CAF's qualification process for the 2026 World Cup continues in the second round with eight teams aiming to extend their unbeaten runs, while 14 others are looking to secure their first wins.
The likes of Morocco and Cameroon have enjoyed strong starts to this phase of qualifying and are among the nations expected to secure their places at the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
On the other hand, nations such as Burundi, Lesotho, and Mauritania are trying to earn points to keep their World Cup hopes alive. Nigeria, too, are desperate for results to avoid a shock elimination at this stage.
The Sporting News details the fixture schedule for the CAF section, and an updated list of which nations have qualified.
MORE: FIFA World Cup 2026 match schedule announcement
How CAF World Cup 2026 qualifying works
CAF's World Cup 2026 qualification process involves 54 teams competing for nine direct qualification places, with one additional spot available through an intercontinental playoff.
The qualification stage comprises two rounds. In the first round, the 54 nations are divided into nine groups of six for round-robin matches. The group winners all qualify automatically for the 2026 World Cup.
The four best runners-up during this group phase will compete in a small playoff phase (the second round) consisting of two semifinals and a final. Each is a one-off elimination match. The winner of this phase progresses to an inter-confederation playoff round, in which they will compete against nations from the AFC, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF and OFC regions for the right to a place at the World Cup.
Who has qualified from CAF for the 2026 World Cup?
As yet, no nations from the CAF region have qualified for the finals of the next World Cup.
The Sporting News will update this page as teams secure their places at the tournament.
CAF World Cup 2026 qualifying match schedule
Below is the schedule for qualifying matches for CAF nations for the 2026 World Cup.
| Round | Matchday | Dates |
| Group Stage | 1 | Nov. 15-18, 2023 |
| Group Stage | 2 | Nov. 19-21, 2023 |
| Group Stage | 3 | Jun. 5-8, 2024 |
| Group Stage | 4 | Jun. 9-11, 2024 |
| Group Stage | 5 | Mar. 17-25, 2025 |
| Group Stage | 6 | Mar. 17-25, 2025 |
| Group Stage | 7 | Sep. 1-9, 2025 |
| Group Stage | 8 | Sep. 1-9, 2025 |
| Group Stage | 9 | Oct. 6-14, 2025 |
| Group Stage | 10 | Oct. 6-14, 2025 |
| Playoff Stage | Semifinals | Nov. 10-18, 2025 |
| Playoff Stage | Final | Nov. 10-18, 2025 |
CAF World Cup 2026 qualifying groups, standings
Group A
| Position | Team | P | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Egypt | 4 | 9 | 10 |
| 2 | Guinea-Bissau | 4 | 1 | 6 |
| 3 | Burkina Faso | 4 | 2 | 5 |
| 4 | Sierra Leone | 4 | -1 | 5 |
| 5 | Ethiopia | 4 | -3 | 3 |
| 6 | Djibouti | 4 | -8 | 1 |
Group B
| Position | Team | P | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sudan | 4 | 6 | 10 |
| 2 | Senegal | 4 | 5 | 8 |
| 3 | DR Congo | 4 | 2 | 7 |
| 4 | Togo | 4 | -1 | 3 |
| 5 | South Sudan | 4 | -7 | 2 |
| 6 | Mauritania | 4 | -5 | 1 |
Group C
| Position | Team | P | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rwanda | 4 | 2 | 7 |
| 2 | South Africa | 4 | 1 | 7 |
| 3 | Benin | 4 | 1 | 7 |
| 4 | Lesotho | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| 5 | Nigeria | 4 | -1 | 3 |
| 6 | Zimbabwe | 4 | -4 | 2 |
Group D
| Position | Team | P | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cameroon | 4 | 6 | 8 |
| 2 | Libya | 4 | 1 | 7 |
| 3 | Cape Verde | 4 | 0 | 7 |
| 4 | Angola | 4 | 1 | 6 |
| 5 | Mauritius | 4 | -3 | 4 |
| 6 | Eswatini | 4 | -5 | 0 |
Group E
| Position | Team | P | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morocco | 3 | 9 | 9 |
| 2 | Tanzania | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| 3 | Niger | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | Zambia | 4 | -1 | 3 |
| 5 | Congo | 2 | -8 | 0 |
| 6 | Eritrea | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Group F
| Position | Team | P | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ivory Coast | 4 | 12 | 10 |
| 2 | Gabon | 4 | 2 | 9 |
| 3 | Burundi | 4 | 2 | 7 |
| 4 | Kenya | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| 5 | Gambia | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| 6 | Seychelles | 4 | -20 | 0 |
Group G
| Position | Team | P | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Algeria | 4 | 4 | 9 |
| 2 | Mozambique | 4 | 1 | 9 |
| 3 | Botswana | 4 | 1 | 6 |
| 4 | Guinea | 4 | 0 | 6 |
| 5 | Uganda | 4 | 0 | 6 |
| 6 | Somalia | 4 | -6 | 0 |
Group H
| Position | Team | P | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tunisia | 4 | 6 | 10 |
| 2 | Namibia | 4 | 5 | 8 |
| 3 | Liberia | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| 4 | Malawi | 4 | 1 | 6 |
| 5 | Equatorial Guinea | 4 | -6 | 3 |
| 6 | São Tomé and Príncipe | 4 | -9 | 0 |
Group I
| Position | Team | P | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Comoros | 4 | 4 | 9 |
| 2 | Ghana | 4 | 2 | 9 |
| 3 | Madagascar | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| 4 | Mali | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| 5 | Central African Republic | 4 | -2 | 4 |
| 6 | Chad | 4 | -8 | 0 |