African Teams Make Their Mark in World Cup 2026 Qualifiers
The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in Africa are living up to the hype, with Matchday 5 dishing out drama, upsets, and dominant performances in nearly every group. Fans across the continent watched old giants flex their muscle and surprise sides push harder than ever for a ticket to North America.
Egypt, sitting comfortably on top of Group A, didn’t flinch as they dispatched Ethiopia 2-0 with the kind of authority you’d expect from a side chasing a World Cup berth. Their lead stands at 13 points, and the team looks settled, leaving little room for slip-ups from rivals. Behind them, Burkina Faso reignited their campaign in style—they thumped Djibouti 4-1, with attacks pouring in from every angle. And then you’ve got Sierra Leone, who, under new leadership from Mohamed Kallon, stunned Guinea-Bissau 3-1. If anyone thought coaching changes don’t matter mid-campaign, Kallon’s boys provided a fiery counter-argument.
Heading to Group E, the spotlight was all on Morocco. There’s no debate—they’re simply cruising. Morocco have made it to five straight wins, leaving their challengers in the dust and locking down their place for 2026. For others in their wake, the race is still open; Zambia put on a show with a 4-2 win over Congo, a result that keeps their hopes intact. But this group is a minefield: Congo got hit with a suspension, and Eritrea’s earlier withdrawal keeps the table turning in wild directions every week. These disruptions are no small detail—they’ve thrown every prediction into chaos, letting Morocco accelerate out of reach while the rest scramble for second.
It wasn’t only stars hogging headlines. Tunisia eked out a 1-0 win over Liberia in Group H, extending their run at the top but barely avoiding a slip on tricky turf. Meanwhile, the action in Group G saw Mozambique rising as quiet contenders by muscling past Uganda 3-1. Up north in Group I, Madagascar’s hopes took a hit—they went down 4-1 to a ruthless Central African Republic. Even at this stage, goals are coming thick and fast, with defense often falling victim to relentless attacks as sides realize desperation can breed brilliance.
So what’s happening in the bigger picture? The World Cup 2026 qualifiers in Africa are more than just a set of scores and group tables. You can sense the hunger—old names want to prove they never left the upper echelon while underdogs catch wind of teams distracted by off-pitch trouble. With Morocco having punched their ticket and Egypt taking nothing for granted, all eyes drop to the fight for second-round spots. Coaches tinker, fans dream, and every fixture now threatens to tilt the table. As we head closer to the finish line, each match feels like it could rewrite history for these nations.
Crunch Time: Who’s Closing In, Who’s Faltering?
The real tension is in the chasers. Zambia’s big win over Congo isn’t just about three points—it’s about momentum and belief. For Burkina Faso, that decisive win against Djibouti was the only way to stay within shouting distance of Egypt. Sierra Leone’s late push proves fresh management can work magic, and with just a slip from those above, they’re right back in it. Further south, Mozambique’s victory had fans rallying, thinking maybe—just maybe—another big dance is within reach.
So as the rest of the continent looks to peg back the leaders, every suspended match, every unexpected result, and every narrow escape is leaving coaches and players on edge. The tension will only ramp up from here, with hopes, careers, and a continent’s pride on the line. You can bet fans from Cairo to Lusaka will be glued to every next kick.
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