World Cup tickets beckons for Algeria

by Graeme Jackson

Thursday Oct 09, 2025. 12:00

A ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup beckons for Algeria, as Africa’s qualifiers continue with six Matchday 9 fixtures across the continent on Thursday.

The North African heavyweights enjoy a four-point lead at the top of Group G and a win over Somalia in an early-evening kick-off in Oran will see the Fennec Foxes secure a return to the World Cup for the first time since 2014.

“We are fully focused on the next two World Cup qualifying matches,” said Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic.

“In September, we moved closer to our objective with both positives and negatives. We took four points, which is good, but there are still things to improve.

“We have two opponents, Somalia and Uganda, who will play at 120 percent to put us in difficulty, but I am convinced the 26 players called up are ready for the challenge.

“We’ll do everything we can to ensure the Algerian people are happy to qualify for the World Cup after 12 years away.”

At the same time, the other Group G matches see Mozambique host Guinea in Maputo, and Uganda visit Botswana in Francistown – important matches as the Cranes and Mambas (tied on 15 points) hope to claim a strong second-place finish and potentially advance into November’s second-round playoffs.

Thursday also features Group H (already won by Tunisia) matches in which Liberia tackle Namibia in Paynesville (a key clash for the Brave Warriors in their chase for a playoff berth) and Malawi welcome Equatorial Guinea to Lilongwe, as well as an East African derby from Group F in which Burundi and Kenya meet in Bujumbura.

2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (CAF/Africa)

Matchday 9 fixtures – Thursday 9 October 2025

Times CAT

15:00: Burundi v Kenya

15:00: Liberia v Namibia

18:00: Mozambique v Guinea

18:00: Somalia v Algeria

18:00: Malawi v Equatorial Guinea

18:00: Botswana v Uganda