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CAF World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: The state of play as Africa's qualifying resumes

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African qualifying restarts on Wedesday with decisive stakes and places at the 2026 World Cup on the line.

The equation is simple enough: the nine group winners qualify automatically for 2026 in Canada, Mexico and USA.

The four best runners-up head to CAF play-offs for a route to the inter-confederation tournament.

Here’s the state of play — group by group, the current tables — plus the fixtures to come.

Group A

Egypt have set a fierce pace and can all but seal top spot with another strong window. Burkina Faso remain the only realistic challengers and will fancy a late push if they take care of business before a potential decider against the Pharaohs. Below them, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia and Guinea-Bissau are fighting for position and outside hopes of the runners-up race. Djibouti need a result simply to reset momentum.

Fixtures

  • 4 Sept: Guinea-Bissau v Sierra Leone

  • 5 Sept: Djibouti v Burkina Faso; Egypt v Ethiopia

  • 8 Sept: Guinea-Bissau v Djibouti

  • 9 Sept: Burkina Faso v Egypt; Sierra Leone v Ethiopia

Standings

  1. Egypt 18 pts;

  2. Burkina Faso 11; 

  3. Sierra Leone 8; 

  4. Ethiopia 6; 

  5. Guinea-Bissau 6; 

  6. Djibouti 1

Group B

It’s a heavyweight scrap. DR Congo, Senegal and Sudan are separated by a single point, and this window delivers a potential group-definer when DR Congo meet Senegal again. Sudan’s surge keeps the pressure on both giants and sets up a three-way chase that could run to the final day. Togo, South Sudan and Mauritania are hunting wins that might yet influence the top.

Fixtures

  • 5 Sept: South Sudan v DR Congo; Mauritania v Togo; Senegal v Sudan

  • 9 Sept: DR Congo v Senegal; Mauritania v South Sudan; Togo v Sudan

Standings

  1. DR Congo 13 pts;

  2. Senegal 12; 

  3. Sudan 12; 

  4. Togo 4; 

  5. South Sudan 3; 

  6. Mauritania 2

Group C

South Africa have created daylight, but the section remains volatile because the pack behind—Rwanda, Benin and Nigeria—are tightly bunched. Nigeria’s meeting with Rwanda is pivotal for both, while Lesotho and Zimbabwe must turn stubborn displays into wins to re-enter the argument. If Bafana Bafana manage their away day and then withstand Nigeria at home, they’ll be hard to catch.

Fixtures

  • 5 Sept: Benin v Zimbabwe; Lesotho v South Africa

  • 6 Sept: Nigeria v Rwanda

  • 9 Sept: Zimbabwe v Rwanda; South Africa v Nigeria; Benin v Lesotho

Standings

  1. South Africa 13 pts;

  2. Rwanda 8; 

  3. Benin 8; 

  4. Nigeria 7; 

  5. Lesotho 6; 

  6. Zimbabwe 4


Group D

Cabo Verde’s excellent campaign faces two tricky assignments: a banana-skin trip to Mauritius before a potential first-place shoot-out at home to Cameroon. The Indomitable Lions will expect to beat Eswatini to keep the squeeze on, while Libya and Angola lurk as spoilers if either of the top two stumbles. The margins are small enough to flip with one bad night.

Fixtures

  • 4 Sept: Angola v Libya; Mauritius v Cabo Verde; Cameroon v Eswatini

  • 8 Sept: Libya v Eswatini

  • 9 Sept: Cabo Verde v Cameroon; Angola v Mauritius

Standings

  1. Cabo Verde 13 pts;

  2. Cameroon 12; 

  3. Libya 8; 

  4. Angola 7; 

  5. Mauritius 5; 

  6. Eswatini 2



Group E

Morocco are perfect and cruising towards North America, but the contest for second is alive with Tanzania, Zambia and Niger trading places almost weekly. With Eritrea withdrawn, there’s one fewer variable; that puts premium value on head-to-head results among the chasing trio. Morocco’s double-header—home to Niger then away in Zambia—could indirectly decide who emerges best of the rest.

Fixtures

  • 5 Sept: Congo v Tanzania; Morocco v Niger

  • 8 Sept: Zambia v Morocco

  • 9 Sept: Tanzania v Niger

Standings

  1. Morocco 15 pts;

  2. Tanzania 9; 

  3. Zambia 6; 

  4. Niger 6; 

  5. Congo 0
    (Five-team group following Eritrea’s withdrawal.)



Group F

This is shaping into a showpiece duel. Côte d’Ivoire lead, but Gabon are within touching distance and host the Elephants in a game that could define the section. Burundi’s steady work keeps them mathematically alive; Kenya and Gambia need a perfect window to revive hopes. Seychelles are chasing their first point but can still tilt the title race by frustrating the chasers.

Fixtures

  • 3 Sept: Seychelles v Gabon

  • 5 Sept: Kenya v Gambia; Côte d’Ivoire v Burundi

  • 9 Sept: Kenya v Seychelles; Gabon v Côte d’Ivoire; Gambia v Burundi

Standings

  1. Côte d’Ivoire 16 pts;

  2. Gabon 15; 

  3. Burundi 10; 

  4. Kenya 6; 

  5. Gambia 4; 

  6. Seychelles 0



Group G

Algeria have reasserted control, but Mozambique remain close enough to keep pressure high. Botswana and Uganda are level and dangerous, while Guinea need a statement win to re-join the top-two conversation. With Algeria facing Botswana before travelling to Conakry, the leaders cannot afford any dip in intensity.

Fixtures

  • 4 Sept: Algeria v Botswana

  • 5 Sept: Uganda v Mozambique; Somalia v Guinea

  • 8 Sept: Mozambique v Botswana; Guinea v Algeria; Uganda v Somalia

Standings

  1. Algeria 15 pts;

  2. Mozambique 12; 

  3. Botswana 9; 

  4. Uganda 9; 

  5. Guinea 7; 

  6. Somalia 1

Group H

Tunisia are in command and can take a giant step if they manage Liberia at home and navigate a tricky trip to Equatorial Guinea. Namibia, four points back, must beat Malawi and then take care of São Tomé and Príncipe to keep the pressure on. Liberia’s outside chance hinges on upsetting one of the front-runners; Malawi have proved awkward customers and can still shape the race.

Fixtures

  • 4 Sept: São Tomé and Príncipe v Equatorial Guinea; Tunisia v Liberia

  • 5 Sept: Namibia v Malawi

  • 8 Sept: Equatorial Guinea v Tunisia; Malawi v Liberia

  • 9 Sept: Namibia v São Tomé and Príncipe

Standings

  1. Tunisia 16 pts;

  2. Namibia 12; 

  3. Liberia 10; 

  4. Equatorial Guinea 7; 

  5. Malawi 6; 

  6. São Tomé and Príncipe 0



Group I

Ghana lead a fiercely competitive pool but still have work to do with Mali at home in the window’s standout fixture. Comoros continue to over-deliver and can tighten the race if they ride their momentum; Madagascar remain in touch but cannot afford a slip against direct rivals. With six points on offer, this group could swing dramatically over four days.

Fixtures

  • 4 Sept: Chad v Ghana; Madagascar v Central African Republic; Mali v Comoros

  • 7 Sept: Central African Republic v Comoros

  • 8 Sept: Madagascar v Chad; Ghana v Mali

Standings

  1. Ghana 15 pts;

  2. Comoros 12; 

  3. Madagascar 10; 

  4. Mali 9; 

  5. Central African Republic 5; 

  6. Chad 0