Explaining Africa’s Complex World Cup Qualification Path For Runners-Up Teams
The race for a place at the FIFA World Cup 2026 is almost complete across Africa, with just one matchday remaining. While the winners of the nine qualifying groups will secure their tickets directly, second-placed teams face a different path. Their hopes now depend on a demanding play-off system that will determine which nation goes forward to represent Africa in the intercontinental FIFA Play-Off Tournament.
The Complex Path For The Best Runners-Up
Nine runners-up, one from each group, are compared to determine the best four. However, to ensure fairness, results against the last-placed team in each group are not considered. Only matches against the top five teams are counted.
CAF confirmed:
“There will be nine runners-up, one from each group. To compare them fairly, the results against the last-placed team in each group are not counted. This means only matches against the top five teams in each group are used for the comparison.”
The exception is Group E, where Eritrea withdrew, leaving only five teams. In that case, all results are valid.
The top four runners-up will advance to a CAF play-off tournament in November 2025, featuring two semi-finals and a final. The winner of that play-off earns Africa’s sole spot in the intercontinental play-offs scheduled for March 2026.
Current CAF Group Standings (With One Match Remaining)
Group A
Egypt – 26 pts ✅ (Qualified)
Burkina Faso – 21 pts
Sierra Leone – 15 pts
Guinea-Bissau – 10 pts
Ethiopia – 9 pts
Djibouti – 1 pt
Group B
Senegal – 21 pts
DR Congo – 19 pts
Sudan – 13 pts
Togo – 7 pts
Mauritania – 7 pts
South Sudan – 4 pts
Group C
Benin – 17 pts
South Africa – 15 pts
Nigeria – 14 pts
Rwanda – 11 pts
Lesotho – 9 pts
Zimbabwe – 5 pts
Group D
Cape Verde – 20 pts
Cameroon – 18 pts
Libya – 15 pts
Angola – 11 pts
Mauritius – 5 pts
Eswatini – 3 pts
Group E
Morocco – 21 pts ✅ (Qualified)
Niger – 15 pts
Tanzania – 10 pts
Zambia – 9 pts
Congo – 1 pt
(Eritrea withdrew)
Group F
Ivory Coast – 23 pts
Gabon – 22 pts
Kenya – 12 pts
Gambia – 10 pts
Burundi – 10 pts
Seychelles – 0 pts
Group G
Algeria – 22 pts ✅ (Qualified)
Uganda – 18 pts
Mozambique – 15 pts
Guinea – 14 pts
Botswana – 9 pts
Somalia – 1 pt
Group H
Tunisia – 25 pts ✅ (Qualified)
Namibia – 15 pts
Liberia – 14 pts
Malawi – 10 pts
Equatorial Guinea – 10 pts
São Tomé and Príncipe – 0 pts
Group I
Ghana – 25 pts ✅ (Qualified)
Madagascar – 19 pts
Mali – 18 pts
Comoros – 15 pts
Central African Republic – 8 pts
Chad – 1 pt
Who Has Already Qualified?
So far, five Africa nations have guaranteed their World Cup places:
Egypt (Group A)
Morocco (Group E)
Algeria (Group G)
Tunisia (Group H)
Ghana (Group I)
The last four automatic slots will be decided on the final matchday in:
Group B – Between Senegal and DR Congo
Group C – Between Benin, South Africa, and Nigeria
Group D – Between Cape Verde and Cameroon
Group F – Between Ivory Coast and Gabon
Africa’s Single Shot At The Global Play-Off Tournament
The CAF play-off winner will go into the six-team FIFA Play-Off Tournament in March 2026. This knockout contest will determine the final two teams for the 48-team World Cup.
FIFA outlined the structure:
“The FIFA Play-Off Tournament will see six sides fight it out for the final two places at the FIFA World Cup 26. It will involve two teams from Concacaf and one team apiece from the AFC, CAF, CONMEBOL and OFC.”
The four lowest-ranked teams will meet in the semi-finals, while the two highest-ranked teams go directly into the finals. The two winners secure the last tickets to the World Cup.
For Af rica’s representative, the road is brutal — group battles, a CAF play-off, and then one last international fight for survival.