Factfiles of 10 African World Cup hopefuls

Factfiles 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

Key player: Riyad Mahrez, winger

Coach: Vladimir Petkovic (BIH)

World Cup appearances: 1982, 1986, 2010 - all 1st rd, 2014 - last 16

Popular name: Desert Foxes

CAPE VERDE

Fixtures: June 15 - Spain, June 21 - Uruguay, June 26 - Saudi Arabia

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

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

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

Key player: Antoine Semenyo, forward

Coachr: Carlos Queiroz (POR)

World Cup appearances: 2006 - 1ast 16, 2010 - quarter-finals, 2014, 2022 - both 1st rd

Popular name: Black Stars

IVORY COAST

Fixtures: June 14 - Ecuador, June 20 - Germany, June 25 - Curacao

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

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 - semi-finals

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 - quarter-finals, 2018 - 1st rd, 2022 - last 16

Popular name: Teranga Lions

SOUTH AFRICA

Fixtures: June 11 - Mexico, June 18 - Czech Republic, June 24 - South Korea

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

Kay player: Elias Achouri, winger

Coach: Sabri Lamouchi (FRA)

World Cup appearances: 1978, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2018, 2022 - all 1st rd

Popular name: Carthage Eagles