On this last day of the African qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, it’s down to three more slots to be filled, out of nine automatically allotted to the continent. Even an incurable optimists will not bet on Nigeria to be in that number. That’s how miserable the Super Eagles’ chances are. It’s mission impossible today, some fans will say.
Eric Chelle and his squad know that their fate is not in their hands. But they must first do their own part of the deal.
Victory by any margin (as long as the Cheetahs don’t score two or more goals in a slim margin win) against Benin Republic will first clear the hurdle of being ahead of the visitors, who seem to know Nigeria so well, being coached by former Super Eagles manager, Gernot Rohr. They demonstrated that in the first leg in Abidjan (where they play their homes matches) on 10 June 2024 when they come from a goal down to handle Nigeria a 2-1 defeat.
Let’s say Nigeria win 1-0 in Uyo, the Super Eagles and the Cheetahs will be on same points and goal difference, but scoring an away goal in the first leg will count to the former’s advantage.
The next hurdle will then be South Africa’s result against Rwanda at the Mbombela Stadium, northeastern South Africa. What Nigeria require from the Rwandese is not to lose to the Bafana Bafana, otherwise, it will be all over for the Super Eagles.
The prospects of that happening are slim, going by recent record. In this qualifying series, only Nigeria could withstand South Africa at home, playing 1-1. Like the other teams in the section, Lesotho also fell but the game was later awarded against the Rainbow nation for fielding an ineligible player. This evening, expect the Bafana Bafana to go all out against Rwanda.
Dramatic twists may also happen in Groups B and F. In Group B, Senegal, the second African nation to reach the quarterfinals of the FIFA World Cup when the El Hadji Diouf-inspired side dazzled the world in 2002 in their very first qualification, will book the ticket to their fourth appearance at the global stage if they beat visiting Mauritania. Even a draw will be enough for the Teranga Lions as long as DR Congo do not overhaul the seven-goal advantage over them.
Group F is tougher. Here, leaders Côte d’Ivoire have only a point advantage over Gabon, who are desirous of their first FIFA World Cup showing. Both sides are playing winnable matches at home; the Elephants of Côte d’Ivoire against Kenya, and the Panthers of Gabon face Burundi. Côte d’Ivoire also count well in terms of goal advantage as their +22 dwarfs Gabon’s 11.
Africa will also be confirming the four best losers of the group stage who play a mini-tournament in Morocco next month to determine the side that will will progress to the playoffs and face teams from Asia, South America, Oceania and CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football) for a spot at the global showpiece.
At the moment, Gabon, Cameroon, Burkina Faso and Niger Republic are the candidates, but the outcome of today’s fixtures will change the complex of that table of second-placed nations. But if they finish second in their respective groups, DR Congo and Uganda require a win to displace Burkina Faso and Niger Republic in the top four table.
Uganda will be facing already qualified Algeria in Tizi Ouzou, north central Algeria.
Matchday 10 (All times West Africa’s)
Tuesday (14 October)
Seychelles vs The Gambia (2 pm), Nigeria vs Benin Republic, South Africa vs Rwanda, Algeria vs Uganda, Guinea vs Botswana, Somalia vs Mozambique (all 5 pm); DR Congo vs Sudan, Gabon vs Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire vs Kenya, Morocco vs Congo Republic, Senegal vs Mauritania (all 8 pm)
Africa’s qualifiers for 2026 FIFA World Cup
- Morocco
- Tunisia
- Egypt
- Algeria
- Ghana
- Cape Verde
Likely qualifiers
- Senegal/DR Congo
- Benin/South Africa/Nigeria
- Côte d’Ivoire/Gabon
