As the battle for African qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup heats up, Egypt and Morocco are positioning themselves as frontrunners to clinch early tickets to the global tournament, which will be hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

With only four rounds of matches remaining in the CAF qualifying series, both North African powerhouses have displayed dominant form, topping their respective groups and edging closer to automatic qualification.

Egypt, led by captain Mohamed Salah, have maintained a perfect run so far, dispatching opponents with clinical efficiency. Likewise, Morocco fresh off their historic semi-final finish at the 2022 World Cup continue to show their class, reinforcing their status as one of Africa’s elite teams.

However, the outlook is far less promising for Nigeria. Despite having a squad full of talent, the Super Eagles have struggled with consistency and now face the serious risk of missing out on the 2026 World Cup. A string of underwhelming performances has left them lagging behind in their group, leaving minimal margin for error in the matches ahead.

Meanwhile, teams such as Senegal, Algeria, and Côte d’Ivoire remain strong contenders, with the final rounds set to bring intense, high-stakes action as nations compete for the few remaining World Cup spots.

Only nine African teams will qualify directly for the expanded 48-team tournament, with a potential tenth earning a place via intercontinental playoffs. This has added urgency and intensity to every qualifying fixture, as countries look to secure early passage and avoid last-minute complications.

With qualification reaching a critical phase, fans across the continent are bracing for thrilling matches, heartbreaks, and triumphs as Africa’s best battle for a place on football’s biggest stage.