After a nine-month break, African qualifications for the 2026 FIFA World Cup return this week, and several major players have a lot on the line. There are still six rounds left in the 10-match group campaign, and many teams’ fates will be greatly influenced by the two games this month.
A spot in the finals in Canada, Mexico, and the USA is guaranteed to the nine group winners. The top four teams in second place will compete for one last slot through the playoffs.
Since the last round in June, there have been numerous managerial changes, with new coaches joining teams from Tunisia, Senegal, and Nigeria.
What are fans to watch out for?
Nigeria is the continental game’s heavyweight with the biggest demand for quick outcomes. Eric Chelle takes on an already prominent role that is heightened by challenging circumstances as the team is winless in Group C and four points behind leaders Rwanda.
The first non-Nigerian African to lead the Super Eagles is the former Mali coach. Chelle acknowledges that the three-time African champions must win these matches when the West Africans visit Kigali before hosting Zimbabwe.
“In football, there is pressure. Time, in my opinion, is the coach’s worst adversary. However, he informed the journalists, “I have faith in my players and I am confident in them.”
After missing out on the 2022 tournament in Qatar, star striker Victor Osimhen says he and his teammates are “desperate” to go to the finals.
Tom Saintfiet, the new manager who succeeded Chelle and is hoping to turn around Mali’s Group I campaign, is another one who needs good results. When the Eagles travel to play the islands, they have the opportunity to immediately close the four-point deficit to group leaders Comoros.
“My group is incredibly skilled, but we are not in an easy position. “Having so many good players is a huge luxury,” Saintfiet remarked.
Saintfiet feels optimistic about Mali’s chances after the team went undefeated in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) preliminary round. Mali has never advanced to the World Cup finals.
“I’m really confident after six games with four victories and two draws. “We will do everything in our power to write history,” the Belgian continued.
Ghana will play Chad and Madagascar in Group I in an attempt to move past their terrible Afcon 2025 qualification campaign. Rigobert Song will be playing his debut games as manager of the Central African Republic, and Corentin Martins will be in the dugout for the latter.
