Nine African teams have already won their tickets to the United States, Mexico and Canada, venues for the 2026 World Cup next summer. South Africa, Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia will be there. Perhaps joined by a tenth country on the continent.
These days in Morocco, play-offs are taking place between the four best runners-up in the initial elimination phase. And there are already only two left to claim a ticket for the intercontinental play-off which next March will pit the last candidates for the 2026 World Cup against each other: Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Cameroon eliminated
This Thursday, the Nigerian Super Eagles got the better of the Gabonese (4-1 after extra time). Not without a double from their star Victor Osimhen. And in the process, Cameroon, eight times invited to the World Cup in its history, missed the march against the Congolese Leopards of a Chancel Mbemba scorer in added time (1-0, 90e+1).
Nigeria and the DRC will meet on Sunday at the Moulay El Hassan stadium in Rabat (kick-off at 8 p.m.). A first final before a second decisive deadline in four months. The last African survivor will then have to do well against Bolivia and New Caledonia, others qualified for these final play-offs. While awaiting the verdicts from the Asian zone – where the United Arab Emirates are competing in qualification against Iraq – and from the Concacaf zone – where two teams from Costa Rica, Panama and Curaçao will also be invited.
