World Cup dreams dashed: Three African Nations exit 2026 Qualifiers early
Sao Tomé National football team
The road to the 2026 World Cup has already ended for three African nations after just six matchdays. Seychelles, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Chad have become the first casualties in the CAF qualifiers, their campaigns ending in disappointment.
Seychelles: record-Breaking struggles
The Pirates suffered the most brutal exit, conceding 30 goals across six defeats – including a historic 9-0 thrashing by Côte d’Ivoire. With a population of just 120,000 and a squad mostly drawn from their modest domestic league, the islanders never stood a chance.
São Tomé: Valiant but doomed
Ranked 189th in FIFA’s standings, the “Guerriers de l’Équateur” put up more resistance, narrowly losing to Liberia (0-1) in stoppage time. But like Seychelles, they played all matches away due to lacking an approved home stadium, ultimately falling short.
Chad: First to Fall
The Central African nation was the earliest elimination, failing to compete against Ghana, Mali, and Comoros. A squad reliant on local players and lower-tier European-based talents couldn’t stem the tide.
With four matchdays remaining, these teams now play only for pride while others battle for a coveted World Cup spot. For Africa’s minnows, the dream is over before it truly began.
