Nigeria files complaint to FIFA over Congo DR
Nigeria are hoping to revive their hopes of appearing at the 2026 World Cup with complaint to FIFA over the use of at least nine ineligible players by Congo DR.
Can Tunisia cause an upset in Group F? (1:34)
Do South Africa have reasons to be optimistic after World Cup draw? (1:24)
Could Morocco beat Brazil in Group C at the World Cup? (1:13)
Could Mo Salah fire Egypt to World Cup success? (1:28)
Please, not Spain! - Best and worst-case scenarios for Africa's qualifiers
Africa's nine World Cup qualifiers, as well as tournament hopefuls DR Congo, will learn the identities of their group-stage opponents during Friday's draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC.
Nigeria's 'voodoo' accusations were 'nonsense' - Ex-DRC coach
Nigeria's accusations that the Democratic Republic of Congo attempted to use 'voodoo' to influence last month's World Cup qualifying playoff final are nonsense, according to former DRC head coach Florent Ibenge.
2026 World Cup: Which teams will claim the final 6 places?
The race to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is drawing to a close. Here's how it's looking around the globe.
Ranked: All 64 national teams that can still win the 2026 World Cup after latest eliminations
There are still 64 national teams that can win the FIFA World Cup next summer. Let's go through them all and rank where they stand.
A week of World Cup miracles: Best stories, wildest celebrations from amazing round of qualifiers
The past week of World Cup qualifiers was a reminder that, when entire nations are gripped by joy and heartbreak, it can be football at its very best.
Anichebe slams 'chronic incompetence' in Nigerian football
Former Nigeria and Everton striker Victor Anichebe has pointed to "chronic incompetence" as the root of Nigeria's problems, after the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
What's next for the DRC's Leopards after bewitching their way past Nigeria?
After running the gauntlet in Africa and getting past Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo are unlikely to fear anyone, even if the fixtures next March will represent their first competitive matches outside Africa in 50 years.
Nigeria coach makes 'voodoo' accusation after shootout loss vs. DR Congo (1:16)
Nigeria boss on WCQ loss: They did 'some voodoo'
Éric Chelle has accused the Congo DR side of "voodoo" during the penalty shootout that saw the end of his side's chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
Nigeria wasted one of their best (on paper) generations in this World Cup flop
Nigeria's World Cup hopes crashed and burned in dramatic fashion in Rabat on Sunday, after missed penalty kicks saw them eliminated by the Democratic Republic of Congo, leaving more questions than answers.
Udoh: Nigeria did not deserve to go to the World Cup (1:13)
Nigeria out of WC after shootout loss to Congo
Nigeria will miss a second straight World Cup after losing to DR Congo in a penalty shootout in the CAF World Cup playoff final.
Nigeria's Troost-Ekong 'really happy' to have Ndidi back for DR Congo (1:42)
Wrap Osimhen in cotton wool because Nigeria cannot do without him
Nigeria, thanks in large part to Victor Osimhen, shook off the chaos in their camp to soar past Gabon in extra time and claim a place in the Final of the CAF 2026 FIFA World Cup Playoffs on Sunday.
Osimhen 'apologised immediately' after miss against Gabon
Star striker Victor Osimhen told ESPN that he immediately said sorry to his Super Eagles teammates after a shocking, for him, miss against Gabon in FIFA World Cupo qualifying on Thursday in Morocco.
Osimhen double keeps Nigeria alive in WC playoff
Victor Osimhen scored an extra-time brace and Chidera Ejuke added a goal to give Nigeria a 4-1 win over Gabon in the CAF World Cup playoff semifinals in Rabat, Morocco, on Thursday.
Have Nigeria put pressure on themselves after boycott? (1:11)
Nigeria must shake off boycott drama and focus on Gabon
Just two days before their important 2026 FIFA World Cup African playoff semi-final game against Gabon, the full Nigeria squad, including officials, decided to boycott training in Morocco because of unresolved money issues.
Super Eagles players call off boycott, resume training
Nigeria's preparation for Thursday's 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying play-off semifinal against Gabon got back on track after the standoff between players and the NFF over unpaid bonuses was called off.
Can Gabon and the DRC take advantage of off-field discord in World Cup playoffs?
Ahead of this week's African qualifying playoffs -- as Nigeria, Gabon, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo look to keep their World Cup hopes alive -- here's ESPN's bumper preview, with predictions.
WCQ - CAF Table
| Group A | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egypt | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | +18 | 26 |
| Burkina Faso | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | +15 | 21 |
| Sierra Leone | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | +2 | 15 |
| Guinea-Bissau | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | -2 | 10 |
| Ethiopia | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -5 | 9 |
| Djibouti | 10 | 0 | 1 | 9 | -28 | 1 |
| Group B | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Senegal | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | +19 | 24 |
| Congo DR | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | +9 | 22 |
| Sudan | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | +2 | 13 |
| Togo | 10 | 1 | 5 | 4 | -5 | 8 |
| Mauritania | 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | -9 | 7 |
| South Sudan | 10 | 0 | 5 | 5 | -16 | 5 |
| Group C | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| South Africa | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | +6 | 18 |
| Nigeria | 10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | +7 | 17 |
| Benin | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | +1 | 17 |
| Lesotho | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | -3 | 12 |
| Rwanda | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | -4 | 11 |
| Zimbabwe | 10 | 0 | 5 | 5 | -7 | 5 |
| Group D | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Cape Verde | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | +8 | 23 |
| Cameroon | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | +12 | 19 |
| Libya | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 16 |
| Angola | 10 | 2 | 6 | 2 | +1 | 12 |
| Mauritius | 10 | 1 | 3 | 6 | -10 | 6 |
| Eswatini | 10 | 0 | 3 | 7 | -13 | 3 |
| Group E | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Morocco | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | +20 | 24 |
| Niger | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | +1 | 15 |
| Tanzania | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | -1 | 10 |
| Zambia | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 9 |
| Congo | 8 | 0 | 1 | 7 | -20 | 1 |
| Eritrea | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Group F | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Ivory Coast | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | +25 | 26 |
| Gabon | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | +13 | 25 |
| Gambia | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | +9 | 13 |
| Kenya | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | +4 | 12 |
| Burundi | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 10 |
| Seychelles | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | -51 | 0 |
| Group G | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Algeria | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | +16 | 25 |
| Uganda | 10 | 6 | 0 | 4 | +5 | 18 |
| Mozambique | 10 | 6 | 0 | 4 | -3 | 18 |
| Guinea | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | +3 | 15 |
| Botswana | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | -4 | 10 |
| Somalia | 10 | 0 | 1 | 9 | -17 | 1 |
| Group H | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Tunisia | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | +22 | 28 |
| Namibia | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | +3 | 15 |
| Liberia | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | +2 | 15 |
| Malawi | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | +1 | 13 |
| Equatorial Guinea | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | -7 | 11 |
| Sao Tome and Principe | 10 | 1 | 0 | 9 | -21 | 3 |
| Group I | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Ghana | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | +17 | 25 |
| Madagascar | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | +5 | 19 |
| Mali | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | +11 | 18 |
| Comoros | 10 | 5 | 0 | 5 | -1 | 15 |
| Central African Republic | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | -13 | 8 |
| Chad | 10 | 0 | 1 | 9 | -19 | 1 |