State of play on road to 2026 world cup in Africa after March internationals

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