• CAF qualifying resumes on 5 June 2024

• Eight nations looking to continue perfect campaigns

• Read on for all you need to know about results, fixtures, form and more

After a six-month break in play, CAF qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 26™ is set to resume next month. Matchdays 3 and 4 get under way on 5 June, with everything still to play for across the nine groups.

Current Group F leaders Côte d'Ivoire memorably won their third CAF Africa Cup of Nations in January and are one of eight teams looking to continue their perfect start to qualifying. At the other end of the spectrum, 21 sides are still searching for their first win, with nine of those on the hunt for a maiden point.

Here, FIFA runs the rule over CAF qualifying ahead of its resumption.

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1. Egypt | 6 pts 2. Burkina Faso | 4 pts 3. Guinea-Bissau | 4 pts 4. Sierra Leone | 1 pt 5. Ethiopia | 1 pt 6. Djibouti | 0 pts

All kick-off times are local

5 June Sierra Leone v Djibouti El Jadida, 17:00

6 June Guinea-Bissau v Ethiopia Bissau, 16:00 Egypt v Burkina Faso Cairo, 22:00

9 June Djibouti v Ethiopia El Jadida, 17:00

10 June Guinea-Bissau v Egypt Bissau, 16:00 Burkina Faso v Sierra Leone Bamako, 19:00

Egypt and Burkina Faso endured last-16 exits at the AFCON, while Guinea-Bissau finished bottom of Group A. Ethiopia recently won and lost one friendly apiece with Lesotho, while Sierra Leone fell to Côte d'Ivoire and Morocco in January friendlies. Djibouti, meanwhile, saw their 2025 AFCON journey end in a play-off defeat to Liberia in March.

All three sides that travelled to the AFCON opted to change their coach post-tournament. Egypt's winless campaign saw them part ways with Rui Vitoria and appoint Hossan Hassam, while Brama Traore replaced Hubert Velud in the Burkina Faso hot-seat. Luis Boa Morte, who had been working as Fulham's assistant, has now taken charge of Guinea-Bissau following the Premier League season's conclusion, replacing Baciro Cande.

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1. Senegal | 4 pts 2. Sudan | 4 pts 3. Congo DR | 3 pts 4. Togo | 2 pts 5. Mauritania | 1 pt 6. South Sudan | 1 pt

5 June Togo v South Sudan Lome, 16:00

6 June Mauritania v Sudan Nouakchott, 16:00 Senegal v Congo DR Diamniadio, 19:00

9 June Mauritania v Senegal Nouakchott, 16:00 Congo DR v Togo Kinshasa, 17:00

11 June South Sudan v Sudan Juba, 14:00

Congo DR reached the semi-finals at the AFCON, while Senegal and Mauritania were eliminated in the last 16. Sudan, for their part, recorded a win and a loss apiece in friendlies against Tanzania, and Togo defeated Niger and drew with Libya. South Sudan, meanwhile, came through their AFCON play-off duel with São Tomé and Príncipe on away goals.

No team in Group B has changed their coach since the most recent round of qualifiers.

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1. Rwanda | 4 pts 2. South Africa | 3 pts 3. Nigeria | 2 pts 4. Lesotho | 2 pts 5. Zimbabwe | 2 pts 6. Benin | 1 pt

6 June Benin v Rwanda Abidjan, 19:00

7 June Zimbabwe v Lesotho Johannesburg, 15:00 Nigeria v South Africa Uyo, 20:00

10 June Benin v Nigeria Abidjan, 16:00

11 June South Africa v Zimbabwe Mangaung, 18:00 Lesotho v Rwanda Durban, 18:00

Nigeria reached the AFCON final, defeating South Africa in the semi-finals, before losing to the hosts. During the March friendlies, Rwanda drew with Botswana and defeated Madagascar, Lesotho registered one win, one draw and two losses from their 2024 friendlies, Zimbabwe defeated Zambia and lost to Kenya, and Benin drew with Côte d'Ivoire and lost to Senegal.

Zimbabwe coach Baltemar Brito departed his position last December and has been succeeded by Jairos Tapera on an interim basis. Despite reaching the AFCON final, Jose Peseiro departed as coach of Nigeria and was succeeded by his assistant – Super Eagles legend Finidi George.

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1. Cameroon | 4 pts 2. Cabo Verde | 4 pts 3. Libya | 4 pts 4. Angola | 2 pts 5. Mauritius | 1 pt 6. Eswatini | 0 pts

6 June Libya v Mauritius Benina, 18:00

7 June Angola v Eswatini Luanda, 17:00

8 June Cameroon v Cabo Verde Yaounde, 14:00

11 June Cabo Verde v Libya Praia, 15:00 Mauritius v Eswatini Saint Pierre, 17:00 Angola v Cameroon Luanda, 20:00

Cabo Verde and Angola made it to the AFCON quarter-finals before losing to Nigeria and South Africa respectively, while Bafana Bafana also eliminated Cameroon in the last 16. Eswatini came through their AFCON play-off with a 5-2 win over Somalia, but Mauritius lost 3-1 to Chad. Libya, meanwhile, are unbeaten in five friendlies this year.

The only change in Group D came in the Cameroon dugout, where Rigobert Song departed his post after two years in charge.

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1. Morocco | 3 pts 2. Zambia | 3 pts 3. Niger | 3 pts 4. Tanzania | 3 pts 5. Congo | 0 pts

Eritrea withdrew from qualifying in November 2023 prior to Matchday one, meaning Group E consists of five sides.

6 June Congo v Niger Kinshasa, 17:00

7 June Morocco v Zambia Agadir, 20:00

11 June Zambia v Tanzania Ndola, 15:00 Congo v Morocco Kinshasa, 17:00

Morocco exited the AFCON with a last-16 defeat to South Africa, while Zambia and Tanzania drew 1-1 in Group F, although neither advanced to the knockout phase. In friendly action, nothing could separate Congo and Gabon, while Niger failed to win any of their three games.

Former Morocco goalkeeper Ezzaki Badou took over as Niger boss in December. Tanzania, for their part, sacked coach Adel Amrouche during their AFCON campaign, with Hemed Suleiman promoted from assistant on an interim basis.

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1. Côte d'Ivoire | 6 pts 2. Gabon | 6 pts 3. Kenya | 3 pts 4. Burundi | 3 pts 5. The Gambia | 0 pts 6. Seychelles | 0 pts

7 June Kenya v Burundi Lilongwe, 15:00 Côte d'Ivoire v Gabon Korhogo, 19:00

8 June The Gambia v Seychelles Berkane, 17:00

11 June Kenya v Côte d'Ivoire Lilongwe, 15:00 Gabon v The Gambia Franceville, 20:00 Seychelles v Burundi Berkane, 20:00

Despite a rocky start to the AFCON, which led to a change of coach during the group stage, Côte d'Ivoire came through to win their third title. The Gambia were less successful, finishing bottom of Group C. Kenya won both of their recent friendlies, but Gabon and Burundi failed to record a victory across theirs. Seychelles are yet to return to action.

After Jean-Louis Gasset resigned, former assistant Emerse Fae sensationally lead Les Éléphants to AFCON glory and has since been handed the job on a permanent basis. Meanwhile, the experienced Tom Saintfiet left his role with the Gambia and was replaced by Northern Irishman Johnathan McKinstry in May.

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1. Algeria | 6 pts 2. Botswana | 3 pts 3. Guinea | 3 pts 4. Uganda | 3 pts 5. Mozambique | 3 pts 6. Somalia | 0 pts

6 June Algeria v Guinea Baraki, 20:00

7 June Mozambique v Somalia Maputo, 15:00 Uganda v Botswana Kampala, 19:00

10 June Somalia v Botswana Maputo, 15:00 Uganda v Algeria Kampala, 17:00 Guinea v Mozambique El Jadida, 20:00

Guinea saw their AFCON adventure end in a valiant quarter-final defeat to Congo DR, as disastrous campaigns for Algeria and Mozambique saw them finish bottom of their respective groups. Botswana have drawn three friendly matches this year, while Uganda won, drew and lost one. Somalia were defeated by Eswatini in their AFCON qualifier.

Following their AFCON exit, Algeria parted company with Djamel Belmadi and appointed former Switzerland boss Vladimir Petkovic.

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1. Tunisia | 6 pts 2. Namibia | 6 pts 3. Malawi | 3 pts 4. Liberia | 3 pts 5. Equatorial Guinea | 0 pts* 6. São Tomé and Príncipe | 0 pts

5 June Namibia v Liberia Johannesburg, 18:00 Tunisia v Equatorial Guinea Rades, 20:00

6 June Malawi v São Tomé and Príncipe Lilongwe, 15:00

9 June São Tomé and Príncipe v Liberia Oujda, 14:00 Namibia v Tunisia Johannesburg, 19:00

10 June Equatorial Guinea v Malawi Malabo, 14:00

While Namibia enjoyed a successful campaign at the AFCON by reaching the last 16, Tunisia crashed out in the group stage. Liberia came through their AFCON qualifiers in March against Djibouti, while São Tomé and Príncipe were defeated by South Sudan. Malawi lost both of their March friendlies.

*On 24 May 2024, following a verdict made by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee in relation to the ineligibility of Emilio Nsue Lopez, Equatorial Guinea's opening two FIFA World Cup 2026™ qualifiers were declared lost by forfeit.

Tunisia boss Jalel Kadri resigned from his post following the AFCON, with U-20 coach Montasser Louhichi coming in as caretaker.

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1. Comoros | 6 pts 2. Mali | 4 pts 3. Madagascar | 3 pts 4. Ghana | 3 pts 5. Central African Republic | 1 pt 6. Chad | 0 pts

5 June Central African Republic v Chad Oujda, 17:00

6 June Mali v Ghana Bamako, 19:00

7 June Madagascar v Comoros Nasrec, 18:00

10 June Ghana v Central African Republic Kumasi, 19:00

11 June Madagascar v Mali Nasrec, 15:00 Chad v Comoros Oujda, 17:00

Mali were eliminated in the quarter-finals by the eventual winners, while a late collapse sent Ghana home in the group stage. Comoros went undefeated in their March friendlies, as Madagascar recorded a win and a defeat in theirs. Central African Republic won both of their FIFA Series matches, while Chad defeated Mauritius in AFCON qualifying.

After less than a year in charge of Ghana, Chris Hughton was sacked in January and replaced by former boss Otto Addo, who coached the Black Stars at Qatar 2022.