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CAF Round-up: Senegal and Ivory Coast secure World Cup spots

It was a busy day of action as more nations secured their places in next summer's World Cup. We take you through the highlights and the Ligue 1 McDonald's players involved on the African continent.
L. ENTWISTLE
Published on 10/15/2025 at 11:00
3-minute read
Strasbourg's Guéla Doué celebrates the Ivory Coast's World Cup qualification.

It was a busy day of action as more nations secured their places in next summer's World Cup. We take you through the highlights and the Ligue 1 McDonald's players involved on the African continent.

Senegal and the Ivory Coast qualify

Two more heavy-weights of the African game secured their places in the World Cup on Tuesday: Senegal and the Ivory Coast. The former did so comfortably, beating Mauritania 4-0. There were plenty of familiar faces on the scoreline.

Sadio Mané got his big break in Europe at Metz and he netted a brace. Former Marseille forward Iliman Ndiaye got on the scoresheet, as did Habib Diallo, who made a return to Ligue 1 McDondald's this summer, re-joining Metz. There was also an assist for Ismaila Sarr , another former OM forward, who now plies his trade at Crystal Palace.

The Ivory Coast also secured their spot in the competition, which will be held in the USA, Canada, and Mexico next summer. They swatted aside Kenya (3-0). Strasbourg defender Guéla Doué, brother of Désiré, who represents the France national team, was on the teamsheet for the Ivory Coast, whilst there were plenty of familiar former Ligue 1 McDonald's faces, including former Nice forward Evann Guessand.

Gouiri involved in Algeria win

Senegal and the Ivory Coast will join Algeria at the World Cup. Their spot was secured earlier in the international break, and then continued their fine form with a win over Uganda. Les Fennecs are well-represented in Ligue 1 McDonald's. Lille duo Aissa Mandi and Nabil Bentaleb, Nice's Hicham Boudaoui, Paris FC's Ilan Kebbal, and OM's Amine Gouiri were all involved in the 2-1 win on Tuesday. 

The latter was even involved in the action that won the match for Algeria, earning a penalty after a collision with the Uganda goalkeeper. The Marseille forward was injured in the incident and is unlikely to feature in Les Phocéens' Ligue 1 McDonald's fixture against Le Havre this weekend. 

Hakimi, Mukau, Simon,  all decisive

Elsewhere, LOSC's Ngal'ayel Mukau was involved in DR Congo's 1-0 win over Sudan, and he got the assist for what was the only goal of the game. Paris FC's Moses Simon was heavily involved in Nigeria's 4-0 win over Benin, registering two assists. It was a former player from France's top-flight, Victor Osimhen, who was the difference-maker, with the former Lille forward netting a hat-trick.

And finally, Morocco, another team already qualified for the World Cup, earned a slender 1-0 win over Congo, with PSG defender Achraf Hakimi setting up the only goal of the game. 

Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, the Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia are all qualified for next summer's World Cup.

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