Factfiles of 10 African World Cup hopefuls

Factfiles of 10 African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19:

ALGERIA

Fixtures: June 16 – Argentina, June 22 – Jordan, June 27 – Austria

World ranking: 28

Key player: Riyad Mahrez, winger

Coach: Vladimir Petkovic (BIH)

World Cup appearances: 1982, 1986, 2010 – all 1st rd, 2014 – last 16

World Cup record: P13 W3 D3 L7 F13 A19

Popular name: Desert Foxes

CAPE VERDE

Fixtures: June 15 – Spain, June 21 – Uruguay, June 26 – Saudi Arabia

World ranking: 69

Key player: Logan Costa, defender

Coach: Bubista (CPV)

World Cup appearance: Debut

Popular name: Blue Sharks

DR CONGO

Fixtures: June 17 – Portugal, June 23 – Colombia, June 27 – Uzbekistan

World ranking: 46

Key player: Chancel Mbemba, defender

Coach: Sebastien Desabre (FRA)

World Cup appearance: 1974 – 1st rd

World Cup record: P3 W0 D0 L3 F0 A14

Popular name: Leopards

EGYPT

Fixtures: June 15 – Belgium, June 21 – New Zealand, June 26 – Iran

World ranking: 29

Key player: Mohamed Salah, forward

Coach: Hossam Hassan (EGY)

World Cup appearances: 1934, 1990, 2018 – all 1st rd

World Cup record: P7 W0 D2 L5 F5 A12

Popular name: Pharaohs

GHANA

Fixtures: June 17 – Panama, June 23 – England, June 27 – Croatia

World ranking: 74

Key player: Antoine Semenyo, forward

Coachr: Carlos Queiroz (POR)

World Cup appearances: 2006 – 1ast 16, 2010 – quarter-finals, 2014, 2022 – both 1st rd

World Cup record: P14 W5 D3 L7 F18 A23

Popular name: Black Stars

IVORY COAST

Fixtures: June 14 – Ecuador, June 20 – Germany, June 25 – Curacao

World ranking: 34

Key player: Yan Diomande, forward

Coach: Emerse Fae (CIV)

World Cup appearances: 2006, 2010, 2014 – all 1st rd

World Cup record: P9 W3 D1 L5 F13 A14

Popular name: Elephants

MOROCCO

Fixtures: June 13 – Brazil, June 19 – Scotland, June 24 – Haiti

World ranking: 8

Key player: Achraf Hakimi, defender

Coach: Mohamed Ouahbi (MAR)

World Cup appearances: 1970 – 1st rd, 1986 – last 16, 1994, 1998, 2018 – all 1st rd, 2022 – semi-finals

World Cup record: P23 W5 D7 L11 F20 A27

Popular name: Atlas Lions

SENEGAL

Fixtures: June 16 – France, June 22 – Norway, June 26 – Iraq

World ranking: 14

Key player: Sadio Mane, forward

Coach: Pape Thiaw (SEN)

World Cup appearances: 2002 – quarter-finals, 2018 – 1st rd, 2022 – last 16

World Cup record: P12 W5 D3 L4 F16 A17

Popular name: Teranga Lions

SOUTH AFRICA

Fixtures: June 11 – Mexico, June 18 – Czech Republic, June 24 – South Korea

World ranking: 60

Key player: Oswin Appollis, winger

Coach: Hugo Broos (BEL)

World Cup appearances: 1998, 2002, 2010 – all 1st rd

World Cup record: P9 W2 D3 L4 F11 A16

Popular name: Bafana Bafana (The Boys)

TUNISIA

Fixtures: June 14 – Sweden, June 20 – Japan, June 25 – Netherlands

World ranking: 44

Kay player: Elias Achouri, winger

Coach: Sabri Lamouchi (FRA)

World Cup appearances: 1978, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2018, 2022 – all 1st rd

World Cup record: P18 W3 D5 L10 F14 A26

Popular name: Carthage Eagles