Only Two African Teams Have Clinched Their Places for the 2026 World Cup as Final Qualifiers Loom
With the CAF qualification rounds for the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching their climax, anticipation is surging throughout Africa’s football circles.
Africa is competing for nine assured slots in the expanded 48-team World Cup, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Additionally, there is a chance for one more African nation to qualify via the inter-confederation playoffs.
Which African Nations Have Already Secured Their 2026 World Cup Berths?
Morocco and Tunisia have already punched their tickets to the tournament, while Nigeria’s Super Eagles are locked in a tense struggle to return to football’s grandest event after their absence in 2022.
The qualification journey kicked off on November 15, 2023, with 53 teams (after Eritrea withdrew due to political turmoil) battling in a rigorous home-and-away round-robin format. These teams are split into nine groups, each comprising six nations.
Only the winners of each group will earn direct qualification, while the four best runners-up will advance to the CAF playoffs to vie for the final continental spot.
Trailblazers Set the Standard Early On
Morocco, fresh from their groundbreaking semi-final appearance at Qatar 2022-the first African team to reach that stage-quickly asserted their dominance. Their emphatic 5-0 triumph over Niger in September sealed their qualification, extending an impressive unbeaten run and cementing their status as African heavyweights.
Tunisia booked their place through a combination of disciplined tactics and rapid counterattacks, a formula perfected under the leadership of coach Jalel Kadri.
Meanwhile, the fight for the remaining seven direct qualification spots remains intense. Leading the charge are Egypt (20 points in Group A), Senegal (18 in Group B), Benin Republic (14 in Group C), Cape Verde (19 in Group D), Côte d’Ivoire (20 in Group F), Algeria (19 in Group G), and Ghana (19 in Group I), all holding strong positions with just two matches left to play.
Nigeria’s Rocky Road to Qualification
Nigeria’s path has been fraught with challenges and growing scrutiny. Drawn into a tough Group C alongside South Africa, Benin, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, and Lesotho, the Super Eagles struggled to find consistency under former coach José Peseiro.
The team’s campaign got off to a rocky start, failing to secure a win in their opening four fixtures, which included three draws and a surprising 2-1 home loss to Benin in June 2024. This poor run sparked widespread criticism from supporters and experts, who highlighted tactical missteps and defensive frailties.
Having last featured at the World Cup in 2018, Nigeria now confronts the real possibility of missing out once more-a scenario that would deal a heavy blow to the nation’s footballing legacy.