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2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF Group E

The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF Group E is a CAF qualifying group for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The group contains Morocco, Zambia, Congo, Tanzania and Niger. Eritrea withdrew before the first matches were played. On 6 February 2025, FIFA suspended Congo due to government interference in Congolese Football Federation operations.[1][2] While no announcement regarding their status in the tournament has been released, CAF have cancelled their remaining matches.[3]

The group winner will directly qualify for the World Cup, and the runner-up could potentially compete in the second round to advance to the inter-confederation play-offs.[4][5]

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification Morocco Niger Tanzania Zambia Republic of the Congo Eritrea
1  Morocco (X) 5 5 0 0 14 2 +12 15 2026 FIFA World Cup — Sep 2–0 2–1 Canc. Canc.
2  Niger 4 2 0 2 6 4 +2 6 Possible second round 1–2 — 0–1 2–1 Canc. Canc.
3  Tanzania 4 2 0 2 2 4 −2 6 0–2 Sep — Oct Canc. Canc.
4  Zambia (Z) 4 1 0 3 6 7 −1 3 Sep Oct 0–1 — 4–2 Canc.
5  Congo[a] 3 0 0 3 2 13 −11 0 Suspended 0–6 0–3[b] Canc. Canc. — Canc.
6  Eritrea[c] 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Withdrew Canc. Canc. Canc. Canc. Canc. —
Updated to match(es) played on 25 March 2025. Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(X) Assured of top two finish; can still qualify directly; (Z) Cannot qualify directly; can still advance to the second round
Notes:
  1. ^ Congo were suspended on 6 February 2025 due to government interference in Congolese Football Federation operations.[1][2] While no announcement regarding their status in the tournament has been released, CAF have cancelled their remaining matches.[3]
  2. ^ Niger were awarded a 3–0 victory by forfeit after Congo refused to travel to DR Congo for their match after their regular stadium was deemed to not meet hosting requirements.[6]
  3. ^ Eritrea withdrew from qualification prior to playing any matches, reportedly due to concerns that players would seek political asylum if allowed to travel overseas.[7][8][9]

Matches

Morocco Cancelled Eritrea
Report (FIFA)
Report (CAF)
Zambia 4–2 Congo
 Report (FIFA)
Report (CAF)
Referee: Mahmoud El Banna (Egypt)
Niger 0–1 Tanzania
Report (FIFA)
Report (CAF)
Attendance: 178
Referee: Lotfi Bekouassa (Algeria)
Eritrea Cancelled Congo
Report (FIFA)
Report (CAF)
Niger 2–1 Zambia
 Report (FIFA)
Report (CAF)
Attendance: 200
Referee: Abdulrazg Ahmed (Libya)
Tanzania 0–2 Morocco
Report (FIFA)
Report (CAF)
Attendance: 60,000
Referee: Abongile Tom (South Africa)
Tanzania Cancelled Eritrea
Congo 0–3
Awarded[a]		 Niger
Report (FIFA)
Report (CAF)
Referee: Boubou Traore (Mali)
Morocco 2–1 Zambia
 Report (FIFA)
Report (CAF)
Referee: Issa Sy (Senegal)
Eritrea Cancelled Niger
Zambia 0–1 Tanzania
Report (FIFA)
Report (CAF)
Referee: Abdel Aziz Bouh (Mauritania)
Congo 0–6 Morocco
Report (FIFA)
Report (CAF)
Attendance: 30,000
Zambia Cancelled Eritrea
Tanzania Cancelled Congo
Niger 1–2 Morocco
 Report (FIFA)
Report (CAF)
Honor Stadium, Oujda (Morocco)
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Omar Artan (Somalia)
Congo Cancelled Zambia
Niger Cancelled Eritrea
Morocco 2–0 Tanzania
 Report (FIFA)
Report (CAF)
Referee: Alhadi Allaou Mahamat (Chad)
Congo Cancelled Tanzania
Eritrea Cancelled Zambia
Morocco v Niger
Congo Cancelled Eritrea
Zambia v Morocco
Tanzania v Niger
Eritrea Cancelled Morocco
Niger Cancelled Congo
Tanzania v Zambia
Eritrea Cancelled Tanzania
Morocco Cancelled Congo
Zambia v Niger

Goalscorers

There have been 27 goals scored in 10 matches, for an average of 2.7 goals per match (as of 25 March 2025). Players highlighted in bold are still active in the competition.

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal

1 own goal

Notes

  1. ^ Niger were awarded a 3–0 victory by forfeit after Congo refused to travel to DR Congo for the match, after their regular stadium was deemed to not meet hosting requirements.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b "Suspension of the Congolese Football Association (FECOFOOT) from 6 February 2025 until further notice" (PDF). FIFA Circular. No. 1922. 6 February 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  2. ^ a b "FIFA suspends Congo Republic and Pakistan". Reuters. 7 February 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Schedule & Results". CAFonline.com. CAF. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
  4. ^ "CAF Executive Committee approves FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers calendar and announces TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Côte d'Ivoire 2023 Final Draw date". CAF Online. CAF. 19 May 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  5. ^ "CAF reveals new format for 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers". CAF Online. CAF. 19 May 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  6. ^ a b "FIFA awards win to Niger after Congo no-show in World Cup qualifier". The Straits Times. 26 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  7. ^ "Eritrea Pull Out Of 2026 World Cup Qualifier". Dehai News. Dehai News. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  8. ^ "Eritrea withdrew from 2026 World Cup qualifying 'over fears players will flee'". The Guardian. 14 November 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Eritrea withdraw from FIFA World Cup qualifiers". FIFA. Retrieved 10 November 2023.