2026 World Cup qualifiers: Gabon and Libya have a chance to strike, Mali in trouble

Mali: win to stay alive

In Group I of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Africa, Mali are in serious trouble. The Eagles have picked up just 5 points from 4 games (1 win, 2 draws, 1 defeat) and sit only 4th. More worryingly, they are already 4 points behind the Comoros, who led the group going into this round of games but have now been overtaken by Madagascar, who have temporarily moved top (10 points) after a fine win over the Central African Republic yesterday. The Malians therefore face enormous pressure before taking on the Comorians on Thursday, as a defeat could already badly damage their chances of qualifying as early as matchday 5.

Aliou Cissé under the spotlight

Newly appointed Libya head coach Aliou Cissé has set his sights on qualifying Libya for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. However, he would not turn his nose up at a ticket to the 2026 World Cup. His side have every reason to dream of reaching the tournament in North America, since with 7 points they are 2nd in Group D, just behind Cameroon (9 points). The Knights of the Mediterranean also have a golden opportunity to go top, provided they beat Angola (4th, 6 points) on Thursday.

Read also: 2026 World Cup qualifiers: matchday 5 schedule and results

Gabon: piling the pressure on Ivory Coast

The other game worth watching is Gabon's home match against Seychelles. The Panthers, 2nd in Group F with 9 points, are lurking just behind Ivory Coast (10 points). By beating Seychelles, the Gabonese could seize an ideal chance to go top, while hoping for a slip-up from the African champions.

Schedule for Thursday 20 March 2025 (times GMT)

13:00: Mozambique v Uganda

16:00: Zimbabwe v Benin

16:00: Sierra Leone v Guinea-Bissau

16:00: Cape Verde v Mauritius

16:00: Malawi v Namibia

19:00: Gambia v Kenya

19:00: Libya v Angola

19:00: Gabon v Seychelles

21:00: Comoros v Mali