23-03-2025
2026 World Cup African qualifiers: Group-by-group breakdown after Matchday 5
Published: Saturday, 22 March 2025
Matchday 5 of the African qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ delivered drama, goals, upsets and gritty resilience as the road to North America intensified.
From Ghana's five-star display to Morocco's last-gasp heroics and Sudan's defiance against Senegal, the path to automatic qualification remains tense across the nine groups.
Here's how each group unfolded (all times in GMT): Group A: Pharaohs Firm, Stallions Charge, Leone Stars Climb
Results: Ethiopia 0-2 Egypt
Burkina Faso 4-1 Djibouti
Sierra Leone 3-1 Guinea-Bissau
Egypt remain top of Group A after goals from Salah and Zizo sealed a comfortable win over Ethiopia. Burkina Faso bounced back with a confident 4-1 triumph over Djibouti, while Sierra Leone stunned Guinea-Bissau with a 3-1 win in Monrovia, giving Mohamed Kallon a victorious start as coach.
Standings: Egypt – 13 pts Burkina Faso – 8 pts Sierra Leone – 8 pts Guinea-Bissau – 6 pts Ethiopia – 3 pts Djibouti – 1 pt
Next Fixtures (Matchday 6): 24.03 – Mali vs Guinea-Bissau (16:00)
24.03 – Ethiopia vs Djibouti (21:00)
25.03 – Egypt vs Sierra Leone (19:00)
Group B: Stalemate in Libya as Congo DR Closes In
Results: Sudan 0-0 Senegal
Congo DR 1-0 South Sudan
Togo 2-2 Mauritania
Sudan held favourites Senegal to a goalless draw in Benina to remain unbeaten and top of the group. Congo DR edged South Sudan to climb within a point of Sudan. Togo and Mauritania shared the spoils in a thrilling 2-2 draw.
Standings: Sudan – 11 pts DR Congo – 10 pts Senegal – 9 pts Togo – 5 pts Mauritania – 2 pts South Sudan – 2 pts
Next Fixtures (Matchday 6): 24.03 – Central Africa vs Mali (16:00)
25.03 – Sudan vs South Sudan (19:00)
25.03 – Senegal vs Togo (21:00)
25.03 – Mauritania vs DR Congo (21:00) Group C: South Africa Hit the Summit, Osimhen Sparks Nigeria
Results: South Africa 2-0 Lesotho
Nigeria 2-0 Rwanda
Zimbabwe 2-2 Benin
Bafana Bafana went top thanks to a second-half burst against Lesotho. Nigeria recorded their first win, with Osimhen scoring twice in Kigali. Benin dropped points after blowing a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw with Zimbabwe.
Standings: South Africa – 10 pts Benin – 8 pts Rwanda – 7 pts Nigeria – 7 pts Lesotho – 5 pts Zimbabwe – 3 pts
Next Fixtures (Matchday 6): 25.03 – Benin vs South Africa (16:00)
25.03 – Nigeria vs Zimbabwe (16:00)
25.03 – Rwanda vs Lesotho (16:00) Group D: Algeria Pounce as Cabo Verde Leave It Late
Results: Algeria 3-1 Botswana
Cabo Verde 1-0 Mauritius
Libya 1-1 Angola
Eswatini 0-0 Cameroon
Algeria now top Group D on goal difference after Amoura's brace downed Botswana. Cabo Verde edged Mauritius late, while Angola's stoppage-time equaliser denied Libya. Cameroon dropped points in a shock draw with bottom side Eswatini.
Standings: Algeria – 12 pts Mozambique – 12 pts Guinea – 7 pts Botswana – 6 pts Uganda – 6 pts Somalia – 1 pt
Next Fixtures (Matchday 6): 23.03 – Eswatini vs Mauritius (13:00)
25.03 – Angola vs Cape Verde (16:00)
25.03 – Cameroon vs Libya (19:00) Group E: Morocco Leave It Late to Stay Perfect
Results:
Morocco made it four wins from four with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Niger. El Khannouss' stoppage-time goal preserved their 100% record and put the Atlas Lions six points clear atop Group E.
Standings: Morocco – 12 pts Niger – 6 pts Tanzania – 6 pts (game in hand) Zambia – 3 pts Congo – 0 pts Eritrea – 0 pts
Next Fixtures (Matchday 6): 25.03 – Morocco vs Tanzania (21:30) Group F: Elephants March On as Gabon Roar
Results: Côte d'Ivoire 1-0 Burundi
Gabon 3-0 Seychelles
Gambia 3-3 Kenya
Côte d'Ivoire regained top spot with a narrow win over Burundi. Gabon moved into second with a confident display against Seychelles, while Kenya and Gambia played out a six-goal thriller.
Standings: Côte d'Ivoire – 13 pts Gabon – 12 pts Burundi – 7 pts Kenya – 4 pts Gambia – 4 pts Seychelles – 0 pts
Next Fixtures (Matchday 6): 23.03 – Kenya vs Gabon (13:00)
24.03 – Cote d'Ivoire vs Gambia (16:00)
25.03 – Burundi vs Seychelles (19:00) Group G: Algeria Edge Ahead of Mambas
Results: Mozambique 3-1 Uganda
Guinea 0-0 Somalia
Botswana 1-3 Algeria
Algeria leapfrogged Mozambique on goal difference after dispatching Botswana. Earlier in the week, Mozambique defeated Uganda with a Pepo masterclass. Guinea were held to a shock draw by Somalia.
Standings: Algeria – 12 pts (+6) Mozambique – 12 pts (+3) Guinea – 7 pts Botswana – 6 pts Uganda – 6 pts Somalia – 1 pt
Next Fixtures (Matchday 6): 24.03 – Namibia vs Equatorial Guinea (13:00)
25.03 – Uganda vs Guinea (16:00)
25.03 – Algeria vs Mozambique (21:00) Group H: Tunisia Hold Firm as Namibia Chase
Results: Tunisia 1-0 Liberia
Namibia 1-0 Malawi
Equatorial Guinea 2-0 São Tomé and Príncipe
Hazem Mastouri's early goal helped Tunisia beat Liberia to keep their grip on the top spot. Namibia edged Malawi, while Equatorial Guinea swept past São Tomé and Príncipe.
Standings: Tunisia – 13 pts Namibia – 11 pts Liberia – 7 pts Malawi – 6 pts Equatorial Guinea – 4 pts São Tomé and Príncipe – 0 pts Group I: Ghana Run Riot, Mali Bounce Back
Results: Ghana 5-0 Chad
Mali 3-0 Comoros
Central African Republic 1-4 Madagascar
Ghana returned to the top of Group I with a thumping win over Chad. Mali kept their qualification hopes alive with a convincing victory against Comoros. Madagascar staged a comeback to thrash Central African Republic.
Standings: Ghana – 12 pts Madagascar – 10 pts Comoros – 9 pts Mali – 8 pts Central African Republic – 4 pts Chad – 0 pts
