Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal respectively secured their 2026 World Cup tickets with superb performances on Tuesday, with emphatic wins in their last African qualifying group stage games.

While Côte d’Ivoire beat Kenya 3-0, staying atop Group F with 23 points in 10 games, Senegal overran Mauritania  4-0, topping Group C with 22 points.

For the Elephants of Côte d’Ivoire, Franck Kessie opened the scoring just eight minutes into the game.

Yan Diomande doubled their lead in the 54th minute, while Amad Diallo fired in the third goal that buried Kenya at Ebimpe Stadium.

Sadio Mane broke the deadlock for Senegal, netting a brace a few minutes into the first half break.

Iliman Ndiaye made it three for Senegal with a brilliant solo run in the 49th minute, before Habib Diallo delivered a clinical finish that made it four for the Lions of Teranga.

With Tuesday’s wins, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal respectively joined the exclusive club of African teams that have earned an automatic ticket to the World Cup 2026. Other African teams already qualified for the World Cup include Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco, Cape Verde, and South Africa.

Meanwhile, Nigeria, Cameroon, and a few other teams will slug it out in the play-offs scheduled for November to get a chance to play in the World Cup.