2023-11-21 21:10:15
The increase from 32 to 48 teams for the 2026 World Cup simplifies the qualification method for African teams. The confederation saw its number of qualified selections increase from 5 to 9. Gone are the three-phase qualifiers (round-trip preliminary round between the weakest nations, group stage, play-offs), make way for a more readable system, with a single phase of nine groups of six teams. Each of the first places is directly qualified for the World Cup, while the four best runners-up will compete for a place in an intercontinental play-off in November 2025.
READ ALSO. Format, calendar, groups… Everything you need to know about the Africa zone qualifiers
Due to the organization of the 2024 African Cup of Nations and the qualifications for CAN 2025, the qualifiers are played over five FIFA windows spread over two years: November 2023, June 2024, March, September and October 2025.
The qualifying groups for the Africa zone
Group A: Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone.
Group B: Mauritania, DR Congo, Senegal, Sudan, South Sudan, Togo.
Group C: South Africa, Benin, Lesotho, Nigeria, Rwanda, Zimbabwe.
Group D: Angola, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Mauritius, Libya.
Group E: Congo, Morocco, Niger, Tanzania, Zambia.
Group F: Burundi, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Gambia, Kenya, Seychelles.
Group G: Algeria, Botswana, Guinea, Mozambique, Uganda, Somalia.
Group H: Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, Sao Tome and Principe, Tunisia.
Group I: Central African Republic, Comoros, Ghana, Madagascar, Mali, Chad.
Rankings of African qualifying groups for the 2026 World Cup
Group A
1. Egypt 6 pts (2 matches played, goal difference of +8)
2. Burkina Faso 4 pts (2J, +3)
3. Guinea-Bissau 4 pts (2D, +1)
4. Sierra Leone 1 pt (2J, -2)
5. Ethiopia 1 pt (2J, -3)
6. Djibouti 0 pts (2J, -7)
Group B
1. Senegal 4 pts (2D, +4)
2. Sudan 4 pts (2D, +1)
3. RD Congo 3 pts (2J, +1)
4. Togo 2 pts (2J, 0)
5. Mauritania 1 pt (2J, -1)
6. South Sudan 1 pt (2D, -4)
Group C
1. Rwanda 4 pts (2J, +2)
2. South Africa 3 pts (2J, -1)
3. Nigeria 2 pts (2J, 0)
4. Lesotho 2 pts (2J, 0)
5. Zimbabwe 2 pts (2J, 0)
6. Benin 1 pt (2J, -1)
Group D
1. Cameroun 4 pts (2J, +3)
2. Cap-Vert 4 pts (2J, +2)
3. Libya 4 pts (2D, +1)
4. Angola 2 pts (2J, 0)
5. Île Maurice 1 pt (2J, -3)
6. Eswatini 0 pts (2J, -3)
Group E
1. Morocco 3 pts (1D, +2)
2. Zambia 3 pts (2D, +1)
3. Niger 3 pts (2J, 0)
4. Tanzania 3 pts (2J, -1)
5. Congo 0 pts (1J, -2)
Eritrea withdrew.
Group F
1. Ivory Coast 6 pts (2D, +11)
2. Gabon 6 pts (2J, +2)
3. Kenya 3 pts (2J, +4)
4. Burundi 3 pts (2D, 0)
5. Gambia 0 pts (2J, -3)
6. Seychelles 0 pts (2J, -14)
Group G
1. Algeria 6 pts (2D, +4)
2. Botswana 3 pts (2J, 0)
3. Guinea 3 pts (2J, 0)
4. Uganda 3 pts (2D, 0)
5. Mozambique 3 pts (2J, -1)
6. Somalia 0 points (2 W, -3)
Group H
1. Tunisia 6 pts (2D, +5)
2. Equatorial Guinea 6 pts (2D, +2)
3. Namibia 3 pts (2D, +1)
4. Malawi 3 pts (2J, 0)
5. Liberia 0 pts (2J, -2)
6. São Tomé and Príncipe 0 pts (2J, -6)
Group I
1. Comores 6 pts (2J, +3)
2. Mali 4 pts (2J, +2)
3. Madagascar 3 points (2J, +2)
4. Ghana 3 pts (2J, 0)
5. Central African Republic 1 pt (2J, -2)
6. Tchad 0 pts (2J, -5)
Best runners-up
1. Gabon 6 pts (2J, +2)
2. Equatorial Guinea 6 pts (2D, +2)
3. Burkina Faso 4 pts (2J, +3)
4. Mali 4 pts (2J, +2)
5. Cap-Vert 4 pts (2J, +2)
6. Sudan 4 pts (2D, +1)
7. Zambia 3 pts (2D, +1)
8. Botswana 3 pts (2J, 0)
9. South Africa 3 pts (2J, -1)
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