Algeria, Egypt, and Morocco made significant strides towards the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while Sudan’s qualification hopes took a hit as the sixth round of African qualifiers concluded on Tuesday.
Sudan, playing their home matches on neutral ground due to the ongoing civil war, conceded a late equalizer against South Sudan, dropping to third in Group B. DR Congo now leads the group after a 2-0 victory over Mauritania.
Egypt extended their lead in Group A to five points with a 1-0 win against Sierra Leone. Algeria also widened their advantage in Group G to three points, fueled by a Mohamed Amoura hat-trick in their 5-1 win over Mozambique.
Morocco established a commanding nine-point lead in Group E after defeating Tanzania 2-0, although Congo-Brazzaville’s international suspension could impact the group standings.
Only the winners of the nine qualifying groups will automatically secure a spot in the expanded 48-team World Cup. The four best second-placed teams will compete in a playoff for a chance to participate in an intercontinental tournament for the final World Cup berths.
Nigeria faces a tough road to qualification after a 1-1 home draw against Zimbabwe, leaving them six points behind Group C leaders South Africa.
The final four rounds of group matches are scheduled for September and October, with African playoffs planned for November.
