Fact files of 10 African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19:
ALGERIA
Fixtures: June 16 - Argentina, June 22 - Jordan, June 27 - Austria
World ranking: 28
Key player: Riyad Mahrez, winger
Coach: Vladimir Petkovic (BIH)
World Cup appearances: 1982, 1986, 2010 - all 1st rd, 2014 - last 16
World Cup record: P13 W3 D3 L7 F13 A19
Popular name: Desert Foxes
CAPE VERDE
Fixtures: June 15 - Spain, June 21 - Uruguay, June 26 - Saudi Arabia
World ranking: 69
Key player: Logan Costa, defender
Coach: Bubista (CPV)
World Cup appearance: Debut
Popular name: Blue Sharks
DR CONGO
Fixtures: June 17 - Portugal, June 23 - Colombia, June 27 - Uzbekistan
World ranking: 46
Key player: Chancel Mbemba, defender
Coach: Sebastien Desabre (FRA)
World Cup appearance: 1974 - 1st rd
World Cup record: P3 W0 D0 L3 F0 A14
Popular name: Leopards
EGYPT
Fixtures: June 15 - Belgium, June 21 - New Zealand, June 26 - Iran
World ranking: 29
Key player: Mohamed Salah, forward
Coach: Hossam Hassan (EGY)
World Cup appearances: 1934, 1990, 2018 - all 1st rd
World Cup record: P7 W0 D2 L5 F5 A12
Popular name: Pharaohs
GHANA
Fixtures: June 17 - Panama, June 23 - England, June 27 - Croatia
World ranking: 74
Key player: Antoine Semenyo, forward
Coachr: Carlos Queiroz (POR)
World Cup appearances: 2006 - 1ast 16, 2010 - quarterfinals, 2014, 2022 - both 1st rd
World Cup record: P14 W5 D3 L7 F18 A23
Popular name: Black Stars
IVORY COAST
Fixtures: June 14 - Ecuador, June 20 - Germany, June 25 - Curacao
World ranking: 34
Key player: Yan Diomande, forward
Coach: Emerse Fae (CIV)
World Cup appearances: 2006, 2010, 2014 - all 1st rd
World Cup record: P9 W3 D1 L5 F13 A14
Popular name: Elephants
MOROCCO
Fixtures: June 13 - Brazil, June 19 - Scotland, June 24 - Haiti
World ranking: 8
Key player: Achraf Hakimi, defender
Coach: Mohamed Ouahbi (MAR)
World Cup appearances: 1970 - 1st rd, 1986 - last 16, 1994, 1998, 2018 - all 1st rd, 2022 - semifinals
World Cup record: P23 W5 D7 L11 F20 A27
Popular name: Atlas Lions
SENEGAL
Fixtures: June 16 - France, June 22 - Norway, June 26 - Iraq
World ranking: 14
Key player: Sadio Mane, forward
Coach: Pape Thiaw (SEN)
World Cup appearances: 2002 - quarterfinals, 2018 - 1st rd, 2022 - last 16
World Cup record: P12 W5 D3 L4 F16 A17
Popular name: Teranga Lions
SOUTH AFRICA
Fixtures: June 11 - Mexico, June 18 - Czech Republic, June 24 - South Korea
World ranking: 60
Key player: Oswin Appollis, winger
Coach: Hugo Broos (BEL)
World Cup appearances: 1998, 2002, 2010 - all 1st rd
World Cup record: P9 W2 D3 L4 F11 A16
Popular name: Bafana Bafana (The Boys)
TUNISIA
Fixtures: June 14 - Sweden, June 20 - Japan, June 25 - Netherlands
World ranking: 44
Kay player: Elias Achouri, winger
Coach: Sabri Lamouchi (FRA)
World Cup appearances: 1978, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2018, 2022 - all 1st rd
World Cup record: P18 W3 D5 L10 F14 A26
Popular name: Carthage Eagles
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