The CAF group phase of qualifiers for the 2022 Men’s World Cup began with 39 matches played WED 01-TUE 07 SEP 2021.

Of the forty teams in action, only four – Libya, Nigeria, Senegal, and Tunisia – started off with two victories. Libya defeated Gabon 2-1 and Angola 1-0, with two pivotal matches against Group F favourites Egypt coming up next month.

Sadio MANÉ scored in each of Senegal’s matches – a 2-0 win over Togo and a 3-1 victory over Congo – to lead his team atop Group H. Meanwhile, Algeria’s unbeaten streak has now reached 29 matches, a CAF record, after an 8-0 win over Djibouti and a 1-1 draw with Burkina Faso. The latter result leaves the Fennec Foxes and the Stallions level atop Group A.

One match, Guinea-Morocco in Group I, could not be played due to the security situation resulting from a military coup in Guinea. The makeup date is still to be confirmed.

The group phase concludes on TUE 16 NOV 2021, at which point the top team in each group advances to the playoffs. They will be drawn into five pairs, with the winners over two legs qualifying for Qatar 2022.