Morocco’s Historic Qualification
Contrary to how quickly seems, the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification process has already made a backer as unusual as it seems, but Morocco has already qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026 as the first qualifying African nation. Morocco with nearly perfect finishing qualification early for the first time in history and impressive form clearly is becoming a power. The Morocco’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Niger solidified its qualification for the World Cup, but also it showed the confidence and the power of the Moroccan team.
With star players like Paris Saint-Germain’s Achraf Hakimi and Leicester’s Bilal El Khannouss, Morocco’s squad are ready to push on from their impressive achievement of reaching the 2022 World Cup semi-final. Morocco’s focus will switch to the Africa Cup of Nations, although their last 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Zambia and Congo will not have the same pressure as they are already qualified. The qualifiers have given Morocco another layer of confidence as they approach the 2026 World Cup.
CAF World Cup Qualifying Format
The qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup through the CAF have one of the most competitive structures in the world of football. In total, there are nine groups containing six teams to determine qualification with only the six winners of the groups qualifying directly, four of which will be given an inter-confederation playoff (four best runners-up).
Because of these functionalities, all matches are relevant, with every team competing for their country, and always with a feverish race for World Cup qualifying, and now that more slots have been given to Africa, it is great to see excitement return for some of the big teams, but also for the great nations looking to upset the big footballing powers.
Recent Results from Around Africa
The last set of matches held from the 3rd to the 6th of September have produced some resounding results. Algeria comfortably beat Botswana 3-1 ; while Cameroon defeated Eswatini 3-0 needing to fend off any of Eswatini’s threats throughout. Mali had some attacking strength to beat Comoros 3-0, and Tunisia had more possession than suppressed Liberia to earn a 3-0 game.
Senegal are really consistent with another 2-0 win over Sudan, Gambia shocked Kenya away with a 3-1 victory, Malawi edged Namibia 2-1, Uganda produced a convincing 4-0 win over Mozambique, and DR Congo had an easy win with a score of 4-1 over South Sudan. South Africa also earned a convincing performance beating Lesotho 3-0, while Benin just managed to beat Zimbabwe 1-0. Congo had a very even contest against Tanzania with a 1-1 draw meaning their group is still wide open. The CAF standings are producing Egypt at the top of group A with 19 points, along with Burkina Faso and some other solid performers. The competition shows how unpredictable and valuable football in Africa can be.
Highlights and Upcoming Fixtures
Although Morocco’s qualification steals the spotlight, there will be several other fixtures in the next weeks that promise intrigue. The highly-anticipated match between Nigeria and Rwanda could change the course of Group C, while South Africa’s upcoming match against Nigeria is already touted as one of the most pivotal games of the qualifiers. Video highlights from the last couple of games, including Chad vs Ghana, Nigeria vs Zimbabwe, and Morocco vs Tanzania, have proliferated to various sports platforms. These highlights are not only the goals and goals celebrations but also the tactical battles of the CAF qualifiers.
What To Watch For During the CAF Qualifiers
Morocco already punched their ticket early and is now creating the opportunity for others to follow suit. The only question is if any other nation can achieve an identical record. Traditional powers like Egypt, Senegal, and Nigeria are still on course for direct qualification, while others attempt to cause an upset that moves ads to the continent.
The new qualification format has completely changed the scope of qualifying. The traditional powers must keep their focus, since every point counts now, while some nations see the path to their dream World Cup spot open. The combination of experience, youth development, and tactical evolutions being undertaken throughout Africa has never made it as competitive as it is now.
Conclusion
Morocco are the first African nation to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and this is a huge milestone in the CAF qualifiers. The Atlas Lions have a number of strong players, an objective way of playing the game and so far are 100%… they are clearly making a statement to world football. But the larger story has only begun. With big teams – Nigeria, Senegal, Egypt, South Africa – and smaller nations wanting to make their own history, in the months ahead we are going to have drama and great football.
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