Africa 2026 World Cup qualifiers round-up

Harambee Stars trashed Seychelles 5-0 in a one-side encounter.

In Summary
  • Ivory Coast continued their perfect start in the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers with a 2-0 away win over The Gambia in group 'F'.
  • Equatorial Guinea also made it two wins from two, and Guinea-Bissau registered their first group win to kick-start their bid for qualification.
Harambee Stars' forward Masud Juma contests for the ball with Enock Walusimbi of Uganda Cranes in a past match
Harambee Stars' forward Masud Juma contests for the ball with Enock Walusimbi of Uganda Cranes in a past match
Image: FILE

Kenya and Madagascar secured their first victories of the campaign to boost their chances of heading to North  America for the 2026 World Cup.

Harambee Stars trashed Seychelles 5-0 in a one-side encounter played in Ivory Coast. Madagascar on the other hand, also mastered a clean sheet by beating Chad 3-0.

Njiva Rakotoharimalala scored a double before Loïc Lapoussin put the game beyond reach for Madagascar.

Elsewhere, Ivory Coast continued their perfect start in the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers with a 2-0 away win over The Gambia in group 'F'.

Christian Kouame put the Elephants ahead on the stroke of half-time before Seko Fofana made sure of the points in a match played in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, with a fierce long-range strike in the 85th minute.

Victory for the West Africans allowed them to top their group on goal difference against second-placed Gabon.

Mali suffered a setback after they were held 1-1 at home by Central African Republic. Kamory Doumbia's 76th-minute strike was shortlived as Geoffrey Kondogbia levelled the score three minutes later.

Comoros, who also have three points, host Ghana on Tuesday.

Equatorial Guinea also made it two wins from two, and Guinea-Bissau registered their first group win to kick-start their bid for qualification.

Former Middlesbrough and Birmingham City man Emilio Nsue guided in a ninth-minute header to give Equatorial Guinea a 1-0 win over hosts Liberia.

Victory saw Equatorial Guinea alias The National Thunder move top of group 'H', three points ahead of Tunisia and Malawi, who face each other on Tuesday.

Mauro Rodrigues' first-half strike sealed a 1-0 win for Guinea-Bissau against Djibouti despite having defender Houboulang Mendes dismissed with eight minutes remaining.

The 2026 World Cup will be hosted by Mexico, Canada and the United States.

Africa has a guaranteed nine qualifiers for the 2026 finals, with all group winners booking a spot at the tournament.