Matchday 5 and 6 of the African qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2026 delivered thrilling drama, spectacular goals, stunning upsets, and gritty determination as the road to North America intensified. From Ghana’s five-star display to Morocco’s last-gasp heroics and Sudan’s defiance against Senegal, the path to automatic qualification remains fiercely contested across the nine groups.
3Sports assesses how each group unfolded in the March Internationals.
Group A
Egypt retained their top spot in Group A after goals from Salah and Zivo sealed a convincing victory over Ethiopia. The Pharaohs completed the March international window with a narrow 1-0 triumph over Sierra Leone, extending their lead at the top of the group to five points. Second-place Burkina Faison bounced back with a confident 4-1 thrashing of Djibouti, while Sierra Leone stunned Guinea-Bissau with a 3-1 win in Monrovia, giving Mohamed Kallon a victorious start as coach. Djibouti lies at the bottom with a dismal record after six games.
Group A Standings:
Egypt – 16pts
Burkina Faso – 11pts
Sierra Leone – 8pts
Ethiopia – 6pts
Guinea-Bissau – 6pts
Djibouti – 1pt
Group B
Sudan held favorites Senegal to a goalless stalemate in Benina in matchday 5 but failed to remain top of their group after being held by South Sudan. Though they remain unbeaten in six games, Kwesi Appiah’s men are now third in Group B with 12 points. Congo DR edged South Sudan and group whipping boys Mauritania to climb top of the group for the first time. Desabre’s men have 13 points with a slender one-point lead over second-place Senegal.
Group B Standings:
DR Congo – 13pts
Senegal – 12pts
Sudan – 12pts
Togo – 4pts
Mauritania – 3pts
South Sudan – 2pts
Group C
South Africa surged to the top of Group C thanks to convincing victories over Lesotho and Benin. The Bafana Bafana have 13 points and a five-point cushion over second-placed Rwanda, boosting their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup since hosting the tournament in 2010. Nigeria recorded their maiden win, with Osimhen scoring a brace in Kigali, but the Super Eagles’ momentum was halted by Zimbabwe.
Group C Standings:
South Africa – 13pts
Rwanda – 8pts
Benin – 8pts
Nigeria – 7pts
Lesotho – 6pts
Zimbabwe – 4pts
Group D
Group D is shaping up to be a nail-biting thriller, with the winner potentially being decided in the final minutes. The top two teams are separated by a hair’s breadth, with just one point between them. Cameroon’s ambition to remain top of Group D was shattered after being held by whipping boys Eswatini. Although they bounced back stronger to beat Libya 3-1 at home, the win was insufficient to retain their top spot.
Group D Standings:
Cape Verde – 13pts
Cameroon – 12pts
Libya – 8pts
Angola – 7pts
Mauritius – 5pts
Eswatini – 2pts
Group E
Morocco maintained their perfect record with hard-fought victories over Niger and Tanzania. El Khannouss’ stoppage-time strike against Niger preserved their 100% record. The Atlas Lions are now nine points clear atop Group E.
Group E Standings:
Morocco – 15pts
Niger – 8pts
Tanzania – 8pts
Zambia – 3pts
Congo – 0pts
Eritrea – 0pts
Group F
Côte d’Ivoire regained top spot with narrow wins over Burundi and Gambia. The reigning AFCON champions now have 16 points, with a slender one-point lead over second place. Gabon moved into second with a confident 3-1 display against Seychelles and a narrow 2-1 victory over Kenya.
Group F Standings:
Côte d’Ivoire – 16pts
Gabon – 15pts
Burundi – 10pts
Kenya – 6pts
Gambia – 4pts
Seychelles – 0pts
Group G
Algeria leapfrogged Mozambique to clinch top spot after dispatching Botswana in matchday 5 and thrashing Mozambique 5-1 to complete a perfect window. Mozambique, despite defeating Uganda with a stunning Pepo goal, dropped to second place, three points adrift of the top spot.
Group G Standings:
Algeria – 15pts
Mozambique – 12pts
Botswana – 9pts
Uganda – 9pts
Guinea – 7pts
Somalia – 1pt
Group H
Hazem Mastouri’s clinical finish helped Tunisia outmuscle Liberia to maintain their stranglehold on the top spot. The North African powerhouse solidified their position with a resounding 2-0 triumph over Malawi. They now boast 16 points and extend their lead at the top to four points. Namibia edged Malawi in a nail-biting encounter, while Equatorial Guinea swept past São Tomé and Príncipe with ease.
Group H Standings:
Tunisia – 16pts
Namibia – 12pts
Liberia – 10pts
Malawi – 7pts
Equatorial Guinea – 6pts
São Tomé and Príncipe – 0pts
Group I
Ghana regained pole position in Group I with a resounding triumph over Chad, followed by a convincing 3-0 victory over third-placed Madagascar. The Black Stars now hold a three-point advantage over second-placed Comoros. Comoros, however, continued their Cinderella story despite being routed 3-0 by Mali. The Islanders rebounded with a slender 1-0 win over Chad. The second-place spot in Group I is now up for grabs after the March internationals, with three teams vying for the spot separated by a mere three points.
Group I Standings:
Ghana – 15pts
Comoros – 12pts
Madagascar – 10pts
Mali – 9pts
Central African Republic – 5pts
Chad – 0pts
Source: 3news.com