Algeria have officially become the fourth African nation to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup following a commanding 3-0 victory over Somalia in Oran on Thursday.
The Fennec Foxes sealed top spot in Group G thanks to a brace from Mohamed Amoura and a goal from captain Riyad Mahrez, confirming their fifth appearance at the global showpiece after previous outings in 1982, 1986, 2010, and 2014.
The win sees Algeria join North African rivals Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt among the confirmed African representatives heading to North America next year.
Elsewhere in Group G, Uganda strengthened their playoff hopes with a narrow 1-0 away win against Botswana, courtesy of Jude Ssemugabi’s header, while Mozambique suffered a 1-2 home defeat to Guinea, with Abdoul Karim Traoré netting both goals for the visitors.
In Group H, Liberia boosted their chances of a playoff berth with a 3-1 victory over Namibia in Monrovia. Goals from Ayouba Kosiah, Mamadu Bah, and Edward Ledlum ensured the hosts cut the deficit behind second-placed Namibia to just one point, with Tunisia already assured of qualification.
Meanwhile, Kenya secured a hard-fought 1-0 win against 10-man Burundi in Bujumbura, thanks to a second-half strike from Ryan Ogam that lifted the Harambee Stars to third place in Group F. The scheduled Group H clash between Malawi and Equatorial Guinea was postponed.
Matchday 9 continues on Friday with nine fixtures lined up, including decisive encounters involving Senegal, Ivory Coast, South Africa, and Nigeria, as the race for Africa’s remaining World Cup tickets intensifies.
