The Pharaohs of Egypt have confirmed their qualification from Group A after a 3-0 win over Djibouti in Morocco on Wednesday at the Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca, as Sierra Leone suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Burkina Faso in Liberia.
Ibrahim Adel and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah brace were enough as Egypt booked a berth at the FIFA World Cup 2026 with an easy 3-0 win over Djibouti in Casablanca that gave them top place in Group A with one game remaining.
The win secured their top spot with 23 points with a game to spare as they look to rest some players when they face Guinea-Bissau, who lost to Ethiopia 1-0 earlier on Wednesday.
Joining fellow North Africans Morocco and Tunisia, the Pharaohs become the third African team to claim their World Cup spot.
Though they have won a record seven Africa Cup of Nations titles, Egypt have battled to reproduce their continental performance in World Cup qualifying above appearing at football’s biggest event on only three prior occasions—in 1934, 1990 and 2018—years.
In Liberia, Sierra Leone began the match strongly, with Momoh Kamara and Blackburn Rovers winger Augustus Kargbo challenging the Burkina Faso defence in the opening 15 minutes at Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium in Liberia.
This means Burkina Faso climbed up to third in the best-placed teams with 18 points until other matchday nine matches in the qualifers played.
Sunderland’s Bertrand Traoré and Dango Ouattara were largely isolated as Sierra Leone maintained possession through passing football, creating a couple of half-chances. Notably, Kei Kamara’s volley in the 27th minute went wide.
However, Burkina Faso got the lead through Mohamed Zougrana (0 – 1) in the 43rd minute from a header following Sunderland’s Bertrand Traoré’s corner kick.
Sierra Leone’s Kei Kamara had the chance to equalise, but his attempt was saved by the Burkina Faso goalkeeper in the 44th minute, and the visitors nearly extended their lead when Bertrand Traoré touched a loose ball wide before halftime.
After the break, the hosts were more energetic, with Kei Kamara and Kargbo coming close to scoring as the visiting goalkeeper was kept busy. In the end, there were no more goals from either side.
Only group winners are assured of automatic qualification, while the top four second-placed teams will move on to next month’s African play-offs, where an additional team will secure a place in the intercontinental qualifiers.
90′ Substitution, Sierra Leone. Mohamed Turay replaces Nathaniel Jalloh.
82′ Substitution, Burkina Faso. Saïdou Simporé replaced Ismahila Ouédraogo.
82’ Substitution, Burkina Faso. Saïdou Simporé replaced Ismahila Ouédraogo.
82′ Substitution, Burkina Faso. Pierre Landry Kabore replaced Bertrand Traoré.
74′ Substitution, Burkina Faso. Josué Tiendrébéogo replaced Abdoul Ayindé.
74′ Substitution, Burkina Faso. Mohamed Ouédraogo replaced Mohamed Zougrana.
69′ Substitution, Sierra Leone. Alhassan Koroma replaced Abu Dumbuya.
69′Substitution, Sierra Leone. John Sesay replaced Sallieu Tarawallie.
69′ Substitution, Sierra Leone. Samuel Gandi replaced Kei Kamara.
