A record 10 teams at the World Cup. A continental final decided two months later by an appeal board. A Tanzanian giant chasing a breakthrough in the Champions League. The last 12 months in African football have been anything but quiet. Live scores from across the continent are on dbbet uz. This explainer pulls the big storylines together in one place, starting with the long road to North America.
How African World Cup Qualifiers Work
Football is the continent’s most popular sport, with 54 national associations under the Confederation of African Football. The African World Cup qualifiers for 2026 followed a clear structure:
- 54 nations were split into nine groups of six.
- Each group winner qualified directly, giving Africa nine automatic places, its largest allocation ever, thanks to the expansion to 48 teams.
- The four best runners-up met in a playoff mini-tournament.
- The winner went to a six-team intercontinental playoff in March 2026 for a possible tenth place.
For decades, Africa had only five places, and a single bad result could end a campaign. The new format means more teams believe they can qualify, which raises the level in every group.
The Nine Direct Qualifiers
Senegal, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Cape Verde, Ghana, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and South Africa booked their places directly. Tunisia led the way with 28 points and a goal difference of plus 22, while Ivory Coast and Egypt collected 26 each. Cape Verde’s story stood out: the small island nation reached its first World Cup.
Drama in Rabat
In November 2025, Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon met in the Moroccan capital for the runners-up playoff.
The Semi-Finals
- Nigeria beat Gabon 4-1 after extra time, with Victor Osimhen scoring twice in the additional period.
- DR Congo beat Cameroon thanks to a late winner from captain Chancel Mbemba.
The Final
On November 16, Franck Onyeka gave Nigeria a third-minute lead, Meschack Elia equalised, and the match finished 1-1 after extra time. DR Congo won the shootout 4-3, with Mbemba again scoring the decisive penalty. Nigeria later asked FIFA to examine the eligibility of certain DR Congo players, but the outcome did not change.
From Rabat to Guadalajara
On March 31, 2026, at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, Axel Tuanzebe scored from a corner in extra time to beat Jamaica 1-0. It was DR Congo’s first World Cup qualification in 52 years, its last appearance coming in 1974 under the name Zaire. Drawn with Portugal, Colombia and Uzbekistan, the Leopards became one of the tournament’s most compelling stories.
That draw gave fans in Central Asia a reason to follow Congolese football closely. Readers in Uzbekistan who want broader sports and entertainment coverage around big tournaments can visit winwin.
Africa at the 2026 World Cup
| Team | Route To The Finals |
| Algeria | Group Winner |
| Cape Verde | Group Winner, First World Cup |
| DR Congo | Intercontinental Playoff, First Appearance Since 1974 |
| Egypt | Group Winner |
| Ghana | Group Winner |
| Ivory Coast | Group Winner |
| Morocco | Group Winner |
| Senegal | Group Winner |
| South Africa | Group Winner |
| Tunisia | Group Winner, Top Points Total In Qualifying |
Ten African teams at one World Cup was a clear record. The bigger format helped, but Morocco’s semi-final run in 2022 had also raised standards for everyone.
What AFCON Means
The Africa Cup of Nations, first held in 1957 and now featuring 24 teams, is the continent’s flagship national team tournament. Following AFCON games means watching a cultural festival as much as a competition, and for many nations, winning it matters as much as reaching a World Cup.
The Most Chaotic Final in Years
The 2025 tournament in Morocco ended on January 18, 2026, in Rabat:
- Morocco were awarded a stoppage-time penalty after a VAR review.
- Senegal’s players walked off in protest, and play resumed after roughly 15 minutes.
- Brahim Díaz attempted a Panenka, and Edouard Mendy saved it easily.
- Pape Gueye scored four minutes into extra time to give Senegal a 1-0 win.
Nigeria took bronze after beating Egypt on penalties, Sadio Mané was named the tournament’s best player and Díaz finished top scorer with five goals.
The Ruling
On March 17, 2026, the CAF Appeal Board ruled that Senegal had forfeited the final, recording a 3-0 win for Morocco and handing the hosts their first continental title since 1976. CAF had already suspended Senegal coach Pape Thiaw for five matches and issued fines worth more than one million dollars, and Senegal said it would go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
AFCON 2027: East Africa’s Turn
The next tournament will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania under the Swahili banner Pamoja, meaning together. Somalia reached the qualifying group stage for the first time after beating Mauritius 4-2 on penalties. Penalties decided much of the year, which is why coaches now rehearse shootouts as carefully as tactics.
Young Africans: Tanzania’s Giant
Young Africans, better known as Yanga, was founded in 1935 in Dar es Salaam. The green and yellow side is the reigning Tanzanian champion, contests the Kariakoo Derby with Simba SC and won the Mapinduzi Cup in January 2026 with four wins from four.
Young Africans Games in 2025-26
Following Young Africans’ games in last season’s CAF Champions League meant a strong start and a frustrating finish. Yanga beat Angola’s Wiliete 5-0 on aggregate, then overcame Malawi’s Silver Strikers 2-1 despite losing the first leg. In the group stage, eight points from six games left them third, out of the knockout rounds.
The 2026-27 Campaign
The new season began against Botswana’s Gaborone United, completed with a 2-1 home win, with Peter Shalulile among the scorers. Next came CFFA of Madagascar, with the first leg on October 17 and the winner earning a place in the group stage from late November. Head coach Manqoba Mngqithi wants to go beyond the quarter-final the club reached in 2023-24, against a field led by Egypt’s Al Ahly, the competition’s most successful club, and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns.
A Continent in Motion
Ten nations at a World Cup, a continental final settled in a boardroom and clubs like Yanga pushing for the next step: African football has rarely been more dramatic. CAF’s official channels publish fixtures and results, and the continent’s fans will have plenty to cheer, argue about and remember.