Cape Verde and Ghana have become the toast of African football after both nations secured qualification for the 2026 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup, set to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Their achievement comes after a disappointing run in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where both failed to qualify. However, the two countries have now redeemed themselves, turning disappointment into pride by clinching spots among Africa’s automatic qualifiers for the global tournament.
The qualification round witnessed Cape Verde, Ghana, Algeria, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia securing their places as Africa’s nine representatives. Meanwhile, Cameroon, Gabon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Nigeria will compete in a mini-tournament in November, with the winners advancing to intercontinental play-offs in March for two remaining spots.
Cape Verde, a small island nation with an estimated population of just 550,000, made history as the smallest African country by land area to qualify for a World Cup. Head coach Pedro ‘Bubista’ Brito, filled with pride, remarked, “We have earned respect in Africa; now we must earn respect in the world.” His words reflect a nation’s spirit that defied the odds after suffering a 4-1 defeat to Cameroon earlier in the qualifiers. From that setback, the Blue Sharks went unbeaten in seven consecutive matches, silencing critics and showcasing remarkable improvement on the field.
A key figure in their historic run was 24-year-old forward Dailon Livramento, currently on loan from Italian side Verona to Portuguese club Casa Pia. Livramento scored four decisive goals, including a spectacular solo effort that sealed victory against Cameroon on home soil. His clinical finishing and composure in critical moments were instrumental in turning Cape Verde’s campaign around.
South Africa, known as Bafana Bafana (The Boys), also celebrated a significant return to the World Cup stage after 16 years. Their journey was a thrilling one as they edged out arch-rivals Nigeria by a single point in the final round. The Orlando Pirates’ rising winger Oswin Appollis shone brightly, contributing a goal and two assists in a decisive 3-0 win against Rwanda, a result that sealed their qualification. South Africa’s resurgence marks a full-circle moment for a team that once hosted the 2010 World Cup but was eliminated in the group stage.
Ghana’s comeback was equally inspiring. The Black Stars recovered from their unexpected failure to qualify for the 2025 AFCON by dominating Group I, finishing six points clear of Madagascar. A crucial moment in their campaign came last year when captain Jordan Ayew secured a late 2-1 victory against Mali. That win proved vital, helping Ghana reclaim its status as one of Africa’s football powerhouses. The team, which has made four previous World Cup appearances, will be hoping to replicate or surpass their iconic 2010 run when they reached the quarter-finals before bowing out on penalties.
Morocco continued to demonstrate its dominance as one of the most consistent teams on the continent. The Atlas Lions, who made history by reaching the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, were the only African side to finish the qualifiers with a 100 percent record. Their campaign was further aided by home advantage in several ‘away’ matches played in North Africa due to venue constraints. The Moroccan squad still features notable players such as Paris Saint-Germain full-back Achraf Hakimi, Sevilla striker Youssef En-Nesyri, and goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, all of whom bring World Cup experience and leadership to the team.
While the qualified teams are celebrating, Seychelles endured a difficult campaign. The island nation, ranked among Africa’s lowest in football, conceded 53 goals in ten qualifiers and suffered a record 9-0 defeat against Ivory Coast. The Pirates also faced logistical challenges, being forced to play home games outside their country due to a lack of a FIFA-approved stadium.
The African qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup reflect a growing competitiveness across the continent, with smaller nations like Cape Verde proving that determination and unity can yield monumental success. Ghana’s resurgence, Morocco’s dominance, and South Africa’s revival underline Africa’s rich football narrative and promise exciting representation in the expanded 48-team tournament next year.
Okay News reports that the continent’s fans are now eagerly anticipating how these nations will perform on the global stage, as Africa aims to make an even stronger impact in North America.
