World Cup Qualifying Thursday preview: Mali in a must-win match; Lusophone nations look to level up
- Andrew Olsson
- Mar 19
- 5 min read
A full slate of nine matches awaits us on Thursday in 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying from the African region and several matches have plenty at stake as teams reach the halfway point of their campaigns. Read more below about all the matches and which teams can move up in their groups.
Group D
Cape Verde vs Mauritius- Praia, Cape Verde (16:00 GMT)
Libya vs Angola- Benghazi, Libya (19:00 GMT)
Group D Table
GP | Points | |
Cameroon | 5 | 9 |
Libya | 4 | 7 |
Cape Verde | 4 | 7 |
Angola | 4 | 6 |
Mauritius | 4 | 4 |
Eswatini | 5 | 1 |
What the oddsmakers say
Libya win: 34.7%
Angola win: 34.7%
Draw: 30.6%
Cape Verde win: 84.8%
Mauritius win: 5.3%
Draw: 9.9%
Cameroon's failure to win against Eswatini on Wednesday gives a massive boost to the hopes of Libya, Cape Verde and Angola who are all more than capable of finishing as group winners. Thursday's sees a crucial match where hosts Libya face an Angola team who are realizing their potential in African competition but need to find their shooting boots.
With only two goals in four matches, the Palancas Negras are missing goal specialist Mabululu due to suspension, requiring a good performance from whomever coach Pedro Gonçalves selects between M'Bala Nzola or Zini. Hosts Libya are also a team that can struggle to score, making Thursday's clash one that is likely to end with a one-goal victory or a draw.
In windy Cape Verde, the Blue Sharks feature plenty of experience and quality in their squad making them big favorites to defeat Mauritius. The Dodos of Mauritius feature Greek-based defender Lindsay Rose to anchor the defense but can no longer call upon the services of talismanic former Ipswich Town midfielder Kevin Bru following his retirement.
Group I: Comoros vs Mali- Berkane, Morocco (21:00 GMT)
Group I Table
GP | Points | |
Madagascar | 5 | 10 |
Comoros | 4 | 9 |
Ghana | 4 | 9 |
Mali | 4 | 5 |
CA Republic | 5 | 4 |
Chad | 4 | 0 |
What the oddsmakers say
Comoros win: 15.4%
Mali win: 60.6%
Draw: 24%
Comoros are once again not fancied by the odds but the Coelacanths will not care one bit. The islanders are situated in Berkane, Morocco where they enjoyed great success in 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying and are fully established as a team to take very seriously in African football.
Mali are in need of wins but are in strong form under Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet. Les Aigles only conceded once during their successful 2025 AFCON qualifying campaign and look rejuvenated to make an assault on the top of Group I. It is up to Comoros to stop the Malian momentum, something they are more than capable of doing but Stefano Cusin's team must block out the recent media praise and prove their ability once again on the pitch.
Group F
The Gambia vs Kenya- Abidjan, Ivory Coast (19:00 GMT)
Gabon vs Seychelles- Franceville, Gabon (19:00 GMT)
Group F Table (4 matches played)
Points | |
Ivory Coast | 10 |
Gabon | 9 |
Burundi | 7 |
Kenya | 5 |
Gambia | 3 |
Seychelles | 0 |
What the oddsmakers say
The Gambia win: 50%
Kenya win: 24.4%
Draw: 25.6%
Gabon win: 97.1%
Seychelles win: 2%
Draw: 0.9%
It is a "put up or shut up" match for Kenya and The Gambia who will be staring down early elimination with a defeat on Thursday. Both teams have shown potential but in Group F, leaders Ivory Coast have shown little sign of dropping points and Gabon are all but guaranteed a victory against minnows Seychelles.
South African legendary striker Benni McCarthy steps into the pressure cooker of coaching in African national team football with Kenya where results are needed immediately. Giant striker Michael Olunga will be counted on to deliver the goals for the Harambee Stars who typically put out a competent defense.
Gambia's Scorpions will count on attacking stars Musa Barrow and Yankuba Minteh who need to help their team overcome a heartbreaking elimination from 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying late last year. Goals are likely in this clash while they are virtually guaranteed in Franceville where hosts Gabon are highly favored to run up the score on hapless Seychelles (22 goals conceded in 4 matches).
Group G: Mozambique vs Uganda- Cairo, Egypt (13:00 GMT)
Group G Table (4 matches played)
Points | |
Algeria | 9 |
Mozambique | 9 |
Botswana | 6 |
Guinea | 6 |
Uganda | 6 |
Somalia | 0 |
What the oddsmakers say
Mozambique win: 34.7%
Uganda win: 36.4%
Draw: 28.9%
This group is wide open. Algeria is expected to take control as the group leader but below Les Verts sits a group of teams who are all capable of pushing for qualification. Both Mozambique and Uganda qualified for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and now have their eyes on the ultimate prize, a first-ever qualification for the World Cup finals.
Uganda coach Paul Put set a target of winning away from home and the Cranes will not have to deal with a formidable pro-Mozambique crowd. Outside of the suspension of attacker Rogers Mato, Uganda have a strong team anchored by the powerful midfield presence of captain Khalid Aucho.
But the Mambas of Mozambique, despite missing a couple of veteran leaders, are a well balanced and discipline team who also possess the playmaking abilities of Sporting Lisbon attacker Geny Catamo. Uganda will have to defend well and pick their moments to attack against a Mambas team who are consistent and solid under coach Chiquinho Conde.
Group H: Malawi vs Namibia- Lilongwe, Malawi (16:00 GMT)
Group A: Sierra Leone vs Guinea-Bissau- Paynesville, Liberia (16:00 GMT)
Group C: Zimbabwe vs Benin- Durban, South Africa (16:00 GMT)
Elsewhere, Namibia will attempt to keep pace with Group H leaders Tunisia who earned a hard fought victory in Liberia. Peter Shalulile leads the Brave Warriors against a Malawi team who gained some positive momentum with victories at end of their failed 2025 AFCON qualifying campaign as well as in African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifying.
A Sierra Leone team looking towards the future with many European-based stars absent face Guinea-Bissau in Liberia. Defensive prodigy Juma Bah is expected to make his senior national team debut but the Leone Stars will certainly be the underdogs against Os Djurtus, who possess a squad filled with experience and a battering ram of a striker with Everton's Beto involved.
Zimbabwe have a must-win match against Benin in Group C after a disastrous start to World Cup qualifying. However, the Warriors have brought all their weapons with veteran attacker Knowledge Musona back in the squad as well as a rejuvenated Khama Billiat. Watch out for Zimbabwe who since the poor start in World Cup qualifying have had a successful 2025 AFCON qualifying campaign which included the emergence of tricky forward Tawanda Maswanhise.
