Qualifying for World Cup 2026 is already underway around the world, with Asia and South America on the go, and this week it’s the turn of Africa to join the race for the Greatest Show on Earth.
Canada, Mexico and the USA are the host nations for the next World Cup and while it’s still two and a half years away the road starts here in the CAF competition; and some stellar names, Mo Salah and Riyad Mahrez among them, will be on show when the African nations kick off this week.
While the World Cup 2026 betting odds will be looking at Europe and South America for the winner in 2026, African nations have been getting closer, Morocco reaching the semi-finals at Qatar 2022, and a total of nine slots have been made available for World Cup 2026, up four from previous tournaments. The CAF Executive Committee decided that with nine places to fill, the teams would be divided into nine groups of six, with the winner qualifying directly. The best four runners will then fight for a chance to pick up a tenth African place in an inter-continental play-off.
There has already been a withdrawal from the CAF qualifiers with Eritrea pulling out, leaving just five teams to battle it put on Group E.
So here we go – let’s take a look at the matches set to make the African World Cup 2026 highlights this week.
On Thursday, Egypt will open their account against Djibouti in Group A and that will probably be their easiest game in a group which also includes Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone and Ethiopia. The Pharaohs will face Sierra Leone on Sunday so the group favourites will hope to have a double winning start. Egypt’s main man Mo Salah is in brilliant form, scoring twice at the weekend as Liverpool beat Brentford and, at 31 years of age he is in his prime. Salah may have two more World Cups in him but, if this is to be his last, then he will be ready to make a splash. He has already scored over 50 goals for Egypt and is seven short of 100 appearances and Salah always leaves everything on the pitch.
Other stars to look out for in the Pharaoh’s line up are Arsenal’s midfielder Mohamed Elneny and 24 year old striker Omar Marmoush who has scored six goals in ten games for Eintracht Frankfurt this season.
In Group G Algeria take on Somalia and Al Ahli star Riyad Mahrez will be the box office attraction there; he’s scored 30 goals for Algeria and the former Manchester City star can unlock any defence. West Ham United winger Said Benrahma is another lively customer and Somalia have their work cut out.
Group E favourites Nigeria open their account on Thursday when they face the minnows of Lesotho. The Super Eagles have left Napoli hit man Victor Osimhen out of their 23 but they have plenty of firepower in their line-up with Bayer Leverkusen’s red hot striker Victor Boniface and Nottingham Forest forward Taiwo Awoniyi to call on.
At SBOTOP odds of 1.81 with a -2.00 goals deficit, Nigeria should start with a big victory and I’m expecting goals in this one.
On Friday Ghana play Madagascar in the pick of the Group I matches and the Black Stars, managed by former Brighton and Hove Albion boss Chris Hughton, will be without the injured Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey. Athletic Bilbao striker Inaki Williams is available; he wasn’t on the score sheet in Bilbao’s 4-3 win over Celta Vigo at the weekend but the 29 year old oozes class and has plenty of experience in big games. Williams represented Spain and the Basque Country before pledging his allegiance to Ghana and he’s a man his nation’s fans would hope to see in their opener.
Five times African Cup of Nations winners, and 1990 World Cup quarter-finalists Cameroon kick off on Friday with a Group D match against Mauritius. Toulouse striker Frank Magri, who starred in the Ligue 1 team’s Europa League win over Liverpool last week could line up in attack with Brentford’s Bryan Mbeuno, who suffered defeat at the hands of the Reds at the weekend. Elsewhere on Friday, Tunisia face Dao Tome while Cote D’Ivoire take on Seychelles, while the big match on Saturday sees Senegal meet South Sudan. The 2021 AFCON Champions could feature Sadio Mane, now at Al-Nassr, and Nicolas Jackson, who is finding his feet at Chelsea where he has scored four goals in his last two appearances.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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