Overview:
Following CAF’s criteria to determine the best four sides after deduction of results against the bottom placed sides in each group, Gabon who finished in second place in Group F lead the standings with 19 points, followed by DR Congo on 16 points.
Following the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in Africa, four teams still have an opportunity to qualify for the global event through a playoff.
Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Ghana, Cape Verde, South Africa, Ivory Coast and Senegal sealed the automatic spots after leading their respective groups.
Africa has an opportunity to take a 10th nation to Canada, Mexico and the United States next year but through a playoff.
First, the continental playoff will involve the four best second-placed nations that have now been confirmed.
Following CAF’s criteria to determine the best four sides after deduction of results against the bottom placed sides in each group, Gabon who finished in second place in Group F lead the standings with 19 points, followed by DR Congo on 16 points.
Rivals Cameroon and Nigeria occupy the 3rd and 4th positions respectively on 15 points but only separated by goal difference, leaving Burkina Faso and Niger out on goal difference despite having the same points.
Uganda Cranes, on 12 points, miss out after finishing in 8th position following their 2-1 defeat to Algeria.
Gabon, DR Congo, Cameroon and Nigeria will now need to navigate both African and inter-confederation play-offs if they are to play at the World Cup come next year.
The continental playoff semi-finals will be played on November 13, with the final on November 16th in Morocco.
The four best-ranked second-placed teams
- Gabon 19pts (GD +6)
- DR Congo 16 pts (GD +5)
- Cameroon 15 pts (GD +9)
- Nigeria 15 pts (GD +7)
Why isn’t Liberia qualified or going for playoff?