Morocco becomes first African nation to qualify for 2026 Fifa World Cup

Morocco became the first African nation to qualify for the 2026 Fifa World Cup after a triumphant 5-1 win over 10-man Niger to move to unassailable points in group E.

The result coincided with Tanzania’s 1-1 draw away to Congo on the same day.

The Atlas Lions, 2022 semi-finalists in Qatar are on 18 points, eight better than second placed Taifa Stars with only six points to fight for.

Niger’s Abdoul-Latif Goumey was sent off early in the game before Ismael Saibari converted Youssef Belammari’s cross to open the scoring in the 29^th minute.

Saibari doubled the lead before the break when he tapped in a low ball in from Achraf Hakimi and Ayoub El Kaabi scooped in the third early in the second half from another pinpoint Belammari delivery.

Hamza Igamane came off the bench to score his first international goal from a well-worked corner routine and Azzedine Ounahi completed the rout with a curling effort.

Eight more group winners in African qualifying will join the Atlas Lions at the 2026 finals, with the four best-placed runners-up entering play-offs for a slot at an intercontinental tournament.

Egypt, South Africa close

Egypt and South Africa are also on the brink of qualification after victories over Ethiopia (2-0) and Lesotho (3-0) on Friday.

Premier League stars Omar Mamoursh and Mohamed Salah converted penalties in the first half to hand the Pharaohs a five-point lead in group A.

For Bafana Bafana, goals from Maloisane Nkota, Lyle Foster and Oswin Apollis ensured they moved to 16 points leaving both Rwanda and Nigeria and Benin behind by a five-point lead.

Ivory Coast, DR Congo and Senegal stay in hunt

DR Congo and Senegal stay head-to-head in group B after wins over South Sudan and Sudan respectively.

Kalidou Koulibaly and Tottenham midfielder Pape Matar Sarr gave them a 2-0 home win over Sudan.

The West Africans will travel to Kinshasa on Tuesday in a game which is likely to decide who will go on and claim top spot at the end of the campaign.

Elsewhere, Ivory Coast returned to the top of Group F after seeing off Burundi 1-0 in Abidjan.

Vakoun Bayo headed in Simon Adingra’s cross as early as the third minute to move one point above Gabon who they face in a potential decider on Tuesday.

Nigeria host Rwanda on Saturday in the final game in the seventh round of group stage fixtures.