Group A: Egypt Dominates, Burkina Faso Secures Second Place
Group A witnesses Egypt’s commanding performance, topping the table with an impressive 19 points from seven matches. Their near-perfect record includes six victories and a single draw, boasting a remarkable goal difference of +14. Burkina Faso secures the second position with 14 points, exhibiting a strong attacking display with 19 goals scored, although their defense has been somewhat less resolute. Sierra Leone occupies the third spot with 9 points, while Guinea-Bissau trails behind with 7 points. Ethiopia and Djibouti, with 6 and 1 point respectively, conclude the group’s standings.
Group B: DR Congo and Senegal Lead the Charge
Group B features a close contest between DR Congo and Senegal. DR Congo holds a slight edge with 16 points, highlighting their robust defense that has conceded only three goals. Senegal follows closely with 15 points, maintaining an unbeaten record with four wins and three draws. Sudan occupies the third position with 12 points, showcasing a balanced performance. Mauritania, Togo, and South Sudan struggle to gain momentum, securing 5, 4, and 3 points respectively. The battle for the top two spots remains intense between DR Congo and Senegal.
Group C: South Africa Emerges Victorious, Benin Secures Second
Group C witnesses South Africa’s dominance, accumulating 16 points from seven matches. Their strong performance is complemented by Benin, securing the second spot with 11 points. Rwanda, despite having played one less match, occupies the third position with 8 points. Nigeria, with two games in hand, trails behind with 7 points, indicating potential for improvement. Lesotho and Zimbabwe, with 6 and 4 points respectively, find themselves at the bottom of the table, facing an uphill battle to improve their standings.
Group E: Morocco Secures Qualification, Tanzania Battles for Second
Group E sees Morocco’s triumphant qualification with a flawless record of six wins in six matches, accumulating 18 points. Their impressive goal difference of +17 underscores their dominance. Tanzania currently holds the second position with 10 points, vying for a chance to advance. Zambia and Niger are tied with 6 points each, setting the stage for a fierce competition for the runners-up spot. Congo, with a single point, faces a daunting task to improve their standing. Eritrea’s withdrawal from the group before the commencement of matches leaves the group with five competing nations.
Group F: Ivory Coast and Gabon Dominate, Burundi Secures Third
Group F showcases Ivory Coast’s commanding performance, mirroring Morocco’s success with 19 points from seven matches and a remarkable clean sheet, conceding no goals throughout their campaign. Gabon trails closely with 18 points, demonstrating strong attacking prowess with 16 goals scored. Burundi secures the third position with 10 points, while Gambia follows with 7 points. Kenya and Seychelles, with 6 and 0 points respectively, find themselves at the bottom of the table, facing a challenging road ahead.
Groups G & H: Algeria and Tunisia Lead Respectively, Uganda and Namibia Follow
Group G presents a close competition between Algeria and Uganda. Algeria leads with 18 points, showcasing their attacking strength with 19 goals scored, though their defense has been less consistent. Uganda follows closely with 12 points. Mozambique also secures 12 points, adding to the group’s competitiveness. Guinea, with 10 points, remains in contention, while Botswana and Somalia trail with 9 and 1 point respectively.
Group H sees Tunisia dominate with 19 points, maintaining an unbeaten streak and an impressive clean sheet. Namibia follows with 12 points, securing the second spot. Liberia and Equatorial Guinea are tied at 10 points each, while Malawi trails with 9 points. Sao Tome, with 0 points, faces a difficult task to improve its standing.
The qualifying campaign continues, with group winners securing direct qualification to the 2026 World Cup. The four best-ranked runners-up will participate in a mini-tournament, with the winner advancing to the inter-continental play-offs, offering a final opportunity to secure a coveted spot in the prestigious tournament. The competition remains intense, with several teams vying for the limited qualification spots.
