Africa’s road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has reached a dramatic crescendo, and the spotlight now shifts to Matchday 8 of the CAF qualifiers.
Morocco, fresh from their ruthless 5–0 triumph over Niger in Rabat, have already punched their ticket to the global stage.
The Atlas Lions become the first African nation to officially secure a place in the expanded tournament across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
As the Atlas Lions celebrate their third consecutive qualification, four more African heavyweights Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, and South Africa stand on the threshold of joining them.
Each carries the weight of history, ambition, and national pride, with the coming days promising passion-soaked encounters under the African sky.
Egypt, unbeaten under the guidance of Hossam Hassan, require victory over Burkina Faso in Ouagadougou on Tuesday to confirm their passage.
Tunisia could follow suit the day before, with a win against Equatorial Guinea in Malabo enough to seal their fate.
Algeria’s path is more complex, a win against Guinea in Casablanca, coupled with rivals Uganda and Mozambique dropping points, would book their seat on the plane.
For South Africa, destiny intertwines with drama.
The Bafana Bafana face Nigeria in Bloemfontein on Tuesday in a clash steeped in rivalry and consequence.
A win could be decisive especially if Benin stumble against Lesotho though the lingering uncertainty of FIFA’s verdict on South Africa’s administrative slip casts a shadow over their campaign.
Elsewhere, the qualifiers serve up high-stakes blockbusters. Ghana host Mali in a titanic Group I contest where victory could cement the Black Stars’ grip on first place.
In Group D, Cape Verde and Cameroon meet in a winner-takes-all duel, while Kinshasa braces for a fiery showdown between DR Congo and Senegal.
Ivory Coast’s trip to Gabon in Group F is equally tantalising, with supremacy and progress at stake.
Group Leaders After Matchday 7
Group A: Egypt (19 pts) – qualify with win vs Burkina Faso
Group B: DR Congo (16 pts), Senegal (15 pts) – direct decider in Kinshasa
Group C: South Africa (16 pts) – qualify with win vs Nigeria if Benin fail to win
Group D: Cape Verde (16 pts), Cameroon (15 pts) blockbuster head-to-head
Group E: Morocco (18 pts) – already qualified
Group F: Côte d’Ivoire (19 pts), Gabon (18 pts) – winner edges closer
Group G: Algeria (18 pts) – qualify with win if rivals drop points
Group H: Tunisia (19 pts) – qualify with win vs Equatorial Guinea
Group I: Ghana (16 pts), Madagascar/Mali/Comoros (12–13 pts) – wide open race
Matchday 8 Fixtures (CAF) – Times CAT
Sunday, 7 September
18:00 – Central African Republic v Comoros
Monday, 8 September
15:00 – Equatorial Guinea v Tunisia
15:00 – Zambia v Morocco
15:00 – Mozambique v Botswana
18:00 – Malawi v Liberia
18:00 – Madagascar v Chad
18:00 – Guinea-Bissau v Djibouti
18:00 – Uganda v Somalia
18:00 – Guinea v Algeria
21:00 – Libya v Eswatini
21:00 – Ghana v Mali
Tuesday, 9 September
15:00 – Kenya v Seychelles
15:00 – Zimbabwe v Rwanda
15:00 – Tanzania v Niger
15:00 – Namibia v São Tomé and Príncipe
15:00 – Sierra Leone v Ethiopia
18:00 – Burkina Faso v Egypt
18:00 – Togo v Sudan
18:00 – South Africa v Nigeria
18:00 – Cape Verde v Cameroon
18:00 – DR Congo v Senegal
21:00 – Mauritania v South Sudan
21:00 – Gabon v Ivory Coast
21:00 – Angola v Mauritius
21:00 – Benin v Lesotho
21:00 – Gambia v Burund
