BY Nadia Ntiamoah
Egypt’s dream of returning to the FIFA World Cup stage has been realized once again, with the Pharaohs becoming the third African nation to book their ticket to the 2026 edition after an emphatic 3–0 victory over Djibouti.
The qualification marks Egypt’s continuation of a proud footballing legacy, following in the footsteps of Morocco and Tunisia, who had already secured their places earlier in the campaign.
The qualification match, played on Tuesday, October 8, 2025, saw Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah lead from the front in a performance that epitomized leadership and class.
Mo Salah scored twice—first in the 14th minute and then in the 84th—to cap off a dominant display by the seven-time African champions.
The scoring had begun in the ninth minute through Ibrahim Abel, whose early strike set the tone for Egypt’s commanding performance.
With the victory, Egypt now sits comfortably atop Group A with 23 points, maintaining an unassailable lead with just one match remaining in the CAF qualification series for the 2026 World Cup.
Burkina Faso, Egypt’s closest competitor, trails by five points and occupies second place with 18 points, leaving them with only hopes of making it through to the intercontinental playoff route.
Egypt’s qualification further underscores their resurgence under coach Rui Vitória, who has guided the team through a near-perfect campaign
The Pharaohs have displayed remarkable consistency and discipline across nine qualification matches—winning seven, drawing two, and remaining unbeaten.
Their attack has been spearheaded by Salah, whose individual brilliance has yielded nine goals and three assists in the qualifiers, making him Africa’s leading scorer in the campaign so far.
This achievement carries historical weight for Egypt, a nation that has long been one of Africa’s football powerhouses.
After missing several tournaments in the early 2000s, Egypt ended a 28-year World Cup drought by qualifying for Russia 2018. Although their campaign then ended in the group stage, the current generation, led by Salah, has restored belief and dominance reminiscent of Egypt’s golden eras.
Egypt joins Morocco and Tunisia as the continent’s early qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The expanded format will see more African nations represented than ever before, reflecting the growing competitiveness of football on the continent.
While Salah is expected to be rested for Egypt’s final qualifier against Guinea-Bissau on October 12, the focus will now shift toward preparations for the World Cup itself.
Burkina Faso, meanwhile, will face Ethiopia with hopes of advancing as one of the best second-placed teams into the intercontinental playoffs.
For Egypt, however, the night in Djibouti will be remembered as a moment of triumph—a confirmation of their status among Africa’s elite and another chapter in Mohamed Salah’s storied international career.
The Pharaohs are back on the global stage, ready to represent Africa with pride in 2026.
