The race for Africa’s tickets to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is entering a dramatic final act, with only two games left across all ten CAF groups and plenty still at stake. So far, only Morocco and Tunisia have officially booked their places at next year’s expanded tournament in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, but a host of heavyweights are poised to join them.

Nine group winners will qualify automatically, while the four best runners-up will battle in an intercontinental playoff for a potential tenth African slot. With the World Cup’s new 48-team format running from 11 June to 19 July 2026, the coming weeks promise edge-of-the-seat action.

South Africa’s Bafana Bafana look ready to make history. Despite the controversy surrounding Teboho Mokoena’s eligibility, FIFA indicated last week that the case is settled. Victories in their remaining home fixtures against Zimbabwe and Rwanda would secure their first World Cup appearance since 2002.

Egypt, led by Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah, need just one more win. Five points clear of Burkina Faso, the Pharaohs can clinch Group A by defeating Djibouti, who sit bottom of the table.

Senegal are also within touching distance. After a thrilling 3–2 comeback win over DR Congo in Kinshasa, the reigning African champions need strong performances against South Sudan and Mauritania to finish the job.

Cape Verde, the surprise package of the qualifiers, top their group ahead of traditional powerhouse Cameroon. A win away to Libya on 6 October would seal an historic first World Cup berth for the island nation.

Elsewhere, Algeria, Ghana, and Ivory Coast all lead their groups, while Gabon currently top the playoff standings, setting up a tense finish to the African campaign.

With so many teams on the brink, October’s fixtures promise to deliver drama, passion, and possibly a few seismic shocks as Africa’s finest fight to join Morocco and Tunisia on football’s biggest stage.