Closer to the 2026 World Cup, we find Senegal and Ivory Coast, as a result, this Friday, of the conclusion of the ninth and penultimate round of African qualification, while Benin, for its part, separated itself from South Africa, trying for the first time, an unprecedented presence in the World Cup.

In Group B, the Senegalese won away to South Sudan (5-0), with goals from Ismaila Sarr who scored twice, Sadio Mané, Nicolas Jackson, from the penalty spot and substitute Cherif Ndiaye, remaining isolated in first place, the only one that gives direct access to the final phase of the competition.

Senegal has 21 points, two above DR Congo who triumphed in Togo (1-0), with a goal from Cédric Bakambu, with Kévin Boma who plays for Estoril Praia, in Portugal, starting for the hosts.

In the final round, scheduled for Tuesday, Senegal and Congo will host Mauritania and Sudan, who drew in Tanzania (0-0), with the Lions of Teranga starting with a seven-goal lead and having the advantage in the head-to-head record over the Leopards.

In Group F, Ivory Coast remained in command, beating Seychelles (7-0) in Mauritius, with goals from Ibrahim Sangaré, from the penalty spot, Emmanuel Agbadou, Oumar Diakité, Evann Guessand, Yan Diomande and newcomers Simon Adingra and Franck Kessié.

Ghislain Konan, who plays in Portugal for Gil Vicente, did not leave the bench for the Ivorians, who now have 23 points, compared to Gabon's 22, who won away against Gambia (3-4).

In a match held in Kenya, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored four goals and helped the Gabonese side turn the result around in the last half hour, after Yankuba Minteh and Adama Sidibeh, who scored a brace, had scored for the Gambians.

On Tuesday, Ivory Coast plays at home against Kenya, boasting an 11-goal lead over Gabon, who will host Burundi, but will be without Aubameyang, who was sent off in the final moments of the game against Gambia.

If they fail to overtake the Ivorians, the Gabonese already know they will be one of the four best runners-up in the nine groups – the winners have direct entry to the 2026 World Cup – and will be present in the play-off that will determine the African representative in the intercontinental play-off.

In Pool C, a late goal from substitute Aiyegun Tosin allowed Benin to triumph over Rwanda (0-1) and take sole command with 17 points, two ahead of South Africa, which was held to a 0-0 draw by Zimbabwe in South Africa. Yaya Sithole, playing for Tondela in Portugal, started for South Africa, which hosted Rwanda on Tuesday.

Doukou Dodó, also playing in Portugal, at Leixões, was a starter for Benin who will visit Nigeria in the final round, third, with 14 points, after having triumphed against Lesotho on South African soil (2-1), launching left defender Zaidu, a regular starter for FC Porto in Portugal, towards the end.

In Group H, already qualified Tunisia dominated São Tomé and Príncipe (0-6), coached by Portuguese Ricardo Monsanto, with braces from Elias Saad and Mohamed Ben Romdhane – he scored one from a penalty – and goals from Firas Chaouat and Ismaël Gharbi.

The Portuguese-speaking team played as hosts in Tunisia, due to the impossibility of competing at home, and went on to record nine defeats in as many matches.

The 23rd edition of the World Cup will take place between June 11 and July 19, 2026, and will feature 48 participating teams for the first time, in an unprecedented tripartite organization between the United States, Mexico and Canada, all automatically qualified as hosts, to which are added 17 already qualified, including the Africans Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Algeria.