Africa-Press – Nigeria. As the 2026 World Cup qualifying series wraps up in the African zone, five countries are fighting for the four loser’s spots.
A total of nine teams will book automatic spots from the tournament.
Another country will join them, but they will go through play-offs.
These play-offs will haven four teams that finished strongly in second-place behind their group leaders.
Gabon – Group F (19 points): Gabon are behind Cote d’Ivoire, who are flying high with their remaining two fixtures against bottom-table Seychelles and Kenya. Gabon will take on Gambia and Burundi.
Madagascar – Group I (16 points): Madagascar might have to beat Comoros in their next match and hope to finish well against Mali. Ghana, the group leaders, would learn from their past mistakes and might just hold unto their own against Central African Republic and Comoros.
Congo – Group B (16 points): Congo will play Sudan and Togo, both whom sit directly below them. However, they might eventually finish second place below Senegal whose two matches are relatively easy – an away game at South Sudan and a home match against Mauritania.
Burkina Faso – Group A (15 points): Burkina Faso are five points behind Egypt and they will be looking to wrap things up and might finish second should they secure victories against Sierra Leone and Ethiopia. Egypt are poised to finish first with matches against Djibouti and Guinea Bissau.
South Africa – Group C (14 points): South Africa suffered a setback after they were deducted three points by FIFA for fielding an ineligible players. They now sit second in group C with 14 points, tied with Benin Republic with the same points. They play Zimbabwe and Rwanda next and will be hoping to qualify to play play-off amidst troubles that they face. They might benefit from the meeting between Nigeria (third) and Benin Republic (first) as one of these teams would drop points eventually.
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