The FIFA World Cup 2026 Africa Qualifiers continue in September with a packed set of fixtures that will define the race for group supremacy. With 54 nations in contention across different groups, each match is vital for teams chasing a historic ticket to the expanded 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
This round of games, spread across Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, features some heavyweight clashes, surprising underdog battles, and must-win encounters that could shape the qualification picture.
2025 September Fixtures (All Times UTC)
Wednesday
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Seychelles vs Gabon – 13:00
Thursday
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Chad vs Ghana – 13:00
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Angola vs Libya – 16:00
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Guinea Bissau vs Sierra Leone – 16:00
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Madagascar vs Central African Republic – 16:00
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Mauritius vs Cape Verde – 16:00
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Sao Tome vs Equatorial Guinea – 16:00
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Algeria vs Botswana – 19:00
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Cameroon vs Eswatini – 19:00
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Mali vs Comoros – 19:00
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Tunisia vs Liberia – 19:00
Friday
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Somalia vs Guinea – 12:00
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South Sudan vs DR Congo – 12:00
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Kenya vs Gambia – 13:00
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Namibia vs Malawi – 13:00
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Benin vs Zimbabwe – 16:00
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Djibouti vs Burkina Faso – 16:00
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Lesotho vs South Africa – 16:00
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Uganda vs Mozambique – 16:00
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Egypt vs Ethiopia – 19:00
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Côte d’Ivoire vs Burundi – 19:00
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Mauritania vs Togo – 19:00
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Morocco vs Niger – 19:00
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Senegal vs Sudan – 19:00
FIFA World Cup 2026 Africa Qualifiers Key Fixtures to Watch
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Egypt vs Ethiopia (Friday, 19:00 UTC): Egypt remain one of Africa’s most successful teams, and this home clash is critical in maintaining their lead. Ethiopia, however, are known for upsetting bigger teams.
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Morocco vs Niger (Friday, 19:00 UTC): World Cup semifinalists in 2022, Morocco are overwhelming favorites, but Niger’s resilience could test the Atlas Lions.
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Senegal vs Sudan (Friday, 19:00 UTC): The Lions of Teranga are determined to dominate their group, while Sudan are fighting to keep qualification hopes alive.
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Lesotho vs South Africa (Friday, 16:00 UTC): A Southern African derby with big stakes, as Bafana Bafana chase consistency to stay competitive in Group C.
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Cameroon vs Eswatini (Thursday, 19:00 UTC): Cameroon, historically one of Africa’s strongest teams, face an Eswatini side with nothing to lose.
Implications for Qualification
The September fixtures are decisive for setting the pace in each group:
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Favorites like Morocco, Senegal, Algeria, and Egypt need to secure maximum points to avoid late qualification drama.
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Underdogs like South Sudan, Cape Verde, and Mozambique have a chance to continue surprising the continent.
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Every dropped point counts, as only the group winners are guaranteed World Cup spots.
Also Check: FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers Fixtures, Standings & Schedule
Standings Table For All Groups
Standings & Group Stage Overview
The African qualifiers are structured into nine groups, with each group winner earning direct qualification to the 2026 World Cup. The four best runners-up across all groups will advance to a continental playoff, keeping the competition intense until the final round.
As of September, several teams like Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Ghana, Algeria, and Nigeria are tipped as favorites, but emerging nations are proving difficult to beat. Teams such as Cape Verde, South Sudan, and Mozambique have impressed with spirited performances, showing that the qualification path is wide open.
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