Two West African giants, Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire, have sealed their locations on the 2026 FIFA World Cup after convincing victories on Tuesday night time, becoming a member of the continent’s rising record of representatives for the worldwide showpiece in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
In Dakar, Sadio Mané impressed the Teranga Lions to a commanding 4–0 conquer Mauritania, which assured their fifth consecutive World Cup look.
The 33-year-old ahead struck twice — his forty seventh and forty eighth worldwide targets — to crown one other masterful show on the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium. Iliaman Ndiaye and Habib Diallo added late targets as coach Pape Bouna Thiaw’s facet wrapped up their Group B marketing campaign with 24 factors from 10 matches, seven wins and three attracts.
The consequence meant the Democratic Republic of Congo, regardless of edging Sudan 1–0 in Kinshasa, needed to accept second place with 22 factors — two wanting the previous African champions.
For Senegal, qualification marks a continuation of their golden period, having additionally reached the knockout rounds of the final two World Cups and lifted the Africa Cup of Nations in 2022.
In the meantime, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire booked their ticket to soccer’s grandest stage for the primary time since 2014, producing an expert 3–0 win over Kenya on the Alassane Ouattara Stadium. Midfielder Franck Kessié calmed early nerves with a seventh-minute opener earlier than Yan Diomande and Amand Diallo sealed victory for Emerse Faé’s males.
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The Elephants’ win rendered Gabon’s 2–0 conquer Burundi in Franceville meaningless, as Côte d’Ivoire’s 27 factors secured prime spot in Group F.
The qualification continues a exceptional resurgence for the Ivorians, who simply 18 months in the past lifted the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations on dwelling soil.
It additionally marks a symbolic return to the world stage for a technology mixing skilled heads like Kessié and Nicolas Pépé with rising stars like Diomande and Diallo.
With Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire now by means of, Africa’s confirmed World Cup contingent rises to 9, together with Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Cape Verde, and South Africa.
A tenth African nation might nonetheless be a part of through the intercontinental playoff route, the place 4 of the continent’s finest second-placed groups will battle in Morocco this November for a possible ultimate ticket to North America.
