Kenya's Harambee Stars has been placed in Group F of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers following the draw held this evening in Abidjan, Cote D'Ivoire. The Kenyans will face Cote D'Ivoire, Gambia, Gabon, Burundi, and Sychelles for a chance to feature in the world's biggest sporting event for the first time ever. The teams have been divided into nine groups of six with one winner from each earning direct qualification to the World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the USA. History-making 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Morocco must win a group including Zambia to ensure qualification for the next edition in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Congo Brazzaville, Tanzania, Niger, and Eritrea complete Group E after a draw made on Thursday in Abidjan, the Ivory Coast's commercial capital, by former African stars. Morocco became the first African or Arab country to reach the World Cup semi-finals last December in Qatar before losing to France, and finishing fourth. With stars like Yassine Bounou, Achraf Hakimi, Sofyan Amrabat, and Youssef en-Nesyri available, they look likely winners of the section with Zambia posing the greatest threat. Morocco is the highest-placed African team in the latest FIFA rankings, ahead of Cup of Nations title-holders Senegal with Tunisia third. Senegal is in Group B and the biggest danger to them is likely to come from the rapidly improving Democratic Republic of Congo, which played in the 1974 World Cup when known as Zaire. Like Morocco, Sadio Mane-inspired Senegal is seeking a third consecutive appearance at the four-yearly global showpiece, with the next edition set for mid-2026. Tunisia is in Group H with Equatorial Guinea, a rising force in Africa who beat the North Africans in a Cup of Nations qualifier last month. Nigeria and South Africa will clash in Group C, which includes Zimbabwe, whose FIFA ban for government interference in football was lifted two days ago. Ghana, who made an early exit in Qatar, will fancy their chances of finishing first in Group I above Mali, the only first seeds who have not qualified for the World Cup. Cameroon, who holds the African record for World Cup qualification with eight appearances, has been poor in recent Cup of Nations matches, offering hope to Cape Verde and Angola in Group D. Algeria, who lost out to Cameroon for a place in Qatar, appear likely winners of Group G with unpredictable Guinea probably the main challengers. Egypt has won the Cup of Nations a record seven times but often struggles to qualify for the World Cup, reaching the final only three times. They are in Group A, where Burkina Faso and Guinea-Bissau could trouble the Mohamed Salah-captained Pharaohs. With the number of finalists expanding from 32 in Qatar to 48 in North and Central America, Africa is guaranteed a record nine places, and possibly 10. Each group winner will qualify automatically and the best four runners-up enter play-offs with the winner going to inter-confederation play-offs, with two places up for grabs. Apart from an African team, the confederation play-offs will include two teams from North/Central America and one each from Asia, South America, and Oceania.
#worldcupqualifiers #worldcupqualifiers #worldcup #worldcup2026 #afcon #caf #harambeestars #atlaslions #supereagles #indomitablelions #blackstars #blackstarsghana #pharaohs #atlaslions #bafanabafana #africacupofnations #africa
