African qualifications for the 2026 World Cup are entering their decisive phase. With one day remaining, four nations have already validated their ticket to the Americas: Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia. Others will still have to fight to get a direct place, while four selections will go through the play-offs in November 2025 before competing in intercontinental play-offs for a final qualification.
In group F, Gabon, led by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, closely follows Ivory Coast, only one point behind the Elephants. On the other hand, the Panthers currently dominate the ranking of the best runners-up, ahead of Madagascar, the DRC and Burkina Faso. Cameroon, second in Group D behind Cape Verde, had until then only occupied fifth place, an elimination position.
But a new point of regulation has reshuffled the cards. The Confederation of African Football has informed its 54 member federations that due to the withdrawal of Eritrea for political reasons, the results obtained against the bottom teams in each group will no longer be taken into account.
Cameroon saved?
This measure, taken in March, changes the situation: Cameroon now climbs to second place in the ranking of the best runners-up. The four teams virtually qualified for the pre-play-offs are Gabon, Cameroon, the DRC and Madagascar. The big loser for the moment is Burkina Faso, ejected from the Top 4.
A hard blow for the Stallions, but also a threat for Gabon, which sees its plans complicated despite a hitherto solid campaign. The four best runners-up will face each other in November 2025 in semi-finals and a final. The winner will then participate in the intercontinental play-offs in March 2026, facing selections from Asia, South America, Oceania and Concacaf.
