Somalia head into their penultimate match against Algeria
Somalia have little to play for except pride heading into their penultimate World Cup 2026 qualifying match against Algeria at Miloud Hadefi Olympic Complex today.
On the other hand, the North African giants need just one more point to secure their fifth appearance in the finals, after their setbacks in 2018 and 2022.
Somalia’s wait for World Cup participation continues, but the Ocean Stars aim for a major scalp on Thursday when they face the Group G leaders.
Yusuf Ali Nur’s team are the lowest-ranked nation in the section, having lost seven of their eight matches in qualification.
The sixth-placed team’s three goals emphasise their struggles in attack, while conceding 16 highlights their defensive fragility.
With the Somalians’ final ‘home’ game in World Cup qualifying scheduled to be played in Algeria, that heightens fans’ pessimism for the Ocean Stars.
Algeria do not suffer from such issues in their qualification section, losing just once in eight games and needing only one more positive result to secure an automatic ticket to the United States.
A shock 2-1 defeat on home soil by Guinea remains the Fennecs’ only loss so far. Since then, the Desert Warriors have collected 13 points out of 15.
Algeria might only require a point to secure their World Cup qualification, but they should comfortably earn all three to join other North African giants in securing a place at the tournament.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Liberia host Namibia at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium
Liberia will aim to keep their faint hopes of a playoff spot alive when they host Namibia at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium on Thursday in Group H of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The Lone Stars sit in a tightly contested group where Tunisia have already secured top spot, leaving the remaining teams battling a possible playoff chance.
Liberia currently occupy third place with 11 points from eight matches, scoring nine goals and conceding the same number.
Their campaign has been a mixed one, marked by three wins, two draws, and three defeats – though they were beneficiaries of a FIFA ruling that awarded them a 3-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea for fielding an ineligible player.
With just two games left in the qualifiers, Liberia know that maximum points will be crucial if they are to overtake second-placed Namibia or fend off pressure from Malawi and Equatorial Guinea below them.
Namibia, meanwhile, enter the tie in second place with 15 points from eight matches.
The Brave Warriors have been solid throughout the campaign, losing just once while winning four and drawing three.
They have conceded only four goals – while netting 12, just one short of leaders Tunisia.
Their recent results include a narrow 2-1 defeat to Malawi and a comfortable 3-0 win over Sao Tome & Principe.
Namibia have a slight historical edge over their hosts, having beaten Liberia 2-1 in a 1997 World Cup qualifier while losing once in their five meetings.
Liberia have shown improved spirit in recent outings, but their defensive lapses could prove costly against a Namibia side that possesses greater attacking balance and discipline.
With Namibia’s strong defensive record, the visitors might just edge this contest to strengthen their grip on second place.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Botswana, Uganda faceoff in Group G
Botswana‘s diminishing chances of finishing as runners-up in Group G of World Cup 2026 qualifying face its next challenge against second-placed Uganda on Thursday at Obed Itani Chilume Stadium.
The Cranes, who could still mathematically overtake Algeria, are four points behind the North Africans; they must at least match Mozambique’s results in the final two rounds and hope Guinea do not secure maximum points in that period to secure a possible second-round place to compete for Africa’s slot at the inter-confederation playoffs.
Botswana enter the ninth round of World Cup qualifying this week, finding themselves in a difficult position of having no chance to qualify automatically but possessing a slim opportunity to finish as runners-up.
Nevertheless, those prospects are even more unlikely, given that the Zebras are six points behind Uganda and Mozambique — both with 15 points — and must win their final two fixtures while hoping neither of the other nations gain a point, as they cannot accrue more than 15 points.
Consequently, Morena Ramoreboli’s team might as well accept that their slim hopes are over before the final two games, although finishing qualifying with good results could motivate them as they conclude the series.
However, a three-match losing streak against Thursday’s opponents, which highlights their inferior head-to-head record, means fans will enter this week’s match with Uganda with minimal optimism..
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Guinea travel away to face Mozambique
Third hosts fourth in the penultimate round of World Cup qualifying on Thursday, when Mozambique welcome Guinea to Estadio do Zimpeto, aiming to strengthen their prospects of finishing as runners-up in Group G.
While toppling Algeria remains a possibility, Chiquinho Conde’s team need a miracle as the North Africans are favourites to secure their place at next year’s finals against Somalia, leaving the third-placed side to realistically compete with Uganda for second place.
Mozambique enter the ninth round of World Cup qualifying needing a miracle to finish top of their section, but they are aware that a playoff spot is a realistic goal.
With four points separating the Mambas from Algeria at the top of Group G, and six points still to play for, a major collapse by the North African team would be necessary to give Conde’s squad any chance of securing the guaranteed spot in the United States.
Considering the unlikelihood of that happening, Os Mambas can still aim for the next best outcome: finishing strongly to be one of the four best runners-up across the nine groups, thus progressing to the second round and competing for Africa’s place in the inter-confederation playoff.
While that route offers limited certainty, the Mambas prefer it to finishing outside the top two in their section, especially after a positive qualifying campaign so far.
Three of Mozambique’s five victories have been in Maputo, where they remain unbeaten since losing 2-0 to Algeria in November 2023.
That three-match winning streak arguably makes Conde’s men favourites against fourth-placed Guinea, who have lost two of their four away matches in qualifying.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
FIXTURES
Group F
Group G
Group H
