Historic African qualifiers highlight Morocco’s win streak, Tunisia’s wall, and Salah’s scoring record

The curtain fell on the African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, revealing impressive achievements and unforgettable stories.

Nine nations, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Algeria, Ghana, South Africa, Senegal, and Cape Verde, secured direct qualification. Cape Verde made history by qualifying for the tournament for the first time.

Tunisia ended the qualifiers with the highest points (28 from 30), boasting an impeccable defense alongside Ivory Coast, with neither side conceding a single goal. Morocco’s team stood out for their remarkable run of consecutive wins, reaffirming their dominance.

On the individual side, Mohamed Salah stole the spotlight, becoming the all-time leading scorer in African qualifiers with 20 goals. However, Algeria’s Mohamed Amoura topped the scoring chart for this edition with 10 goals and denied Salah top honors in the final matches.

Sierra Leone’s Kei Kamara became the second oldest player to score in the qualifiers, while Cape Verde’s small population made their achievement even more notable. Ghana’s Jordan Ayew led in assists, and Aubameyang scored four in a single dramatic game for Gabon.

African football’s rising stars, resilient records, and unexpected comebacks made these qualifiers particularly memorable, setting a high bar for the continent at the 2026 World Cup.