World Cup qualifiers shine at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations
Seven of the nine African nations who qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026 are competing at the Africa Cup of Nations. FIFA takes stock after the conclusion of the group stage.
Morocco are hosting this edition and have booked their place in the Round of 16
South Africa, Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Senegal, Tunisia and DR Congo also through
Riyad Mahrez, Brahim Diaz and Ibrahim Mbaye among the players to impress
South Africa, Algeria, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia are the African nations to have qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026™. If DR Congo are to join their fellow African nations in North America in June and July, they will need to come through the FIFA Play-Off Tournament.
In the interim, eight of those ten sides are on Africa Cup of Nations duty in Morocco. Here, FIFA looks back at what has happened so far after an enthralling group stage which has seen all of Africa’s World Cup sides through to the knockouts.
Les Fennecs have really meant business so far in the tournament, winning all three of their outings. They are just one of two teams to have managed the feat, along with Nigeria - who will not feature at the 2026 World Cup. Vladimir Petkovic even rang the changes for his side’s third match against Equatorial Guinea, which they went on to win 3-1.
“I’m a manager who likes to win, and we play to win,” he said. Algeria are targeting their third title in the competition’s history and a would-be first since 2019. But they will have their work cut out in their Round of 16 tie on 6 January against DR Congo.
Morocco have opened their doors to welcome Africa for the competition, providing the perfect dress rehearsal ahead of co-hosting FIFA World Cup 2030™. As well as being excellent hosts, the Atlas Lions put the cherry on top of what already was a great 2025 thanks to their two wins and a draw in the group stage. The in-form Brahim Diaz has been central to that success.
Captain Achraf Hakimi was back for the side’s 3-0 win over Zambia after recovering from the left ankle sprain he suffered on 4 November. If the Moroccans are to be celebrating a first African title since 1976, the side will have to first see off Tanzania in the Round of 16 on 4 January.
Emerse Fae’s Côte d’Ivoire are also through to the knockouts after what has been a tough ride so far. They just came through against Mozambique (1-0) and then held another major African nation not qualified for the World Cup - Cameroon - to a 1-1 draw. Against Gabon - a side they had seen off to qualify for the World Cup - the Elephants needed injury time to grab a 3-2 win. Already through, this meant that Côte d’Ivoire finished top of their group.
15 different scorers grabbed the Ivorians‘ 25 goals in World Cup qualifying, and it has been much the same trend in this competition: their five goals have come from four different players, showing they do not rely on any one man to convert up top. They will face Burkina Faso in the Round of 16 on 6 January.
Mo Salah’s Egypt certainly did not disappoint in the group stage. The Liverpool forward was to thank on matchday one when his injury-time goal secured Egypt their 2-1 win against Zimbabwe. He was back amongst the goals four days later with a penalty against South Africa which secured a narrow 1-0 victory.
The Pharaohs made it tough for themselves when Mohamed Hany saw red. Even so, they battled past the other World Cup-qualified side in their group. Mostafa Mohamed’s side take on Benin on 5 January in the Round of 16, while Hugo Broos’ men meet Cameroon.
Senegal and DR Congo already had their fair share of decisive battles in World Cup qualifying, and it was the Lions of Teranga who came out the better with two wins, including a crucial 3-2 success at Martyr Stadium. There was nothing to separate the two sides in Tangier this time, as the match ended 1-1, but goal difference meant Senegal were the ones to top the group. They will be without Kalidou Koulibaly for their Round of 16 on 3 January though. The Al-Hilal man saw red in the side’s 3-0 win over Benin on what was his 100th cap for Senegal.
The Eagles of Carthage, who will face the Netherlands, Japan and another European side in Group F at the 2026 World Cup, impressed in a 3-1 win against Uganda thanks to an Elias Achouri brace. They were made to work hard in their second fixture by a Nigeria side determined to respond after missing out on World Cup qualification. Sami Trabelsi’s men did well to pull it back to 3-2 after trailing 3-0, but they could not quite find the elusive equaliser. A 1-1 draw with Tanzania after that set up a Round of 16 tie against Mali on 3 January. The Tunisians are going for their second title on this stage and a first since 2004.
One player who has truly led from the front is Brahim Diaz. As well as being the metronome for a Morocco side that have looked truly at home, he also equalled a 50-year-old record after scoring in three consecutive Africa Cup of Nations games - the same feat that Ahmed Faras managed as Morocco’s all-time record goalscorer (36 goals). Faras, who passed away in July 2025, achieved the feat twice during his career, in 1972 and 1976 - the year of Morocco‘s only Africa Cup of Nations title. Ayoub El Kaabi’s performances deserve a mention too. The Olympiacos striker’s three goals, including two bicycle kicks, mean he has shone for Morocco.
Algeria’s ever-present Riyad Mahrez also grabbed three goals in just two group stage games: a brace in their 3-0 win against Sudan, and the winning penalty for the only goal against Burkina Faso. His team-mate Luca Zidane has impressed for Les Fennecs too in what is one of his first tournaments between the sticks. He kept two clean sheets in the side’s first two games before sitting out the third game.
Senegal’s Ibrahim Mbaye may only be 17 years of age but he has really shone since the start of the tournament. He may not have scored yet, but his ability on the ball has impressed, and he was the one to win his side‘s penalty against Benin. “We are lucky to have a youngster like him who is performing well”, Pape Thiaw said. “He has already won the Champions League and he is still only 17! Ibrahim is also lucky to be part of a squad which has the likes of Sadio Mane, someone who has won it all and can help guide him. We have got to protect and nurture him now. He is a gem of a player.”
Cabo Verde may well have booked a historic first ticket to a World Cup, but the Blue Sharks finished bottom of their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying group, behind Egypt, Botswana and Mauritania. It was the same story for Ghana, who ended their qualifying campaign last behind Angola, Sudan and Niger.