The race to the 2026 FIFA World Cup intensifies this week as African nations gear up for another round of qualifying matches, with mouthwatering encounters scheduled across three kick-off slots on Thursday.
Action begins at 3:00 p.m. (WAT) with Kenya hosting Seychelles, Namibia facing Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone taking on Ethiopia, Tanzania battling Niger, and Zimbabwe clashing with Rwanda. These early fixtures will set the tone as nations seek to secure crucial points to stay in contention for qualification.
The spotlight then shifts to 6:00 p.m. (WAT) when continental heavyweights lock horns. Burkina Faso face record champions Egypt, while Cape Verde meet Cameroon in a high-stakes clash. DR Congo take on Senegal in a fixture promising intensity, South Africa square off with Nigeria in one of Africa’s fiercest rivalries, and Togo will be looking to upset Sudan.
Closing the day at 9:00 p.m. (WAT), Angola welcome Mauritius, Benin face Lesotho, Gabon host Ivory Coast in a heavyweight showdown, while Gambia meet Burundi. Mauritania will also be eyeing victory as they face South Sudan.
With so much at stake, the latest round of fixtures is set to test Africa’s top sides and offer emerging teams a chance to shock the continent as the road to the United States, Mexico, and Canada 2026 gathers momentum.