2026 World Cup qualifying: Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Tunisia and Ghana get their campaigns under way
2026 World Cup: the schedule for Friday 17 November. Several heavyweights are in action, including Cameroon and Ghana
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Cameroon short-handed, Ghana looking for reassurance
The road to the 2026 World Cup is still a long one, and the race is only just beginning. In the Africa zone, the contenders are out on track for Matchday 1. On the starting grid this Friday 17 November, plenty of big names are ready to put their foot down.
In Group D, Cameroon are aiming for a 9th World Cup appearance. The Indomitable Lions host Mauritius, with kick-off at 19:00 GMT. However, Rigobert Song must rack his brains to find his attacking line-up. Vincent Aboubakar and Choupo-Moting are out. The coach will also have to do without Olivier Kemen in midfield and Harold Moukoudi in defence. He will therefore need to be inventive to pick his starting XI. In the other game in this group, there is Eswatini v Libya at 13:00 GMT.
Read also: 2026 World Cup qualifying: Algeria and Egypt make fast starts, Nigeria stumble against Lesotho
Ghana are also in action on Friday. The Black Stars host Madagascar in Group I, a game that observers will be watching closely. Appointed in February 2023, Chris Hughton is struggling to win people over. This gives him a chance to earn a little more credit. After 7 matches on the Ghana bench, the Irishman has taken 3 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats. Ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations in January 2024, a good start to 2026 World Cup qualifying could ease the tension. Their main rivals in this group, Mali, host Chad today. The other fixture in this group, Comoros v Central African Republic, opens the programme at 13:00 GMT.
Ivory Coast, Mali, Tunisia, Burkina Faso…
In Group A, Burkina Faso must respond. With Egypt having made a perfect start on Thursday with a 6-0 win over Djibouti, the Stallions are obliged to win so as not to lose ground to the Pharaohs on Matchday 1 of this World Cup qualifying race. To do so, they will have to beat Guinea-Bissau. It will be far from easy, though, because the Djurtus know how to bite when they need to…
Other heavyweights also want to stake their claim and give themselves every chance of reaching the 2026 World Cup. Ivory Coast host Seychelles (Group F), while Tunisia take on São Tomé and Príncipe (Group H).
The schedule for Friday 17 November
Times in GMT
13:00 : Comoros v Central African Republic (Group I)
Eswatini v Libya (Group D)
Guinea v Uganda (Group G)
16:00 : Ghana v Madagascar (Group I)
Liberia v Malawi (Group H)
Zambia v Congo (Group E)
19:00 : Burkina Faso v Guinea-Bissau (Group A)
Cameroon v Mauritius (Group D)
Cote d'Ivoire v Seychelles (Group F)
Mali v Chad (Group I)
Tunisia v São Tomé and Príncipe (Group H)