As the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying series winds down in the African zone, five nations — Gabon, Madagascar, Congo, Burkina Faso, and South Africa — are locked in a tense race for the four available play-off spots.
Nine teams will automatically qualify for the World Cup, while four of the best runners-up will advance to an intercontinental play-off to determine the final African representative.
Gabon (Group F – 19 points)
Trailing group leaders Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon faces a tough challenge with remaining fixtures against Gambia and Burundi. The Ivorians, who play Seychelles and Kenya, are favourites to top the group, leaving Gabon in contention for a second-place finish.
Madagascar (Group I – 16 points)
Madagascar must win against Comoros and finish strongly against Mali to keep their hopes alive. Group leaders Ghana, likely to avoid slip-ups against the Central African Republic and Comoros, remain favourites for direct qualification.
Congo (Group B – 16 points)
Congo faces Sudan and Togo in decisive fixtures but may struggle to overtake Senegal, who have easier matches against South Sudan and Mauritania. A strong finish could, however, secure Congo a play-off slot.
Burkina Faso (Group A – 15 points)
Five points behind Egypt, Burkina Faso need maximum points from games against Sierra Leone and Ethiopia. Egypt, meanwhile, look set to seal direct qualification with fixtures against Djibouti and Guinea-Bissau.
South Africa (Group C – 14 points)
After FIFA deducted three points for fielding an ineligible player, Bafana Bafana are tied on 14 points with Benin Republic. They face Zimbabwe and Rwanda next, hoping to claim a play-off spot. Their fate may hinge on the outcome of the Nigeria–Benin Republic clash, where either team could drop crucial points.
With the final round of fixtures approaching, Africa’s road to the 2026 World Cup remains fiercely contested — and the margins for qualification slimmer than ever.
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