Match Days 03 and 04 of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers came to a grand close on Tuesday, June 11, with four exciting fixtures that concluded what has been an exciting wave of World Cup African qualifiers over the last few days. Tuesday evening also marked exactly 14 years since Africa kicked off its first-ever FIFA World Cup, which was hosted in South Africa back in 2010.
The teams battled it out for a coveted spot on the biggest stage in football.
Here’s a comprehensive look at yesterday’s results, the current standings, and upcoming fixtures that promise more drama:
Yesterday’s World Cup Qualifiers Thrillers and Surprises
- Morocco Maintains Perfect Run: The Atlas Lions continued their dominant display in Group E, crushing Congo DR 6-0. This emphatic victory solidifies their position at the top of the group.
- Bafana Bafana Back on Track: After a disappointing draw with Nigeria in the previous round, South Africa secured a crucial 3-1 home win against Zimbabwe in Group C. This puts them back in contention for the group lead.
- Tanzania Stuns Zambia: In a surprising turn of events, Tanzania edged out Zambia 1-0 in Group E. This result throws the group wide open, with all teams still vying for the top spot.
- African Giants Share the Spoils: Cameroon and Angola played out a tense 1-1 draw in Group D. Both teams will be aiming for better results in their upcoming matches.
- Burundi Claims Victory: The Swallows of Burundi secured a confidence-boosting 3-1 win over Seychelles in Group F. This keeps them in the hunt for qualification.
- Gabon Edges Out Gambia: In a close encounter, Gabon emerged victorious with a 3-2 win over Gambia in Group F. Both teams are still very much in contention for the top two spots.
Current Standings
The group stages are still in their early stages, but some teams are already making a statement. Keep an eye on these top performers:
- Group A: Egypt (10 points), Guinea-Bissau (6 points), Burkina Faso (5 points), Sierra Leone (5 points), Ethiopia (3 points), Djibouti (1 point)
- Group C: Rwanda (7 points), South Africa (7 points), Benin (7 points), Lesotho (5 points), Nigeria (3 points), Zimbabwe (2 points)
- Group E: Morocco (9 points), Tanzania (6 points), Niger (3 points), Zambia (3 points), Congo DR (0 points)
- Group F: Ivory Coast (10 points), Gabon (9 points), Burundi (7 points), Kenya (5 points), Gambia (3 points), Seychelles (0 points)
Upcoming Clashes and the Road Ahead
The nine group winners at the end of the 10-match campaign are all assured of a place at the 2026 World Cup, while a 10th African team could qualify via an intercontinental play-off. African qualifiers for the finals in the United States, Mexico and Canada will resume in March 2025, with preliminaries for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations scheduled in September, October and November.
Related article: South Africa vs Zimbabwe: Bafana Bafana Dominate in World Cup Qualifier