Ivory Coast and Senegal Secure World Cup Spots
Ivory Coast and Senegal have secured Africa's final two automatic qualifying spots for the 2026 FIFA World Cup following their victories on Tuesday.
Senegal achieved a commanding 4-0 victory against Mauritania at home, securing first place in Group B. A free-kick from Sadio Mane just before half-time put Senegal ahead, and he soon added a second goal. Iliman Ndiaye showcased his skill with a brilliant solo effort, and Habib Diallo capped off the scoring late in the match.
The Teranga Lions concluded their campaign two points clear of DR Congo, who triumphed over Sudan 1-0 thanks to a first-half goal from Theo Bongonda.
In another match, Franck Kessie opened the scoring for Ivory Coast against Kenya in Group F, and teenager Yan Diomande extended the lead after the break. Manchester United's Amad added a third with a well-executed free-kick, leading the Elephants to a 3-0 victory in Abidjan.
This result ensured that the reigning continental champions finished just one point ahead of Gabon, who defeated Burundi 2-0 in Franceville with late goals from Bryan Meyo and Mario Lemina.
The Ivorians will return to the World Cup finals for the first time since 2014, having completed their entire 10-game group campaign without conceding a goal, joining Tunisia as the only two nations on the continent to achieve this feat.
With their qualification, Ivory Coast and Senegal join Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Ghana, Cape Verde, and South Africa in securing their places for next year’s World Cup finals. An additional team will emerge from the upcoming continental play-offs, potentially joining this group through an inter-confederation tournament scheduled for March next year.
Cameroon, DR Congo, Gabon, and Nigeria finished as the four highest-ranked second-placed teams across the nine groups, with one of these nations poised to become Africa's 10th representative at the expanded 48-team World Cup to be held in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
The Confederation of African Football has yet to announce the date for the play-off draw.