South Africa and Ghana secure Africa's FIFA Intercontinental Playoff spots

South Africa and Ghana have secured Africa’s two remaining inter‑continental playoff places for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after Nigeria and Ivory Coast were eliminated in the final round of the CAF qualification campaign. In a decisive two‑legged tie, Ghana defeated Ivory Coast 2‑1 on aggregate, while South Africa edged Nigeria 3‑2 on aggregate, leaving the two African teams with a chance to compete against a partner from another confederation for a berth in the tournament in the United States.

The CAF qualification process saw 54 teams vying for 13 direct slots in the World Cup, with the remaining two spots awarded through inter‑continental playoffs. Nigeria’s loss to South Africa came after a 2‑1 defeat in the first leg and a 1‑0 loss in the second, while Ivory Coast’s 1‑0 defeat to Ghana in the first leg and a 1‑1 draw in the second sealed their exit. Both South Africa and Ghana now face the prospect of playing a single‑match playoff against a team from either CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, AFC, or OFC, with the winner earning a place in the 2026 finals.

With the inter‑continental playoff spots now in hand, South Africa and Ghana will prepare to face their respective opponents in the coming months. Their success in the CAF qualifiers underscores the competitiveness of African football on the world stage, and the teams will look to build on their achievements as they aim for a spot in the 2026 World Cup.