Egypt’s national football team have sealed their spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with one game to spare, thanks to a stunning performance by Mohamed Salah, who scored twice in their 3-0 victory over Djibouti. The win, played at a neutral venue in Casablanca, ensured the Pharaohs finished top of Group A, making them the third African nation to book a ticket to the United States, Mexico, and Canada after Morocco and Tunisia.
The match began in explosive fashion, with Ibrahim Adel heading home a cross from Zizo in just the eighth minute to open the scoring. Moments later, Liverpool’s star forward Salah showcased his clinical finishing by converting Trezeguet’s through ball to double Egypt’s lead. Despite recent criticism of his club form, Salah remained Egypt’s driving force, coming close to a hat-trick as his creativity and pace constantly troubled the Djiboutian defense. His persistence paid off late in the second half, when he produced a superb first-time lob to seal the 3-0 victory and confirm Egypt’s qualification.
Egypt, record seven-time Africa Cup of Nations champions, have historically struggled to translate their continental dominance into World Cup success. Their last appearances were in 1934, 1990, and 2018, but this qualification marks a strong resurgence under coach Hossam Hassan, who has restored belief and discipline in the squad. The result also extends Egypt’s reputation as a powerhouse of African football, driven by the leadership and brilliance of Salah.
Elsewhere in Group A, Burkina Faso edged Sierra Leone 1-0 courtesy of Mohamed Zougrana’s strike. The win guarantees the Stallions a second-place finish, keeping alive their slim hopes of reaching the tournament via the continental play-offs reserved for the best runners-up across the groups.
In other African qualifiers, drama unfolded across the continent. Cape Verde missed a golden chance to seal a historic first-ever World Cup qualification, surrendering a two-goal deficit only to draw 3-3 against Libya. Meanwhile, Niger and Zambia both registered important victories in Group E, but neither side is likely to collect enough points to progress to the play-offs, with Morocco already confirmed as group winners.
The qualification race intensifies as Algeria look set to become the next African side to confirm their spot. A win for the Desert Foxes against Somalia in their Group G clash would secure their place in the expanded 48-team 2026 World Cup, marking another proud moment for North African football.
Meanwhile, Ghana are one step away from joining Egypt, following a dominant 5-0 win over the Central African Republic in Kumasi. Jordan Ayew once again starred for the Black Stars, providing assists and scoring a spectacular volley to lead his side closer to qualification. Mohammed Salisu opened the scoring with a powerful header from a Mohammed Kudus corner, before Ayew created goals for Thomas Partey and Alexander Djiku. Ayew’s brilliance continued as he struck Ghana’s fourth, and Kamaldeen Sulemana rounded off the rout late in the game.
That emphatic victory leaves Ghana three points clear at the top of Group I, meaning they need just a draw in their final match against Comoros to guarantee qualification. However, even a narrow defeat might not stop them due to their superior goal difference. Their closest challengers, Madagascar, kept their slim hopes alive with a battling 2-1 win over Comoros in rain-soaked Abidjan. Despite a spirited performance, the island nation must now beat Mali in their final game and hope Ghana lose heavily while overturning an eight-goal deficit—an almost impossible task.
As the final round of fixtures approaches, excitement and anticipation continue to build across Africa. The continent’s giants are rising once again, with stars like Mohamed Salah and Jordan Ayew leading the charge. With Egypt already qualified and Ghana nearly there, fans are eager to see which nations will join them in representing Africa on football’s grandest stage the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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