2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF Group C
Association football competition in Africa
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The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF Group C was a CAF qualifying group for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The group contained Nigeria, South Africa, Benin, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Lesotho.
The group winners, South Africa, directly qualified for the World Cup, and the runners-up, Nigeria, qualified for the second round to compete for a place in the inter-confederation play-offs.[1][2]
Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa |
10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 15 | 9 | +6 | 18 | 2026 FIFA World Cup | — | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–3[a] | 3–0 | 3–1 | |
| 2 | Nigeria |
10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 15 | 8 | +7 | 17 | Second round | 1–1 | — | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | |
| 3 | Benin |
10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 11 | +1 | 17 | 0–2 | 2–1 | — | 4–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | ||
| 4 | Lesotho |
10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 12 | −3 | 12 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 0–0 | — | 0–1 | 1–0 | ||
| 5 | Rwanda |
10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 9 | −4 | 11 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | — | 0–0 | ||
| 6 | Zimbabwe |
10 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 12 | −7 | 5 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–1 | — |
- The South Africa v Lesotho match, which originally finished as a 2–0 win for South Africa, was later awarded as a 3–0 win to Lesotho as South Africa fielded an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena.[3]
Matches
Referee: Mehrez Malki (Tunisia)
Referee: Mahmood Ismail (Sudan)
| Rwanda | 2–0 | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Referee: Amin Mohamed Omar (Egypt)
Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan (Ivory Coast)
Attendance: 3,600
Referee: Dahane Beida (Mauritania)
Orlando Stadium, Johannesburg (South Africa)
Referee: Thulani Sibandze (Eswatini)
| Nigeria | 1–1 | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Referee: Alhadi Allaou Mahamat (Chad)
Referee: Mohamed Maarouf Eid Mansour (Egypt)
Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban (South Africa)
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Bamlak Tessema Weyesa (Ethiopia)
| Benin | 0–2 | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan (Ivory Coast)
Attendance: 786
Referee: Dahane Beida (Mauritania)
Referee: Tsegay Mogos Teklu (Eritrea)
Referee: Alhadi Allaou Mahamat (Chad)
Orlando Stadium, Johannesburg (South Africa)
Referee: Abdou Abdel Mefire (Cameroon)
| South Africa | 1–1 | Nigeria |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Referee: Pierre Atcho (Gabon)
Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan (Ivory Coast)
Attendance: 3,417
Referee: Mahmood Ali Mahmood Ismail (Sudan)
Referee: Mohamed Maarouf Eid Mansour (Egypt)
Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane (South Africa)
Referee: Alhadi Allaou Mahamat (Chad)
Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban (South Africa)
Referee: Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria)
Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane (South Africa)
Attendance: 3,500
Referee: Tsegay Mogos Teklu (Eritrea)
Goalscorers
There were 60 goals scored in 30 matches, for an average of 2 goals per match.
6 goals
5 goals
2 goals
1 goal
Jodel Dossou- Andréas Hountondji
- Hassane Imourane
- Junior Olaitan
- Aiyegun Tosin
Lehlohonolo Fothoane- Motlomelo Mkwanazi
- Rethabile Rasethuntsa
- Jane Thabantso
Akor Adams- Semi Ajayi
- Tolu Arokodare
- Calvin Bassey
- Fisayo Dele-Bashiru
- Kelechi Iheanacho
- Raphael Onyedika
- Frank Onyeka
- William Troost-Ekong
Innocent Nshuti
Evidence Makgopa- Thalente Mbatha
- Relebohile Mofokeng
- Khuliso Mudau
- Mohau Nkota
- Iqraam Rayners
- Percy Tau
- Themba Zwane
Marshall Munetsi- Knowledge Musona
- Walter Musona
1 own goal
- William Troost-Ekong (against South Africa)
Discipline
A player was automatically suspended for the next match for the following infractions:[4]
- Receiving a red card (red card suspensions could be extended for serious infractions)
- Receiving two yellow cards in two different matches (yellow card suspensions were carried forward to further qualification rounds, but not the finals or any other future international matches)
The following suspensions were served during the group stage:
| Team | Player | Infraction(s) | Suspended for match(es) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benin | Dodo Dokou |  vs Rwanda (6 June 2024) vs South Africa (25 March 2025) | vs Zimbabwe (5 September 2025) |
| Lesotho | Motlomelo Mkhwanazi | vs Nigeria (16 November 2023) vs Benin (21 November 2023) | vs Zimbabwe (7 June 2024) |
| vs Rwanda (11 June 2024) vs Rwanda (25 March 2025) | vs South Africa (5 September 2025) | ||
| Rwanda | Djihad Bizimana | vs Lesotho (11 June 2024) vs Nigeria (21 March 2025) | vs Lesotho (25 March 2025) |
| South Africa | Teboho Mokoena | vs Benin (18 November 2023) vs Zimbabwe (11 June 2024) | vs Lesotho (21 March 2025)[a] |
| Zimbabwe | Andrew Mbeba | vs Rwanda (15 November 2023) vs Lesotho (7 June 2024) | vs South Africa (11 June 2024) |
| Marshall Munetsi | vs Lesotho (7 June 2024) vs Nigeria (25 March 2025) | vs Benin (5 September 2025) |
Notes
- The South Africa v Lesotho match originally finished as a 2–0 win for South Africa. However, on 29 September 2025, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee awarded the match as a 3–0 win to Lesotho as South Africa fielded the ineligible player Teboho Mokoena. The South African Football Association were also fined CHF 10,000.[3]
