Group Standings Tighten as African World Cup Qualifying Heats Up
The African qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup witnessed a flurry of action on Tuesday, with several teams vying for the coveted remaining spots. While Morocco and Tunisia have already secured their places, the remaining groups are witnessing intense battles for both automatic qualification and play-off berths. Tuesday’s matches saw a mix of expected results and surprising upsets, further complicating the qualification picture and setting the stage for a dramatic final round of fixtures in March.
Kenya delivered a resounding performance at home, thrashing Seychelles 5-0 in Nairobi. This emphatic victory, their largest of the qualifying campaign, saw Ryan Ogam bag a brace, Charles Sichenje contribute with a set-piece goal, and captain Michael Olunga add two more, including a penalty. While Kenya remains behind group leaders Côte d’Ivoire and second-placed Gabon, the win provides a much-needed boost to their morale and keeps their slim hopes of qualification alive. The clean sheet, coupled with the clinical finishing displayed by the Kenyan attack, will instill confidence as they head into the final qualifying window.
In a significant upset, Niger stunned Tanzania with a 1-0 away victory in Dar es Salaam. Issa Sosah’s lone goal in the 58th minute proved to be the difference, propelling Niger to nine points and within striking distance of second-placed Tanzania, who remain on 10. This result throws Group F wide open, with Tanzania now facing a tougher road to securing a play-off spot, while Niger’s hopes have been significantly revitalized.
Rwanda also secured a crucial away win, defeating Zimbabwe 1-0 in Harare. Gil Mugisha’s first-half strike proved decisive, keeping Rwanda firmly in contention for a play-off spot in Group K. The victory elevates Rwanda to 11 points, level with second-placed Benin but trailing on goal difference, while Nigeria remains within reach just one point behind. Rwanda’s resilient defending, particularly goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari’s handling of Zimbabwe’s aerial bombardment in the second half, played a key role in securing the three points. This result adds further intrigue to the group, with South Africa leading and Zimbabwe rooted to the bottom.
Sierra Leone kept their qualification hopes alive with a 2-0 victory over Ethiopia in Freetown. Goals from Musa Noah Kamara and Alhassan Koroma secured the win, moving Sierra Leone to 12 points in Group A, still trailing Burkina Faso by two points and group leaders Egypt by seven. Ethiopia’s chances of progressing have diminished significantly, while Sierra Leone will be looking to build on their recent defensive solidity, having kept clean sheets in their last three matches, as they approach the final round of fixtures.
Namibia, spearheaded by Peter Shalulile’s hat-trick, cruised to a 3-0 victory against São Tomé and Príncipe. Shalulile’s goals, scored in the 41st, 66th, and 71st minutes, solidified Namibia’s second position in Group H with 12 points, behind the already-qualified Tunisia. This result keeps Namibia ahead of Liberia, Equatorial Guinea, and Malawi in the race for a play-off berth. São Tomé and Príncipe remain at the bottom of the group without a point. Namibia’s strong performance, particularly Shalulile’s clinical finishing and the team’s solid defensive display, positions them favorably for a final push in March.
These results underscore the highly competitive nature of the African World Cup qualifiers. With several teams still in contention for both automatic qualification and the play-off spots, the final matchday promises high drama and excitement. The jostling for positions, the unexpected upsets, and the emergence of key players have made the African qualifiers a captivating spectacle. The final round of matches in March will undoubtedly be a thrilling climax to this enthralling campaign, with the fate of several nations hanging in the balance.
