Cameroon first up as 2026 World Cup Qualifiers resume

by Graeme Jackson

Tuesday Mar 18, 2025. 10:00

Cameroon will be amongst the first teams in action when Africa’s qualification tournament for the 2026 FIFA World Cup resumes on Wednesday 19 March, as the continent’s heavyweights look to move closer to a berth at the global showpiece.

Matchday 5 of the group stage will kick-off on Wednesday evening with a trio of games across the continent, the most notable of which sees Cameroon looking to move clear at the top of Group D when they face hosts Eswatini in neutral Nelspruit (South Africa).

The Indomitable Lions have been to eight World Cups and will back themselves to stay atop their group, though tension clearly remains between Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) president Samuel Eto’o and head coach Marc Brys.

“I’m not answering that. We’re here for the Lions’ list. No one congratulated me on qualifying [for the Africa Cup of Nations],” said Brys when asked if he had congratulated Eto’o on his election to the Confederation of African Football [CAF] executive committee.

On Thursday, Mozambique will have the chance to take a further step toward their first ever World Cup appearance when they host Uganda in a Group G clash in Cairo (Egypt).

“I think that when you believe in the work you are doing, and the results are there for all to see, it gives you the opportunity to dream,” said coach Chiquinho Conde. “Now, desire is always the soul of success, when you want something great and you truly commit to it, you start to believe that anything is possible.”

Friday’s focus will fall on Groups C and I. In the former, Nigeria will be looking to get their campaign back on track when they face surprise leaders Rwanda in Kigali, while South Africa (tied with Rwanda) will back themselves to defeat Lesotho in Polokwane.

The Super Eagles are entering a new era under the tenure of coach Eric Chelle, who already has the buy-in of key forward Victor Osimhen.

“I’ve spoken to him a couple of times and clearly understand the objectives he has set for himself and for the players,” said the Galatasaray striker. “It takes more than a coach to win football matches. Players must also be at their best, show commitment, and bear in mind that we can all fly together to reach our goal.”

In Group I, Ghana will need a win at home to Chad in Accra – especially in the wake of their shocking failure to qualify for the next AFCON. Coach Otto Addo finds himself under enormous pressure, and has called for support from the Greater Accra Chiefs and supporters at large.

“We have difficult matches ahead of us, and the country needs urgent victories to go to the World Cup, and for that, I believe we need to support ourselves, especially the GA Chiefs and the entire people so that everybody can be happy,” said the under-fire tactician.

Friday also features Egypt and Morocco looking to continue their dominance of Groups A and E with respective away matches against Ethiopia and Niger, while Saturday is headlined by a top-of-the-table Group B battle between Sudan and Senegal in Benghazi (Libya).

The Falcons of Jediane have excelled under the leadership of former Ghana coach James Kwesi Appiah (especially considering the civil war ongoing in their country), while the Teranga Lions will have a chance to blood 19-year-old winger Assane Diao, who was born in Spain to Senegalese parents and plays his club football for Serie A’s Como.

African World Cup Cup Qualifying fixtures, 19-22 March

Times CAT

Wednesday 19 March

18:00: Eswatini v Cameroon

18:00: Liberia v Tunisia

18:00: Central Africa Republic v Madagascar

Thursday 20 March

15:00: Mozambique v Uganda

18:00: Sierra Leone v Guinea-Bissau

18:00: Zimbabwe v Benin

18:00: Cape Verde v Mauritius

18:00: Malawi v Namibia

21:00: Libya v Angola

21:00: Gabon v Seychelles

21:00: Gambia v Kenya

23:00: Comoros v Mali

Friday 21 March

15:00: Botswana v Algeria

15:00: Equatorial Guinea v Sao Tome & Principe

18:00: Burkina Faso v Djibouti

18:00: DR Congo v South Sudan

18:00: South Africa v Lesotho

18:00: Rwanda v Nigeria

21:00: Burundi v Ivory Coast

21:00: Ghana v Chad

23:00: Ethiopia v Egypt

23:00: Guinea v Somalia

23:00: Niger v Morocco

Saturday 22 March

18:00: Togo v Mauritania

21:00: Sudan v Senegal