2026 W/Cup Qualifiers: Nigeria Seek Redemption Against Rwanda, Zimbabwe

Before Wednesday’s two 2026 World Cup qualifying matchdays in Africa, underperforming Nigeria and underprivileged Sudan are in the spotlight.

A Nigerian team with the past two African Footballers of the Year Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, who are seeded to win Group C and automatically qualify, sits fifth in a six-team division.

The Super Eagles met Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and South Africa in a three-year qualifying match before falling to Benin in search of their seventh World Cup appearance.

Nigeria has three coaches, including local Finidi George, Augustine Eguavoen, and Eric Chelle, since it finished 2024 Africa Cup of Nations runners-up to Ivory Coast.

Ivory Coast-born Chelle, who was fired by Mali after a subpar World Cup campaign, admits that starting with Zimbabwe and Rwanda at home this month, he will face a “huge challenge.”

The coach, who is bolstered by top-notch forwards Osimhen and Lookman, says that “football is about scoring goals, and I favor an attacking style.”

In Benghazi, Sudan, who is seeded fifth in Group B, will face Senegal, who has qualified for the World Cup three times, in a top-of-the-table match for the first time.

Because Sudan has been at war since April 2023, the match is in Libya. More than 12 million people have been displaced as a result of the conflict, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives.

READ MORE: [2026WCQ] Osimhen, Others Arrive Super Eagles Camp Ahead Crunch Rwanda Game

AFRICAN WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

As the halfway point is reached by the African qualifying schedule, AFP Sport highlights five matchday five matches:

Ethiopia vs. Egypt

Ethiopia must also deal with recent Manchester City signing Omar Marmoush, as if trying to contain Egyptian legends Mohamed Salah and Mahmoud Trezeguet is not enough.

With five goals each, Salah and Trezeguet lead African qualifying by four points, with each scoring all but one of the Pharaohs’ eleven goals.

Ethiopia, which is ranked 113 places below Egypt, will host this game at home because Morocco is not a FIFA-approved stadium.

Senegal vs. Sudan

As they try to retake control of Senegal by two points, Ghana-born coach Kwesi Appiah has instructed his squad to imagine themselves to be world leaders.

“Believe in yourself to be as good as the Senegalese stars are.” You are fighting for your families and your country, he told them, “because war is raging in your homeland.”

Senegal can call on 32-year-old Sadio Mane, who has won the two-time African Footballers of the Year, but will miss out on the return of Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson due to a hamstring injury.

Nigeria vs. Rwanda

Despite being 80 places above Rwanda, Nigeria shouldn’t underestimate the Wasps in light of what transpired during the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying last year.

Innocent Nshuti and Jimmy Mutsinzi scored within three minutes of each other in the second half of Rwanda’s 0-0 draw in Kigali before blowing it to 2-1 in Uyo.

Not just Chelle, but also a brand-new coach will be present. Instead of signing Algerian Adel Amrouche, Rwanda instead signed German Torsten Spittler’s one-year contract.

Gambia vs. Kenya

Benni McCarthy, a former South African international who was a member of the Manchester United coaching staff under the managership of Erik ten Hag, makes his World Cup debut as Kenya coach.

The 47-year-old says that we can surprise a lot of people by having the right mindset, dedication, and a willingness to learn and give everything the players have,” with the right mindset, dedication, and dedication from the players.

Because Group F champions from Africa, Ivory Coast, are expected to win, Kenya needs victories away from Gambia and Gabon to have a good chance of placing second and making it to the play-offs.

Ghana vs. Chad

Ghana coach Otto Addo can’t afford any more setbacks after failing to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and sending the world’s top team to shock Group I leaders Comoros.

Chad are pointless, have only scored once, and some stars are boycotting this game due to “poor organization,” so coach Kevin Nicaise resigned in favor of Qatari Tahir Zakaria Gardia.

So it’s difficult to imagine Ghana, which has been helped by Premier League stars Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew, and Antoine Semenyo, failing to score three points before a difficult match against Madagascar.

Source: Channels TV