Egypt has secured its spot in the World Cup next summer, thanks to a 3–0 win over Djibouti on Wednesday, with Liverpool star Mohamed Salah scoring twice. This victory ensures Egypt’s place at the top of their African qualifying group with one match to spare, making them the third African team to qualify after Morocco and Tunisia.
Salah’s performance was crucial in the match, with Ibrahim Adel also scoring for Egypt. The team’s qualification is a significant achievement, especially considering their previous World Cup appearance in 2018, where they lost all three group-stage matches to hosts Russia, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia. Salah was hampered by a shoulder injury during that tournament, which he sustained in the Champions League final against Real Madrid.
Egypt will be among the nine African teams to qualify directly for the World Cup, with the draw set for December 5 in Washington, D.C. Other teams are still vying for a spot, with Burkina Faso sitting second in Group A behind Egypt after a 1–0 win in Sierra Leone. Ethiopia defeated Guinea-Bissau 1–0, while Cape Verde came from 3–1 down to draw 3–3 with Libya, edging closer to a historic first-ever World Cup qualification.
Cape Verde now leads Group D by two points ahead of Cameroon, who beat Mauritius 2–0 with goals from Nicolas Ngamaleu and Bryan Mbeumo. In the other Group D match, Angola drew 2–2 at home with Eswatini. Ghana is also close to qualifying after a dominant 5–0 victory over the Central African Republic, and they now need only one point from their final game. Madagascar remains second in Group I behind Ghana after a 2–1 win over the Comoros.
Mali secured a 2–0 away victory against Chad, while Niger beat Congo 3–1, and Zambia edged Tanzania 1–0 in Group E. With several teams still in contention, the final qualifying matches will be crucial in determining the remaining spots. The World Cup draw in December will be eagerly anticipated, as the qualified teams look forward to the tournament next summer. Egypt’s qualification is a significant milestone, and they will be looking to improve on their previous World Cup performance.