[1/2]Football Soccer – World Pleasant – Morocco v Brazil – Grand Stade de Tanger, Tangier, Morocco – March 25, 2023 Morocco crew huddle sooner than the fit REUTERS/Juan Medina/Record Photograph
July 13 (Reuters) – International Cup semi-finalists Morocco had been passed a gradual trail to the 2026 match in the US, Mexico and Canada after the draw used to be made for the African qualifiers in Abidjan on Thursday.
The highest crew in each and every of the 9 teams, which each and every include six international locations, qualify routinely for the International Cup.
The 4 very best runners-up will input an African playoff level, the place the winners will characteristic within the inter-confederation playoffs to be held in March 2026.
It manner Africa is assured 9 puts on the expanded 48-team finals, with a tenth facet most likely added by means of the playoffs.
Morocco had been drawn with Zambia, Congo-Brazzaville, Tanzania, Niger and Eritrea, and might be heavy favourites to complete best of the pool.
They’d an exhilarating run to the International Cup semi-finals in Qatar final 12 months, the primary African facet ever to make it to that level of the worldwide match, and completed in fourth position.
African champions Senegal face a more difficult highway with Democratic Republic of Congo of their crew and a doubtlessly difficult away day in Mauritania. Additionally they meet 2006 International Cup finalists Togo and the duo of Sudan and South Sudan.
Nigeria and South Africa might each and every be wincing at their draw after being paired in combination, together with Benin, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Lesotho. Nigeria and South Africa have a long-standing sour competition and won’t fancy going through each and every different.
There may be a mighty west African conflict in Team I as Mali and Ghana meet. They should additionally play difficult Madagascar, Central African Republic, Comoros and Chad.
Tunisia had been to 5 of the final seven International Cups and can fancy their possibilities once more with a very easy taking a look draw. They meet Equatorial Guinea, Namibia, Malawi, Liberia and Sao Tome e Principe. There will have to be few alarms for them.
Algeria neglected out at the 2022 finals in heartbreaking model with a last-gasp playoff loss to Cameroon, however might be assured of having it proper first time as they conflict with Guinea, Uganda, Mozambique, Botswana and Somalia.
The primary two fit days within the teams might be performed on Nov. 13-21, 2023 and the final two on Oct. 6-14, 2025. The African playoff level is scheduled for Nov. 10-18, 2025.
Africa International Cup qualifying teams:
Team A: Egypt, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Djibouti
Team B: Senegal, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mauritania, Togo, Sudan, South Sudan
Team C: Nigeria, South Africa, Benin, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Lesotho
Team D: Cameroon, Cape Verde, Angola, Libya, Eswatini, Mauritius
Team E: Morocco, Zambia, Congo, Tanzania, Niger, Eritrea
Team F: Ivory Coast, Gabon, Kenya, The Gambia, Burundi, Seychelles
Team G: Algeria, Guinea, Uganda, Mozambique, Botswana, Somalia
Team H: Tunisia, Equatorial Guinea, Namibia, Malawi, Liberia, Sao Tome e Principe
Team I: Mali, Ghana, Madagascar, Central African Republic, Comoros, Chad.
Reporting via Nick Mentioned; Enhancing via Ken Ferris
Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Consider Ideas.
