Matchday 6 of the African qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup witnessed decisive moments across the continent, with top contenders solidifying their positions while others suffered costly setbacks.
Algeria, Ghana, Morocco, and Egypt extended their leads, moving closer to World Cup qualification. Elsewhere, South Africa took charge of Group C, DR Congo seized the top spot in Group B, and Ghana created breathing room in Group I with an emphatic victory.
In Group A, Egypt maintained their unbeaten run with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Sierra Leone, with Zizo’s goal proving the difference. Burkina Faso remained in contention with a 2-1 win over Guinea-Bissau, while Ethiopia stole the spotlight with a stunning 6-1 rout of Djibouti.
Group A Standings:
- Egypt – 16 pts
- Burkina Faso – 11 pts
- Sierra Leone – 8 pts
- Ethiopia – 6 pts
- Guinea-Bissau – 6 pts
- Djibouti – 1 pt
DR Congo made a statement in Group B, overtaking Senegal at the summit with a composed 2-0 win over Mauritania. Senegal kept pace with a similar 2-0 triumph against Togo, while Sudan lost ground after being held to a 1-1 draw by South Sudan.
Group B Standings:
- DR Congo – 13 pts
- Senegal – 12 pts
- Sudan – 12 pts
- Togo – 3 pts
- South Sudan – 3 pts
- Mauritania – 2 pts
South Africa strengthened their bid for qualification in Group C with a convincing 2-0 victory over Benin. Nigeria’s struggles continued as they were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe, a result that further complicates their path to the World Cup.
Group C Standings:
- South Africa – 13 pts
- Rwanda – 8 pts
- Benin – 8 pts
- Nigeria – 7 pts
- Lesotho – 6 pts
- Zimbabwe – 4 pts
Cape Verde grabbed a crucial 2-1 victory over Angola in Group D, while Cameroon remained in close pursuit with a 3-1 victory over Libya.
Group D Standings:
- Cape Verde – 13 pts
- Cameroon – 12 pts
- Libya – 8 pts
- Angola – 7 pts
- Mauritius – 5 pts
- Eswatini – 2 pts
In Group E, Morocco continued their flawless run, recording a routine 2-0 win over Tanzania to maintain a perfect record and pull further away from the chasing pack.
Group E Standings:
- Morocco – 15 pts (5 games)
- Niger – 6 pts (4 games)
- Tanzania – 6 pts (5 games)
- Zambia – 3 pts (4 games)
- Congo – 0 pts (3 games)
- Eritrea – 0 pts (0 games)
Côte d’Ivoire reaffirmed their dominance in Group F, edging Gambia 1-0 to retain first place. Burundi produced the most eye-catching result of the round with a 5-0 demolition of Seychelles, while Gabon stayed close to the leaders by securing a 2-1 win over Kenya.
Group F Standings:
- Cote d’Ivoire – 16 pts
- Gabon – 15 pts
- Burundi – 10 pts
- Kenya – 6 pts
- Gambia – 4 pts
- Seychelles – 0 pts
Algeria sent a strong message in Group G, thrashing Mozambique 5-1 with Amoura netting a hat-trick. Uganda bounced back from previous setbacks with a narrow 1-0 win over Guinea.
Group G Standings:
- Algeria – 15 pts
- Mozambique – 12 pts
- Botswana – 9 pts
- Uganda – 9 pts
- Guinea – 7 pts
- Somalia – 1 pt
Tunisia kept their qualification hopes on track in Group H, leaving it late to secure a 2-0 victory over Malawi, with Jaziri and Achouri stepping up in the final moments.
Group H Standings:
- Tunisia – 16 pts
- Namibia – 12 pts
- Liberia – 10 pts
- Equatorial Guinea – 7 pts
- Malawi – 6 pts
- Sao Tome and Principe – 0 pts
Ghana tightened their grip on Group I, dispatching Madagascar 3-0 in an authoritative display. Mali failed to capitalize on their opportunity, playing out a goalless draw with the Central African Republic.
Group I Standings:
- Ghana – 15 pts
- Comoros – 12 pts
- Madagascar – 10 pts
- Mali – 9 pts
- Central African Republic – 5 pts
- Chad – 0 pts
