FULL FIXTURES: Egypt, Sudan, Morocco lead as African World Cup race intensifies

As the competition for the 2026 FIFA World Cup escalates, African teams are preparing for the pivotal matchdays 5 and 6 of the qualifiers, which are scheduled to commence on Wednesday, March 19.

With nine group winners assured of automatic qualification for the tournament to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and four best runners-up competing for a playoff position, each match is poised to be critical.

Group A: Egypt in the Lead

Egypt currently occupies the top position in Group A, amassing 10 points from four matches, followed by Guinea-Bissau with six points. Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone are closely behind, each with five points, while Ethiopia (3 points) and Djibouti (1 point) sit at the bottom of the group. As the most successful African team in World Cup history, Egypt aims to increase their lead when they take on Ethiopia on March 21.

Group B: Competitive Battle Between Sudan and Senegal

Sudan is leading Group B with 10 points, closely pursued by Senegal with 8 points and DR Congo with 7 points. With a significant match against the reigning African champions Senegal on March 22, Sudan’s head coach expresses optimism. “We have put in considerable effort to reach this stage. Every match feels like a final now,” he stated. In contrast, Senegal’s head coach Aliou Cissé is confident that his team will strive to regain the top position.

Group C: Rwanda, South Africa, and Benin in a Three-Way Tie

Group C remains highly competitive, with Rwanda, South Africa, and Benin all tied at seven points. Nigeria, a team anticipated to excel, finds itself in fifth place with only three points from four matches. Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro acknowledged the team's difficulties, stating, “We must improve. The players understand the significance of the upcoming games.” Nigeria is set to face Rwanda on March 21 in a crucial match that they must win.

Group D: Cameroon, Libya, and Cape Verde in Close Battle

Cameroon leads Group D with eight points, but Libya and Cape Verde are just one point behind. Angola (6 points) also remains in contention. The Indomitable Lions face Eswatini on March 19 and will then take on Libya on March 25 in a crucial fixture that could decide the group’s fate.

Group E: Morocco Leads Despite Off-Field Disruptions

Morocco tops Group E with a perfect record of nine points from three games, despite the withdrawal of Eritrea and the suspension of Congo due to government interference. The impact of these developments on qualification rankings remains uncertain. Morocco’s next game is against Niger on March 21.

Group F: Ivory Coast Ahead, Gabon Close Behind

Ivory Coast leads Group F with 10 points, closely followed by Gabon (9 points). Burundi (7 points) and Kenya (5 points) remain within reach. The Elephants will take on Burundi on March 21 before facing Gambia on March 24.

Group G: Algeria and Mozambique Neck-and-Neck

Algeria and Mozambique are tied at the top with nine points each, while Botswana, Guinea, and Uganda all have six points. Algeria’s upcoming match against Botswana on March 21 could prove decisive.

Group H: Tunisia Eyes Qualification

Tunisia remains undefeated in Group H with 10 points, leading Namibia (8 points) and Liberia (7 points). Tunisia will face Liberia on March 19 before a crucial clash against Malawi on March 24. “We are taking nothing for granted. Every match is important,” Tunisian head coach Jalel Kadri stated.

Group I: Comoros and Ghana in Strong Positions

Comoros and Ghana both sit on nine points in Group I, with Madagascar (7 points) and Mali (5 points) following closely. Ghana’s next fixture against Chad on March 21 is expected to be a key moment in their qualification campaign.

Best-Ranked Second-Placed Teams

With only four runner-up teams advancing to a mini-tournament for intercontinental play-offs, Ghana, Gabon, Mozambique, and Senegal currently hold the top spots. Namibia and South Africa remain in contention, hoping for favourable results in the coming games.

Upcoming Fixtures

World Cup matchdays 5 and 6 qualifying fixtures in Africa (times GMT):

Matchday 5

March 19, Wednesday

Group D: Eswatini v Cameroon; Group H: Liberia v Tunisia; Group I: Central African Republic v Madagascar (all 1600)

March 20, Thursday

Group A: Sierra Leone v Guinea-Bissau (1600); Group C: Zimbabwe v Benin (1600); Group D: Cape Verde v Mauritius (1600), Libya v Angola (1900); Group F: Gabon v Seychelles, Gambia v Kenya (both 1900); Group G: Mozambique v Uganda (1300); Group H: Malawi v Namibia (1600); Group I: Comoros v Mali (2100)

March 21, Friday

Group A: Burkina Faso v Djibouti (1600), Ethiopia v Egypt (2100); Group B: Democratic Republic of Congo v South Sudan (1600); Group C: South Africa v Lesotho (1600), Rwanda v Nigeria (1600); Group E: Niger v Morocco (2130); Group F: Burundi v Ivory Coast (1900); Group G: Botswana v Algeria (1300), Guinea v Somalia (2100); Group H: Equatorial Guinea v Sao Tome e Principe (1300); Group I: Ghana v Chad (1900)

March 22, Saturday

Group B: Togo v Mauritania (1600), Sudan v Senegal (1900)

Matchday 6

March 23, Sunday