The CAF World Cup qualifiers came to a thrilling close last night, with Africa’s nine automatic spots confirmed and four teams still fighting for one last chance through the playoff route. From South Africa’s triumphant group win to Cape Verde’s historic qualification, the continent’s biggest names and rising forces delivered a finale rich in goals, tension, and drama. Here’s how each group wrapped up — who made it to the 2026 World Cup, who fell short, and who’s still in the hunt for the final intercontinental playoff berth.
Group A
Egypt entered the final matchday knowing a win would confirm their qualification, while Burkina Faso needed a victory and an Egyptian stumble. The Pharaohs made no mistake, maintaining their lead to finish on 26 points. Burkina Faso’s strong 21-point return fell short of the top-four runners-up threshold. Egypt qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup, while Burkina Faso are eliminated.
Group B
Senegal held control of Group B and sealed their place in style with a 4–0 win over Mauritania. DR Congo edged Sudan 1–0 to secure second spot and a place in the CAF playoff thanks to their runners-up ranking. Senegal qualify automatically, while the Congolese will have another chance in November’s playoff.
Group C
South Africa needed a win against Rwanda to top the group, while Nigeria’s hopes rested on a big victory and a Bafana slip-up. Both sides delivered emphatic performances — South Africa beating Rwanda 3–0 and Nigeria thumping Benin 4–0 — but it was Bafana Bafana who advanced directly, even after their earlier three-point deduction. Nigeria’s strong finish sees them move into the CAF playoff.
Group D
Cape Verde were favourites to finish the job, and a comfortable 3–0 win over Eswatini secured their first-ever World Cup qualification. Cameroon could only draw 0–0 with Angola but still earned a place among the top four runners-up. Cape Verde make history with direct qualification, while Cameroon move on to the playoff round.
Group E
Morocco went into the final round needing only to hold their lead, and they did just that with a composed 1–0 win over Congo. Their dominance throughout qualifying ensured early passage to the finals. No team from this group qualified for the runners-up playoff.
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Group F
Côte d’Ivoire confirmed their superiority with a 3–0 win over Kenya to secure direct qualification. Gabon’s 2–0 victory over Burundi wasn’t enough to win the group but placed them top among the runners-up, sending them to the playoff stage. The Elephants qualify automatically, while Gabon’s dream remains alive.
Group G
Algeria had already secured qualification before their 2–1 win over Uganda, which took them to 25 points. Mohammed Amoura capped a brilliant campaign by finishing as the top scorer in CAF qualifying. The Desert Foxes march on to the World Cup, with no playoff representative from their group.
Group H
Tunisia entered the final matchday in full control and ended the campaign with a 3–0 victory over Namibia. Their consistent form across the group ensured early qualification. No team from Group H reached the playoff positions.
Group I
Ghana stayed focused under pressure and did enough to finish top on 25 points, fending off challenges from Madagascar and Mali. Their victory sees them return to the World Cup, while the rest of the group’s contenders fall short of the playoff cutoff.
What’s Next
Africa’s nine automatic qualifiers are Egypt, Senegal, South Africa, Cape Verde, Morocco, Côte d’Ivoire, Algeria, Tunisia, and Ghana. The four best runners-up — Nigeria, Gabon, DR Congo, and Cameroon — advance to a playoff in Morocco on 13 and 16 November 2025. Nigeria face Gabon, while Cameroon meet DR Congo, with the winners contesting Africa’s final slot in the intercontinental playoff in March 2026.
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