DAR ES SALAAM, Sept. 5 -- AS the CAF qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup resume, the landscape across the nine groups is beginning to take shape, with pivotal fixtures in early September likely to define the continents representation in North America.

Africas qualifying format remains straightforward: nine group winners qualify automatically for the World Cup, while the four best runners-up will enter CAF play-offs for a place in the inter-confederation tournament.

Group A: Egypt in control, Burkina Faso chasing

Egypt lead the way with a perfect record and can take a significant step towards qualification with wins against Ethiopia and Burkina Faso. The latter remain in contention but must secure maximum points to keep their hopes a...