Audio By Carbonatix
Cote d'Ivoire and Senegal claimed Africa's final two automatic qualifying spots for the 2026 Fifa World Cup as both sides registered victories on Tuesday.
Senegal claimed a 4-0 home win over Mauritania to secure first place in Group B.
A Sadio Mane free-kick put the hosts ahead on the stroke of half-time and the former Liverpool forward slotted in his second before Iliman Ndiaye added a fine solo effort and Habib Diallo rounded off the scoring late on.
The Teranga Lions finished the campaign two points ahead of DR Congo, who beat Sudan 1-0 thanks to Theo Bongonda's first-half strike.
Elsewhere, Franck Kessie gave Cote d'Ivoire an early lead against Kenya in Group F and teenager Yan Diomande fired in to double the lead after the break.
Manchester United's Amad curled in a fine free-kick to give the Elephants a 3-0 victory in Abidjan.
That result meant the reigning continental champions finished a point ahead of Gabon, who saw off Burundi 2-0 in Franceville after late goals from Bryan Meyo and Mario Lemina.
The Ivorians, who return to the World Cup finals for the first time since 2014, went through the entire 10-game group campaign without conceding a goal, one of two nations on the continent to do so alongside Tunisia.
Cote d'Ivoire and Senegal join Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Ghana, Cape Verde and South Africa in booking their ticket to next year's World Cup finals.
One more side - the winners of next month's continental play-offs - could join that group if they emerge from an inter-confederation tournament in March next year.
Cameroon, DR Congo, Gabon and Nigeria finished as the four best-ranked second-placed sides across the nine groups and one of those sides will have the chance to become Africa's 10th representative at the expanded 48-team World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
The Confederation of African Football is yet to announce a date for the play-off draw.
Latest Stories
-
Traffic light components at Police HQ, other locations stolen – Roads Minister
9 minutes -
QNET donates football equipment to Samuel Inkoom Academy to support grassroots football
17 minutes -
Police restore calm in Benso after clash involving youth and forestry officials
23 minutes -
Awuah tennis tournament set for June 13
40 minutes -
Female student made offensive remarks before altercation, says Education Directorate on Nyinahin SHS incident
44 minutes -
Government releases GH¢5m of GH¢20m film fund budgetary allocation
46 minutes -
Zoomlion, NADMO, FeDEMS, Dredge Masters and partners begin 3-day massive cleanup after Accra floods
47 minutes -
QNET’s RYTHM Foundation partners with Ghanaian NGO to advance menstrual health access for schoolgirls in rural Ghana
50 minutes -
Obuasi East MP weeds Afari Military Hospital grounds, demands immediate operationalisation
59 minutes -
Learn one more language beyond your mother tongue – Vice President urges Ghanaians
1 hour -
Covenant FC win 2026 Nketiah Foundation football tournament organised by Eddie Nketiah
2 hours -
GhIE cite regulatory lapses for building collapses, push for stage-by-stage inspections
2 hours -
CSIR warns weak use of soil data is undermining Ghana’s agric productivity
2 hours -
Minority demands briefing on Ghanaians’ evacuation from SA amid xenophobic attacks
2 hours -
Gov’t must complete existing health projects, not start new ones – Minority on Afari Military hospital
2 hours