(Henry Russell/Yahoo Sports activities illustration)
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In Africa, a jam-packed March window of World Cup qualifiers started with a number of giants in peril. It ended with a extra digestible image of the 2026 subject, partly as a result of most of these giants took care of enterprise.
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Most, however not all. Whereas Ghana, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria and others went two for 2, Nigeria, Cameroon and Senegal stumbled. With six video games gone and 4 to go, that latter group has work to do — and in some circumstances, a whole lot of work — to nab considered one of Africa’s 9 World Cup spots.
Beneath is a rundown of the sector, and of a busy March window.
World Cup berths: 9 (plus 1 intercontinental playoff berth)
World Cup qualifying format: All 54 groups have been drawn into 9 teams of six. The winner of every group qualifies for the World Cup. The 4 runners-up with probably the most factors go to a playoff; and the winner of that playoff will get Africa’s spot within the intercontinental playoffs.
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Africa 2026 World Cup qualifying bubble
Certified: None Assured: Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, South Africa, Ghana, Algeria Bubble: Senegal, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Sudan Lengthy photographs: Mozambique, Botswana, Uganda, Guinea, Mali, Comoros, Madagascar, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, Burkina Faso, Togo, South Sudan, Mauritania, Rwanda, Benin, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Libya, Angola, Eswatini, Niger, Tanzania, Zambia, Congo*, Gambia, Kenya, Burundi, Namibia, Liberia, Malawi, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic Eradicated: Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Chad, Djibouti, Somalia Withdrew: Eritrea
*FIFA suspended Congo’s soccer federation in February. The nationwide staff’s March qualifiers have been canceled … however FIFA hasn’t confirmed that it’s disqualified altogether.
Winners and losers of the March window in Africa
Winner: South Africa — Businesslike wins over Lesotho and Benin have Bafana Bafana within the driver’s seat in Group C, with a five-point cushion.
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Loser: Nigeria — When Victor Osimhen scored within the 74th minute of Tuesday’s tense qualifier in opposition to Zimbabwe — as he ripped off his protecting masks, with pandemonium erupting throughout him in Uyo — Nigeria regarded like a winner of the window. Had the Tremendous Eagles held onto that 1-0 lead, they’d be in second place, inside shouting distance of South Africa. As a substitute, they conceded a Ninetieth-minute equalizer, and slumped again to fourth place, six factors off the Group C tempo. So, they’re in bother.
Winner: Ghana — The Black Stars smashed each Chad and Madagascar to take agency management of Group I. Comoros, a volcanic archipelago of lower than one million individuals, whose nationwide staff beat Ghana again in 2023, remains to be lurking, however its 3-0 loss to Mali final week gave Ghana three factors of respiration room.
Winner: Cape Verde — Two slim wins gave Cape Verde the highest spot in Group D, one level forward of …
Loser: Cameroon — A stalemate with last-place Eswatini has arrange an important conflict with Cape Verde in September. With a loss there, Cameroon could be on the brink, needing assist to climb again towards World Cup qualification.
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Winner: Egypt — Egypt’s wins over Ethiopia and Sierra Leone saved second-place Burkina Faso — who additionally gained twice — at arm’s size, 5 factors again.
Loser: Sudan — The Sudanese held Senegal to a 0-0 draw, then regarded set to remain atop Group B … solely to concede a haphazard 98th-minute equalizer to South Sudan on Tuesday. In doing so, their underdog quest may need fizzled out.
Winner: Democratic Republic of Congo — The beneficiary of the Sudan-Senegal draw was the DR Congo, who noticed off two minnows and rose to the highest of their group.
Winner: Algeria — An enormous 5-1 victory over Mozambique put the Algerians in charge of Group G.
Winner: Gabon — LAFC star Denis Bouanga and 35-year-old Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang led their nation to 2 extra wins, and saved the strain on Group F favourite Ivory Coast — whom Gabon will host on Marchday 8 in September.
