The road to the 2026 Fifa World Cup finals due in Canada, Mexico and the USA resumes in Africa after six months hiatus with stakes high.
Four rounds of the 10-match group campaign remain and two fixtures in September could decide the fate of many teams.
With the nine group winners earning a direct ticket, and four best second placed sides with a chance to earn a 10th spot for Africa through a play off, there will be no room for error.
Who is in charge at the moment?
In Group A, Egypt is in pole position leading with 16 points, five ahead of second placed Burkina Faso and eight more than third placed Siera Leone.
The Pharaohs could qualify this month if they beat both Ethiopia and Burkina Faso as long as results elsewhere go their way.
Djibouti, at the base with one point at this juncture can’t qualify directly but have an opportunity to fight for second place in the group.
Group A September fixtures
- Guinea Bissau vs Siera Leone – 4/9/2025
- Djibouti vs Burkina Faso – 5/9/2025
- Egypt vs Ethiopia – 5/9/2025
- Guinea Bissau vs Djibouti – 8/9/2025
- Siera Leone vs Ethiopia – 9/9/2025
- Burkina Faso vs Egypt – 9/9/2025
Group B appears the tightest so far with one point separating first (DR Congo on 13 points) from both second and third Sudan and Senegal although the rest are further.
The key matches in this international window will see The Lions of Teranga, world cup quarter finalists in 2002 face both competitors Sudan and DR Congo and they could go a long way in setting up a photo finish next month.
Sixth placed Mauritania is already out of contention for the direct qualification position but can still qualify for the play off with victories in their last matches.
Group B September fixtures
- South Sudan vs DR Congo – 5/09/2025
- Mauritania vs Togo – 5/09/2025
- Senegal vs Sudan – 5/09/2025
- DR Congo vs Senegal – 9/09/2025
- Togo vs Sudan – 9/09/2025
- Mauritania vs South Sudan – 9/09/205
South Africa leads Group C going into match rounds 7 & 8 with 13 points, five ahead of surprise package Rwanda and giants Nigeria on 8 points.
This month’s fixtures could potentially decide the Super Eagles’ fate after a lousy start to the campaign as they face both the Amavubi (home) and Bafana Bafana (away).
Coming off a disappointing performance at CHAN 2024, Eric Chelle will be under scrutiny if he fails to win both games.
Group C September fixtures
- Benin vs Zimbabwe – 5/09/2025
- Lesotho vs South Africa – 5/09/2025
- Nigeria vs Rwanda – 6/09/2025
- Zimbabwe vs Rwanda – 9/09/2025
- South Africa vs Nigeria – 9/09/2025
- Benin vs Lesotho – 9/09/2025
In Group D, Cape Verde and Cameroon are separated by a single point with the Islanders on top with 13 points.
The two will face off on match day eight and that could potentially decide who will finish top of the group and advance directly to the Fifa World Cup.
Libya, 5 points adrift of the summit also believe they can snatch top spot with 12 rounds to play.
Group D September fixtures
- Angola vs Libya – 4/09/2025
- Mauritius vs Cape Verde – 4/09/2025
- Cameroon vs Eswatini – 4/09/2025
- Libya vs Eswatini – 8/09/2025
- Cape Verde vs Cameroon – 9/09/2025
- Angola vs Mauritius – 9/09/2025
The Atlas Lions of Morocco, semi-finalists in Qatar 2022 are in pole position to seal qualification in September from Group E.
They lead with maximum points after five matches with second placed Tanzania six points adrift.
Both Eritrea and Congo are disqualified from the competition leaving only four nations to compete in the group.
Group E September fixtures
- Morocco vs Niger – 5/09/2025
- Zambia vs Morocco – 8/09/2025
- Tanzania vs Niger – 09/09/2025
Group F is tight at the top with Ivory Coast on top and only separated by one point from second placed Gabon who they face on match day eight in Franceville.
Burundi, with 10 points could seize the opportunity to close the gap with victories this month.
Seychelles are already eliminated while Gambia can only finish in a play off position.
Group F September fixtures
- Seychelles vs Gabon – 3/09/2025
- Kenya vs Gambia – 5/09/2025
- Ivory Coast vs Burundi 5/09/2025
- Kenya vs Seychelles – 9/09/2025
- Gabon vs Ivory Coast – 9/09/2025
- Gambia vs Burundi – 9/09/2025
Algeria lead Group G with 15 points, three better than second placed Mozambique who are three points ahead of both Uganda and Botswana in 4th and 3rd positions respectively.
The key match in this month’s rounds will be in Kampala when Mozambique take on Uganda Cranes at Mandela National stadium, Namboole.
Group G September fixtures
- Algeria vs Botswana – 4/09/2025
- Somalia vs Guinea – 5/09/2025
- Uganda vs Mozambique – 5/09/2025
- Mozambique vs Botswana – 8/09/2025
- Uganda vs Somalia – 8/09/2025
- Guinea vs Algeria – 8/09/2025
In Group H, Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles are on top with 16 points, four better than closest rivals Namibia who are second with 12 points going into September fixtures.
Sao Tome & Principe are already eliminated with zero points after six rounds.
Equatorial Guinea forfeited two matches for fielding an ineligible player, Emilo Nsue. The original results were Equatorial Guinea 1–0 Namibia and Liberia 0–1 Equatorial Guinea.
Group H September fixtures
- Sao Tome & Principe vs Equatorial Guinea – 4/09/2025
- Tunisia vs Liberia – 4/09/2025
- Namibia vs Malawi – 5/09/2025
- Equatorial Guinea vs Tunisia – 8/09/2025
- Malawi vs Liberia – 8/09/2025
- Namibia vs Sao Tome & Principe – 9/09/2025
After failing to qualify for the 2025 AFCON, Ghana must now reach the finals of the World Cup next year and lead Group I with 15 points, but only three points ahead of surprise package Comoros and five better than Madagascar in 3rd place.
Bottom placed Chad with zero points at this stage is already eliminated.
Group I September fixtures
- Chad vs Ghana – 4/09/2025
- Madagascar vs Central African Republic – 4/09/2025
- Mali vs Comoros – 4/09/2025
- Central African Republic vs Comoros – 7/09/2025
- Madagascar vs Chad – 8/09/2025
- Ghana vs Mali – 8/09/2025
