Three African nations have seen their hopes of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup come to an early end, with Seychelles, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Chad officially eliminated from qualification.
Despite their best efforts, the trio failed to register a single point in the campaign, highlighting the challenges faced by smaller footballing nations on the international stage.
Seychelles Struggle to Compete
Seychelles endured a torrid qualifying campaign, conceding 30 goals in six straight defeats. With a limited talent pool, underdeveloped football infrastructure, and a weak domestic league, the team struggled against stronger opposition. Their heaviest loss came in November 2023 when they suffered a record 9-0 defeat to Ivory Coast.
Despite their struggles, the Indian Ocean side managed to find the net twice during the qualifiers—against Gambia in a 5-1 loss and against Kenya in a 3-1 defeat.
Ranked 201st in the world, Seychelles will have to wait for another opportunity to compete on the big stage.
São Tomé and Príncipe Fall Short
São Tomé and Príncipe also endured a difficult campaign, failing to win a match and ultimately bowing out of contention. Ranked 189th by FIFA, they came closest to securing a result in June 2024, when they narrowly lost 1-0 to Liberia, conceding a decisive goal in the 90th minute.
Like Seychelles, São Tomé was unable to play home matches due to the absence of a FIFA-approved stadium. This disadvantage, combined with the injury absence of their captain Luís Leal in the final rounds, further hampered their campaign.
Their elimination was sealed after defeats to Equatorial Guinea (2-0) and Liberia (2-1). Despite the disappointment, the team showed signs of improvement, managing to remain competitive in most matches, with the exception of a 4-0 defeat to Tunisia.
Chad’s Defensive Woes Prove Costly
Chad became the first African nation to be mathematically eliminated from World Cup qualifying, struggling against higher-ranked opponents.
Despite setting up with a defensive approach, they failed to contain the attacking threats of Ghana, Madagascar, Mali, and Comoros, losing every match without securing a single point.
The team, composed mainly of local league players, a few from neighboring Cameroon, and some dual nationals in lower European divisions, lacked the depth and experience to compete at this level.
Their struggles were compounded by the retirement of star player Marius Mouandimadji in November 2023.
The Samsunspor striker, Chad’s only goal scorer in the qualifiers, stepped away from international duty after facing abuse on social media for missing a penalty during the AFCON qualifiers.
Chad’s elimination reflects the broader difficulties faced by smaller African nations, where financial constraints and inadequate infrastructure continue to limit their competitiveness on the world stage.
With four rounds of qualification still to be played, these three teams will now shift their focus towards future tournaments, hoping to build on the lessons learned from this campaign.
