South Africa, Ivory Coast, and Senegal have booked the final three automatic qualification spots for Africa at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, following emphatic victories on Tuesday.
Senegal produced the standout performance of the day, dismantling Mauritania 4–0, while Ivory Coast cruised past Kenya 3–0, and South Africa secured a decisive 3–0 win over Rwanda in Mbombela.
The trio join Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia as Africa’s automatic representatives at next year’s global showpiece in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Meanwhile, Cameroon, DR Congo, Gabon, and Nigeria kept alive their hopes of reaching the World Cup via the play-offs, after finishing as the four best-ranked runners-up. They will compete in two semi-finals and a final in Morocco this November, with the winner advancing to the intercontinental play-offs in March, where two more African nations could book their World Cup berths.
In Group B, Sadio Mané inspired Senegal to a commanding win, scoring twice — just before and after halftime — while Iliman Ndiaye and Habib Diallo added one each. Senegal topped the group with 24 points, two ahead of DR Congo, who edged Sudan 1–0 thanks to Theo Bongonda’s goal in Kinshasa.
Over in Abidjan, reigning African champions Ivory Coast dominated Kenya, leading from the seventh minute through Franck Kessié’s opener. Yan Diomande added the second shortly after halftime before Manchester United’s Amad Diallo sealed a 3–0 victory. The Elephants finished Group F with 26 points, one clear of Gabon, while Gambia thrashed Seychelles 7–0 to end third.
In Mbombela, South Africa rose to the occasion after a nervy qualifying campaign. Thalente Mbatha and Oswin Appollis struck early to put Bafana Bafana in control before Evidence Makgopa headed home midway through the second half to seal a 3–0 triumph.
The win, combined with Nigeria’s 4–0 thrashing of Benin in Uyo, ensured South Africa topped Group C with 18 points, one ahead of the Super Eagles. It marks South Africa’s fourth World Cup appearance, following 1998, 2002, and 2010, when they hosted the tournament.
An emotional Hugo Broos, who featured for Belgium at the 1986 World Cup, expressed his delight at leading a team to football’s grandest stage:
“We all knew we could do it — we believed in ourselves. What happened tonight is the work of three years. The future looks very bright for South African football,” the 73-year-old coach said.
Player of the match Oswin Appollis, who scored and assisted, echoed his manager’s joy:
“What an amazing feeling for the group going to the World Cup. I knew we’d come here tonight and win.”
Qualification was particularly sweet for South Africa, who overcame late setbacks — including dropped points against Nigeria and Zimbabwe, and the forfeiture of a win against Lesotho due to fielding an ineligible player.
But when it mattered most, Bafana Bafana delivered, just as Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen netted a hat-trick and Frank Onyeka added a late strike to hand Benin a 4–0 defeat — a result that also helped Nigeria edge closer to a play-off berth.
With Africa’s nine automatic spots filled, attention now turns to the November play-offs in Morocco, where four more nations will battle for the continent’s potential two extra World Cup tickets.
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