and sits second with eight points from four matches. Currently, it just makes the cut as one of the best second-placed teams that will go for the playoffs, but the Lions of Teranga are widely expected to qualify as Group B winner. It next plays Sudan on March 23 (1:30 AM IST). 

Expectations are high from Morocco, especially since its incredible campaign in the 2022 World Cup. And, so far, it is well on course to qualify for the 2026 edition, as it tops Group E with nine points in three matches. It plays Niger next, which is second with six points on March 22 (3 AM IST). 

Cameroon, in Group D, currently tops the points standings with eight points from four matches and is yet to lose a match on the road towards qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. In its fifth round, the Cameroonians will play Eswatini (March 19, 9:30 PM IST), which on paper, should be an easy win for the Indomitable Lions. Eswatini languishes last, having lost all four matches it has played till now. 

The current African Cup of Nations champion, Ivory Coast, is a heavy favourite to directly qualify as one of the nine teams for the 2026 World Cup. It currently tops Group F with 10 points from four matches and remains unbeaten in the qualifiers. It next plays Burundi on March 22, 12:30 AM IST. 

Algeria is also on course to qualify as one of the nine teams, as it currently tops Group G with nine points from four matches. It has won three and lost one and plays Botswana next on March 21, 6:30 PM IST.