Morocco became the first African team to secure a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after dismantling Niger 5-0 in Rabat. Ismael Saibari’s first-half brace, followed by goals from Ayoub El Kaabi, Hamza Igamane, and Azzedine Ounahi, sealed a flawless sixth win in Group E. The Atlas Lions qualify with two games to spare, continuing their momentum from their famous Qatar 2022 semi-final run.
Elsewhere, the drama intensified across the continent. Egypt stayed on track with a 2-0 win over Ethiopia in Cairo, thanks to penalties from Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush. The Pharaohs remain five points clear in Group A and could join Morocco by beating Burkina Faso next week.
South Africa tightened their grip on Group C after thumping Lesotho 3-0 in Bloemfontein, with Mohau Nkota, Lyle Foster, and Oswin Appollis on target. Bafana Bafana now need a result against Nigeria to seal their place.
In Abidjan, Ivory Coast edged Burundi 1-0 through Vakoun Bayo, setting up a mouthwatering clash with Gabon for Group F supremacy. DR Congo also made a statement, thrashing South Sudan 4-1 in Juba, with Cedric Bakambu bagging a brace to keep the Leopards ahead of Senegal—who themselves cruised past Sudan 2-0.
Elsewhere, Benin edged Zimbabwe 1-0, Congo and Tanzania shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw, Uganda smashed Mozambique 4-0, and Gambia stunned Kenya 3-1 in Nairobi.
Friday’s Results at a Glance:
- Morocco 5-0 Niger
- Egypt 2-0 Ethiopia
- South Africa 3-0 Lesotho
- Ivory Coast 1-0 Burundi
- DR Congo 4-1 South Sudan
- Senegal 2-0 Sudan
- Benin 1-0 Zimbabwe
- Congo 1-1 Tanzania
- Uganda 4-0 Mozambique
- Gambia 3-1 Kenya
- Guinea 3-0 Somalia
- Malawi 2-1 Namibia
- Burkina Faso 5-0 Djibouti
- Mauritania 2-0 Togo
Group Leaders Snapshot
| Group | Leader | Points | Closest Challenger | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Egypt | 13 | Burkina Faso (8) | +5 |
| B | DR Congo | 13 | Senegal (12) | +1 |
| C | South Africa | 13 | Benin (8) | +5 |
| D | [To update] | — | — | — |
| E | Morocco ✅ | 18 | Tanzania (8) | +10 |
| F | Ivory Coast | 13 | Gabon (12) | +1 |
⚽ Africa’s road to the World Cup is heating up—Morocco are already there, but the likes of Egypt, South Africa, DR Congo, and Ivory Coast are closing in. September 9 could be decisive.