WeeklySA_AdminPressure: Stakes are high as African qualifiers for the 2026 fifa world cup resume
By Sports Reporter
African qualifiers for the 2026 Fifa World Cup resume this week after a nine-month hiatus – and the stakes are high for some big names.
Six rounds of the 10-match group campaign remain, and the two fixtures this month will go a long way to deciding the fate of many teams.
The nine group winners are assured of a place at the finals in Canada, Mexico and the USA. The four best second-placed sides will have a chance to earn one final spot via play-offs.
Only 13 African countries have ever played at the World Cup, but an expansion to nine guaranteed qualifiers means there is a chance for some debutants in three years’ time. Each qualifying group for 2026 contains at least one side who have previously reached the tournament. A raft of managerial changes have occurred since the last round in June, with Nigeria, Senegal, Kenya, and Tunisia among the sides with new coaches.
Benni McCarthy, former Bafana Bafana star striker and Manchester United assistant coach, marked his debut as the head coach of the Kenyan national team with a thrilling 3-3 draw against Gambia in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier. The match, played in Abidjan on Thursday, was nothing short of dramatic, showcasing McCarthy’s ability to rally the team in high-pressure situations.
A Six-Goal Thriller
The game saw an incredible back-and-forth as both teams fought to secure crucial points in Group F. Gambia took the lead with a brace from Musa Barrow and a goal from Yankuba Minteh.
However, the Harambe Stars refused to back down, with Michael Olunga and Mohammed Bajaber pulling them level. The real drama came in the final moments, as local midfielder William Wilson scored an injury-time equalizer to salvage a point for Kenya.
While the match ended in a thrilling draw, both teams face an uphill battle in the quest to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Kenya now sits fourth in Group F with 6 points, while Gambia follows closely behind in fifth with 4 points.
The top three teams—Burundi, Ivory Coast, and Gabon—remain the frontrunners, and both Kenya and Gambia will need to secure wins in their upcoming fixtures to stay in contention.
Tunisia’s trip to Liberia proved successful as they secured a narrow 1-0 win at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Complex. The win cements Tunisia’s grip on Group H, with a clash against Malawi up next, while Liberia face Sao Tome and Principe.
Madagascar produced a commanding 4-1 victory over the Central African Republic to claim the top spot in Group I.
The match began with an early shock as Gabor gave the Central Africans the lead in the ninth minute. However, Madagascar responded emphatically, with captain Raveloson scoring twice before the break. The Barea continued their dominance in the second half, adding two more goals to seal a resounding win.
Their solid defence nullified any hopes of a comeback for their opponents. This crucial victory boosts Madagascar’s hope of qualifying and making a debut at the World Cup. Meanwhile, Cameroon were left frustrated after being held to a 0-0 draw by bottom-placed Eswatini in Group D. The Indomitable Lions struggled to find a breakthrough, despite dominating possession.
The result keeps them at the top of the group with nine points from five matches but gives Eswatini their first point of the campaign. The group’s other Matchday 5 fixtures will be played on Wednesday, with Cameroon needing to bounce back quickly to maintain their lead.
With qualification hopes at stake, Tunisia and Madagascar strengthened their positions, while Cameroon’s setback leaves them with work to do as the road to the 2026 World Cup intensifies.
Here’s the full list of fixtures of the remaining Matchday 5 of the Africa 2026 World Cup Qualifiers (all times in GMT):
Friday, 21 March 2025
Group G
13:00: Botswana vs. Algeria
Group H
13:00: Equatorial Guinea vs. São Tomé and Príncipe
Group A
16:00: Burkina Faso vs. Djibouti
Group B
16:00: DR Congo vs. South Sudan
Group C
16:00: Rwanda vs. Nigeria
Group C
16:00: South Africa vs. Lesotho
Group G
19:00: Burundi vs. Côte d’Ivoire
Group G
19:00: Ghana vs. Chad
Group A
21:00: Ethiopia vs. Egypt
Group G
21:00: Guinea vs. Somalia
Group E
21:30: Niger vs. Morocco
Saturday, 22 March 2025
Group B
16:00: Togo vs. Mauritania
Group B
19:00: Sudan vs. Senegal
