3 weeks ago
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As the particulate settles connected Africa’s thrilling contention to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, African countries brace for 1 past melodramatic matchday crossed the continent.
With Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria and Ghana already securing their tickets to North America, attraction present turns to the remaining nations battling for automatic qualification; and a fewer eyeing the playoff lifeline.
Here are six African countries to support your eyes connected successful the decisive last circular of Africa’s qualifiers:
1. Nigeria
The Super Eagles’ qualifying travel has been thing but smooth. With conscionable 3 wins from 9 games, Nigeria find themselves clinging to mathematical hope. They indispensable decision Benin successful Uyo — ideally by a two-goal borderline — and commune South Africa gaffe up against Rwanda.
If they propulsion disconnected this precocious escape, it’ll beryllium 1 of the large comeback stories successful African football. Coach Eric Chelle’s men are nether immense pressure, but Nigeria’s never-say-die tone has amazed the satellite before.
2. Benin
Former Nigeria brag Gernot Rohr could publication a poetic twist — starring Benin to their first-ever World Cup by eliminating his erstwhile employers. Sitting apical of Group C with 17 points, the Squirrels lone request to triumph astatine location to seal a historical berth.
But the stakes couldn’t beryllium higher. Lose, and they hazard being overtaken by some South Africa and Nigeria. It’s a existent “win oregon bust” scenario.
3. South Africa
Hugo Broos’ men person been coagulated throughout, but a three-point deduction for fielding an ineligible subordinate has analyzable their path. Still, the Bafana Bafana tin suffice if they bushed Rwanda and Benin falter against Nigeria.
A two-goal triumph could adjacent spot them done if Benin draw. Expect a fired-up location assemblage and attacking intent from the archetypal whistle successful Johannesburg.
4. Cape Verde
The land federation stands connected the cusp of making past arsenic the second-smallest state ever to scope a World Cup. All they request is simply a location triumph implicit Eswatini.
They were agonizingly adjacent to sealing qualification earlier past week, denied by a arguable offside telephone successful a 3–3 gully against Libya. Expect emotion, passion, and fireworks successful Praia — the full Atlantic archipelago volition beryllium watching.
5. Ivory Coast – Champions with a Point to Prove
The reigning African champions are conscionable 1 constituent up of Gabon successful Group F, but they’ll beryllium assured of finishing the occupation astatine location to Kenya.
6. Senegal
Senegal are besides 1 triumph oregon 1 constituent distant from different quality astatine football’s biggest stage. Unbeaten successful the qualifiers truthful far, getting 3 maximum points comfortably astatine location against Mauritania is simply a precocious possiblity.
The station 2026 WCQ: 5 African countries to ticker for imaginable qualifications successful last round appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.
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