2018 World Cup logo

The first round of Africa’s qualification tournament for the 2018 World Cup will be played over the next week and a half, with 26 teams battling for the right to advance a step closer to the dream of qualifying for the tournament.

In addition, there are a number of high-profile friendly matches featuring the likes of reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions Ivory Coast, top-ranked side Algeria, Nigeria, Tunisia, Morocco and South Africa amongst others.

The World Cup action begins with seven fixtures spread across Wednesday and Thursday, with the likes of Burundi, Kenya and Ethiopia looking to take a strong step toward the next round in their respective ties against Seychelles, Mauritius and Sao Tome e Principe.

Thursday will also see a couple of intriguing international friendlies, with Nigeria and DR Congo set to lick horns, while South Africa take on Costa Rica away from home.

The weekend’s action features high-profile friendlies on Friday, with Burkina Faso taking on Mali, Tunisia hosting Gabon, Algeria tackling Guinea and AFCON champs Ivory Coast battling Morocco in Agadir.

The final first-leg matches for the first round World Cup qualifying ties continue on Saturday, while several second-leg matches will be played on Sunday, when there are also intriguing friendlies: Egypt v Zambia and Nigeria v Cameroon.

The return leg matches for the first round qualifiers will be wrapped up with 10 fixtures across the continent on Tuesday, while there will also be a high-profile friendly between Algeria and Senegal.

African World Cup qualifier/friendly fixtures for the next nine days:

All times CAT and courtesy of FIFA’s official website


Wednesday 7 October

2018 World Cup qualifiers, first leg:

Seychelles v Burundi, 14h30

Tanzania v Malawi, 15h00

South Sudan v Mauritania, 15h30

Mauritius v Kenya, 16h30


Thursday 8 October

2018 World Cup qualifiers, first leg:

Comoros v Lesotho, 14h00

Sao Tome e Principe v Ethiopia, 17h00

Liberia v Guinea-Bissau, 18h00


International Friendlies:

Costa Rica v South Africa, 04h00

Nigeria v DR Congo, TBA


Friday 9 October

2018 World Cup qualifiers, first leg:

Somalia v Niger, 14h30

Djibouti v Swaziland, 15h00

Gambia v Namibia, 19h00


International Friendlies:

Burkina Faso v Mali, TBA

Tunisia v Gabon, 19h00

Algeria v Guinea, 19h00

Morocco v Ivory Coast, 20h00



Saturday 10 October

2018 World Cup qualifiers, first leg:

Central African Republic v Madagascar, 13h30

Eritrea v Botswana, 15h00

Chad v Sierra Leone, 16h30

Sunday 11 October
 
2018 World Cup qualifiers, second leg:

Malawi v Tanzania, 14h00

Ethiopia v Sao Tome e Principe, 15h00

Kenya v Mauritius, 15h00


International Friendlies:

Egypt v Zambia, TBA

Nigeria v Cameroon, TBA


Monday 12 October


International Friendlies:

Morocco v Guinea, 20h00

Gabon v Congo DR, 20h00



Tuesday 13 October



2018 World Cup qualifiers, second leg:

Madagascar v Central African Republic, 13h30

Burundi v Seychelles, 15h00

Sierra Leone v Chad, 16h00

Namibia v Gambia, 17h00

Niger v Somalia, 17h00

Guinea-Bissau v Liberia, 18h00

Lesotho v Comoros, 18h00

Botswana v Eritrea, 19h00

Swaziland v Djibouti, 19h00

Mauritania v South Sudan, 19h00


International Friendlies:

Algeria v Senegal, 21h30

Honduras v South Africa, 00h00

Canada v Ghana, 01h00








 
Wednesday 14 October

International Friendlies:

Congo v Benin, TBA