First African Team in World Cup
Rabat
Morocco created history by becoming the first African team to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The North African side secured its spot after a dominant 5-0 win over Niger in Rabat, confirming top position in Group E.
The match saw Niger reduced to ten men when Abdul-Latif Goumey was sent off in the first half. Morocco quickly took control, with Ismael Saibari scoring twice before the break. In the second half, Ayoub El Kaabi, Hamza Igamane, and Azzedine Ounahi added goals to complete the big victory.
This result marked Morocco’s sixth straight win in qualifying, taking them to 18 points, eight clear of Tanzania, with two games still to play. It will be Morocco’s seventh appearance at a World Cup. Fans still remember their fairytale run in Qatar 2022, where they became the first African nation to reach the semifinals before falling to France.
In other African qualifiers, Egypt defeated Ethiopia 2-0 in Cairo, thanks to penalties from Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush. Egypt could also qualify if they beat Burkina Faso next week. Meanwhile, DR Congo beat South Sudan 4-1 with goals from Cedric Bakambu and Yoane Wissa, keeping alive hopes of a first World Cup appearance since 1974.
Senegal, South Africa, and Guinea also registered wins in their respective groups. South Africa’s 3-0 victory over Lesotho strengthened their lead, though injuries to key defenders could affect their upcoming clash with Nigeria.
The African qualifiers are heating up, with several nations still fighting for places alongside Morocco at the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
