2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF second round
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 15 November 2023 – 18 November 2025 |
| Teams | 53 (from 1 confederation) |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 52 |
| Goals scored | 122 (2.35 per match) |
| Attendance | 323,824 (6,227 per match) |
| Top scorer(s) |  Mohamed Salah(4 goals) |
| Qualification for championships (CAF) |
|---|
The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF) is the African section of the qualification tournament for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be held in the United States of America, Canada and Mexico. A total of nine slots in the final tournament and one inter-confederation play-off slot are reserved for CAF teams.[1]
Format
Due to nine CAF teams now directly qualifying instead of five, the CAF Executive Committee announced a new qualification format on 19 May 2023. Teams were drawn into nine groups of six teams. The winner of each group will directly qualify to the World Cup, while the four best group runners-up will participate in play-offs to determine which team will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs.[2][3]
- Group stage: Nine groups of six teams will play in a home-and-away round-robin matches. Group winners will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
- Play-off stage: The four best group runners-up will be drawn into play-offs to determine the CAF representative at the inter-confederation play-offs.
Schedule
| Round | Matchday | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| First round | Matchday 1 | 15–18 November 2023 |
| Matchday 2 | 19–21 November 2023 | |
| Matchday 3 | 3–11 June 2024 | |
| Matchday 4 | ||
| Matchday 5 | 17–25 March 2025 | |
| Matchday 6 | ||
| Matchday 7 | 1–9 September 2025 | |
| Matchday 8 | ||
| Matchday 9 | 6–14 October 2025 | |
| Matchday 10 | ||
| Second round | Semi-finals | 10–18 November 2025 |
| Final |
First round
Teams have been drawn into nine groups of six teams and will play home-and-away round robin matches from November 2023 to October 2025. The winners of each group will qualify directly to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the four best group runners-up will advance to a play-off to determine which team will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs.
Draw
The draw was held on 13 July 2023 at 15:00 GMT (UTC±0) in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.[4][5] All 54 FIFA-affiliated football associations from CAF entered qualification, however Eritrea withdrew before matches began.[6][7]
The draw pots were announced on 30 June (numbers in parentheses indicate FIFA Men's World Ranking at the time of the draw):[8][9]
| Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 |
|---|---|---|
|
| |
| Pot 4 | Pot 5 | Pot 6 |
|
|
Groups
Group A
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Egypt
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | +8 | 6 | 2026 FIFA World Cup | — | Jun | Oct '25 | Mar '25 | Sep '25 | 6–0 | |
| 2 | Burkina Faso
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 4 | Possible play-off stage | Sep '25 | — | 1–1 | Jun | Oct '25 | Mar '25 | |
| 3 | Guinea-Bissau
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 4 | Jun | Mar '25 | — | Sep '25 | Jun | Sep '25 | ||
| 4 | Sierra Leone
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | −2 | 1 | 0–2 | Oct '25 | Mar '25 | — | Sep '25 | Jun | ||
| 5 | Ethiopia
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | −3 | 1 | Mar '25 | 0–3 | Oct '25 | 0–0 | — | Mar '25 | ||
| 6 | Djibouti
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | −7 | 0 | Oct '25 | Sep '25 | 0–1 | Oct '25 | Jun | — |
Group B
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | 
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Senegal
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 4 | 2026 FIFA World Cup | — | Sep '25 | Jun | Mar '25 | Oct '25 | 4–0 | |
| 2 | Sudan
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 4 | Possible play-off stage | Mar '25 | — | 1–0 | 1–1 | Oct '25 | Mar '25 | |
| 3 | DR Congo
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 | Sep '25 | Oct '25 | — | Jun | 2–0 | Mar '25 | ||
| 4 | Togo
|
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0–0 | Sep '25 | Oct '25 | — | Mar '25 | Jun | ||
| 5 | Mauritania
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | −2 | 1 | Jun | Jun | Mar '25 | Sep '25 | — | Sep '25 | ||
| 6 | South Sudan
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | −4 | 1 | Oct '25 | Jun | Sep '25 | Oct '25 | 0–0 | — |
Group C
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | 
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rwanda
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 4 | 2026 FIFA World Cup | — | 2–0 | Mar '25 | Mar '25 | 0–0 | Oct '25 | |
| 2 | South Africa
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 3 | Possible play-off stage | Oct '25 | — | Sep '25 | Mar '25 | Jun | 2–1 | |
| 3 | Nigeria
|
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | Sep '25 | Jun | — | 1–1 | Mar '25 | Oct '25 | ||
| 4 | Lesotho
|
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | Jun | Sep '25 | Oct '25 | — | Oct '25 | 0–0 | ||
| 5 | Zimbabwe
|
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | Sep '25 | Oct '25 | 1–1 | Jun | — | Mar '25 | ||
| 6 | Benin
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 1 | Jun | Mar '25 | Jun | Sep '25 | Sep '25 | — |
Group D
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | 
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cameroon
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 4 | 2026 FIFA World Cup | — | Jun | Mar '25 | Oct '25 | 3–0 | Sep '25 | |
| 2 | Cape Verde
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 4 | Possible play-off stage | Sep '25 | — | Jun | 0–0 | Mar '25 | Oct '25 | |
| 3 | Libya
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 4 | 1–1 | Oct '25 | — | Mar '25 | Jun | Sep '25 | ||
| 4 | Angola
|
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | Jun | Mar '25 | Sep '25 | — | Sep '25 | Jun | ||
| 5 | Mauritius
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | −3 | 1 | Oct '25 | Sep '25 | Oct '25 | 0–0 | — | Jun | ||
| 6 | Eswatini
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | −3 | 0 | Mar '25 | 0–2 | 0–1 | Oct '25 | Mar '25 | — |
Group E
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | 
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morocco
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 3 | 2026 FIFA World Cup | — | Jun | Sep '25 | Mar '25 | Oct '25 | ||
| 2 | Zambia
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 3 | Possible play-off stage | Sep '25 | — | Oct '25 | Jun | 4–2 | ||
| 3 | Niger
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | Mar '25 | 2–1 | — | 0–1 | Oct '25 | |||
| 4 | Tanzania
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 3 | 0–2 | Oct '25 | Sep '25 | — | Mar '25 | |||
| 5 | Congo
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 0 | Jun | Mar '25 | Jun | Sep '25 | — | |||
| 6 | Eritrea[a]
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Withdrew | — |
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Notes:
Group F
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | 
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ivory Coast
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | +11 | 6 | 2026 FIFA World Cup | — | Jun | Oct '25 | Sep '25 | Mar '25 | 9–0 | |
| 2 | Gabon
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 6 | Possible play-off stage | Sep '25 | — | 2–1 | Oct '25 | Jun | Mar '25 | |
| 3 | Kenya
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 3 | Jun | Mar '25 | — | Jun | Sep '25 | Sep '25 | ||
| 4 | Burundi
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3 | Mar '25 | 1–2 | Oct '25 | — | 3–2 | Mar '25 | ||
| 5 | Gambia
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 0 | 0–2 | Oct '25 | Mar '25 | Sep '25 | — | Jun | ||
| 6 | Seychelles
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 14 | −14 | 0 | Oct '25 | Sep '25 | 0–5 | Jun | Oct '25 | — |
Group G
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | 
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Algeria
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 6 | 2026 FIFA World Cup | — | Sep '25 | Jun | Oct '25 | Mar '25 | 3–1 | |
| 2 | Botswana
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | Possible play-off stage | Mar '25 | — | 1–0 | Oct '25 | 2–3 | Mar '25 | |
| 3 | Guinea
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | Sep '25 | Oct '25 | — | 2–1 | Jun | Mar '25 | ||
| 4 | Uganda
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | Jun | Jun | Mar '25 | — | Sep '25 | Sep '25 | ||
| 5 | Mozambique
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 3 | 0–2 | Sep '25 | Oct '25 | Mar '25 | — | Jun | ||
| 6 | Somalia
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 0 | Oct '25 | Jun | Sep '25 | 0–1 | Oct '25 | — |
Group H
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | 
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tunisia
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | +5 | 6 | 2026 FIFA World Cup | — | Jun | Oct '25 | Mar '25 | Sep '25 | 4–0 | |
| 2 | Equatorial Guinea
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 6 | Possible play-off stage | Sep '25 | — | 1–0 | Jun | Oct '25 | Mar '25 | |
| 3 | Namibia
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 | Jun | Mar '25 | — | Sep '25 | Jun | Sep '25 | ||
| 4 | Malawi
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0–1 | Oct '25 | Mar '25 | — | Sep '25 | Jun | ||
| 5 | Liberia
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | −2 | 0 | Mar '25 | 0–1 | Oct '25 | 0–1 | — | Mar '25 | ||
| 6 | São Tomé and Príncipe
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | −6 | 0 | Oct '25 | Sep '25 | 0–2 | Oct '25 | Jun | — |
Group I
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | 
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Comoros
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 6 | 2026 FIFA World Cup | — | Mar '25 | Oct '25 | 1–0 | 4–2 | Mar '25 | |
| 2 | Mali
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 4 | Possible play-off stage | Sep '25 | — | Oct '25 | Jun | 1–1 | 3–1 | |
| 3 | Madagascar
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 3 | Jun | Jun | — | Mar '25 | Sep '25 | Sep '25 | ||
| 4 | Ghana
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | Oct '25 | Sep '25 | 1–0 | — | Jun | Mar '25 | ||
| 5 | Central African Republic
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | −2 | 1 | Sep '25 | Mar '25 | Mar '25 | Oct '25 | — | Jun | ||
| 6 | Chad
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | −5 | 0 | Jun | Oct '25 | 0–3 | Sep '25 | Oct '25 | — |
Ranking of runners-up
Neither CAF nor FIFA have made an official announcement on how Eritrea's withdrawal will affect the rankings of the group runners-up.
| Pos | Grp | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | F | Gabon
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 6 | Play-off stage |
| 2 | H | Equatorial Guinea
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 6 | |
| 3 | A | Burkina Faso
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 4 | |
| 4 | I | Mali
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 4 | |
| 5 | D | Cape Verde
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 4 | |
| 6 | B | Sudan
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 4 | |
| 7 | E | Zambia
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 3 | |
| 8 | G | Botswana
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| 9 | C | South Africa
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 3 |
Second round
The four best group runners-up will be drawn into play-offs to determine the sole CAF representative at the inter-confederation play-offs. A total of three games will be played.
Bracket
| Semi-finals | Final | |||||
| November 2025 | ||||||
| November 2025 | ||||||
| November 2025 | ||||||
Semi-finals
| v | ||
|---|---|---|
| v | ||
|---|---|---|
Final
| v | ||
|---|---|---|
Inter-confederation play-offs
The play-off winner will join one team each from AFC, CONMEBOL and OFC and two from CONCACAF in the inter-confederation play-offs. The teams will be ranked according to the FIFA Men's World Ranking, with the four lowest-ranked teams playing in two single-elimination matches. The winners will meet the two highest-ranked teams in another set of single-elimination matches, with the winners of these matches qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[10]
Top goalscorers
There have been 122 goals scored in 52 matches, for an average of 2.35 goals per match (as of 21 November 2023).
4 goals
3 goals
2 goals
Below are full goalscorer lists for each group:
References
- ^ "Current allocation of FIFA World Cup confederation slots maintained". FIFA. 30 May 2015. Archived from the original on 30 May 2015.
- ^ "CAF Executive Committee approves FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers calendar and announces TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Côte d'Ivoire 2023 Final Draw date". cafonline. CAF. 19 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- ^ "CAF reveals new format for 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers". cafonline. CAF. 19 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- ^ Olsson, Andrew (4 July 2023). "Learn all about 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying in the CAF region and the seeds". Pan-Africa Football. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
- ^ "FIFA World Cup 2026 African Qualifiers Official Draw on 13 July". cafonline. CAF. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
- ^ a b "Eritrea Pull Out Of 2026 World Cup Qualifier". Dehai News. Dehai News. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
- ^ "Statement on FIFA World Cup 2026 preliminary competition". CAF. 10 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ Inyang, Ifreke (30 June 2023). "FIFA puts Super Eagles in Pot 1 as race to 2026 World Cup begins". dailypost.ng. Daily Post. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
- ^ "FIFA World Cup 2026: African preliminary qualifiers draw officially conducted". CAF. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
- ^ "Bureau of the Council recommends slot allocation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup". FIFA. 30 March 2017. Archived from the original on 19 June 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2023.