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South Africa, Ivory Coast, and Senegal all secured emphatic victories on Tuesday to claim the final three automatic African qualification spots for the 2026 World Cup.
Senegal produced the most dominant display, thrashing Mauritania 4–0, while Ivory Coast and South Africa both triumphed 3–0 against Kenya and Rwanda, respectively.
The trio will now join Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia at the global tournament to be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Meanwhile, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, and Nigeria kept alive their hopes of joining them by finishing as the four best-ranked runners-up. These teams will face each other in two semi-finals and a final in Morocco this November, with the winner earning a place in the intercontinental play-offs next March, where two additional World Cup slots will be contested.
Senegal’s victory was inspired by former Liverpool forward Sadio Mané, who scored just before and after half-time. Iliman Ndiaye and Habib Diallo added the other goals for the Teranga Lions, who topped Group B with 24 points — two ahead of DR Congo, who edged Sudan 1–0 through Theo Bongonda’s strike in Kinshasa.
In Abidjan, Franck Kessié opened the scoring for Ivory Coast before Yan Diomande added a second shortly after the interval. Manchester United winger Amad Diallo completed the 3–0 rout over Kenya. The reigning African champions finished top of Group F with 26 points, one ahead of Gabon, while Gambia hammered Seychelles 7–0 to secure third place.
South Africa also impressed in Mbombela, where Thalente Mbatha and Oswin Appollis struck early before Evidence Makgopa sealed the 3–0 win midway through the second half. The Bafana Bafana topped Group C with 18 points, narrowly ahead of Nigeria, who crushed Benin 4–0 in Uyo thanks to a hat-trick from Victor Osimhen and a late goal from Frank Onyeka.
It will be South Africa’s fourth World Cup appearance, having qualified in 1998 and 2002, and automatically participated as hosts in 2010.
Coach Hugo Broos, who played for Belgium at the 1986 World Cup, expressed his delight at leading South Africa to qualification.
“We believed in ourselves and we’ve done it — we’re going to the World Cup, and it’s fantastic,” said the 73-year-old. “This is the result of three years of rebuilding, and the future looks bright for South African football. I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved.”
Appollis, who was named player of the match, said it was “an amazing feeling” to help secure qualification. “We knew we’d come here and win. I’m so proud of the boys,” he said.
The qualification came as a huge relief for South Africa, who nearly squandered a five-point lead earlier in the campaign and faced disqualification setbacks. They needed a win over Rwanda — combined with Nigeria’s victory over Benin — to qualify, and both results went their way.
Mbatha opened the scoring in the fifth minute, followed by Appollis’ well-taken goal midway through the first half. Substitute Makgopa completed the rout with a header in the 72nd minute.
In Uyo, Osimhen scored twice before half-time, completed his hat-trick early in the second half, and Onyeka’s stoppage-time effort wrapped up Nigeria’s emphatic win and a place in the World Cup play-offs.
