African 2026 World Cup qualifying talking points

Cape Verde and Ghana turned from zeros to heroes among supporters by qualifying this week for the 2026 World Cup successful the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Both Cape Verde, a tiny archipelago of astir 550,000 inhabitants with nary shot titles to boast of, and four-time continental champions Ghana failed to suffice for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

But the disappointment astatine missing the premier African shot tourney has been forgotten arsenic Cape Verdeans and Ghanaians observe that they volition beryllium portion of the expanded 48-team World Cup adjacent year.

AFP Sport looks astatine 5 talking points aft Cape Verde and Ghana were joined by Algeria, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia arsenic the 9 automatic African qualifiers.

Cameroon, Gabon, Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria person qualified for a November mini-tournament and the winners beforehand to inter-continental play-offs successful March with 2 World Cup places up for grabs.

Clinical Livramento

“We person earned respect successful Africa, present we indispensable gain respect successful the world,” said Cape Verde manager Pedro ‘Bubista’ Brito aft Group D winners Cape Verde became the smallest state by onshore wide to qualify.

The World Cup debutants recovered from a 4-1 hiding successful Cameroon to spell connected a seven-match unbeaten streak, portion the challenges of the Indomitable Lions and Angola fell beneath expectations.

Dailon Livramento, a 24-year-old striker connected indebtedness from Verona to Casa Pia, scored 4 important goals, including a superb solo match-winner erstwhile Cameroon came to the archipelago disconnected the seashore of Senegal.

Appollis stars

South Africa volition instrumentality to the World Cup adjacent June, 16 years aft becoming the archetypal big federation to beryllium eliminated aft the archetypal round.

But it was a adjacent telephone for Bafana Bafana (The Boys), who bushed Rwanda successful the last circular to pip arch rivals Nigeria by 1 constituent for apical spot aft starring by 5 points successful aboriginal September.

Orlando Pirates winger Oswin Appollis is an emerging South African star. He scored 1 extremity and created the others successful the 3-0 triumph implicit the Rwandans.

Ghana recover

Ghana recovered from a daze nonaccomplishment to suffice for the Africa Cup of Nations successful Morocco from December 21 by finishing Group I six points up of runners-up Madagascar.

A effect that yet proved important was a 2-1 triumph distant to apical seeds Mali successful June past twelvemonth with skipper and seasoned guardant Jordan Ayew snatching an added-time winner.

The item of 4 erstwhile World Cup appearances was reaching the 2010 quarter-finals, and the lowlight was demanding currency beryllium flown to Brazil to forestall a players’ boycott during the 2014 edition.

‘Perfect’ Morocco

Shock 2022 semi-finalists Morocco were the lone African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup who boasted a 100 percent record.

The Atlas Lions’ was made easier by playing ‘away’ matches against Congo Brazzaville and Niger successful the northbound African kingdom.

Morocco tin telephone connected a fig of survivors from the 2022 Qatar campaign, including goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, prima Paris Saint-Germain full-back Achraf Hakimi and striker Youssef En-Nesyri.

Seychelles struggle

Seychelles are the lowest ranked of the 53 African shot nations and their weaknesses were repeatedly exposed successful 10 qualifiers arsenic they conceded 53 times.

Known arsenic the Pirates, the Indian Ocean land famed for its upscale tourism offerings made a disastrous start, losing 9-0 successful the Ivory Coast, a grounds decision successful an African qualifier.

Apart from struggling to vie astatine the highest level, the Seychellois had the added handicap of being forced to play location matches overseas arsenic they deficiency a FIFA-approved stadium.

The station African 2026 World Cup qualifying talking points appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.