ABIDJAN (Cote d'Ivoire) - The last 24 games, played across three different African cities, provided a clearer idea of where the remaining 12 nations stand.
We witnessed upsets and extended winning streaks, as well as a team needing an extra five minutes to avoid a shocking result in the first round of the African qualifiers.
While there have been no significant changes at the top, a few resurgences have opened up this qualifying campaign even further.
It is worth noting at this point that the difference in points between the highest and lowest ranked teams is just three points.
Here's what we concluded about Volume 6 of the African Qualifiers:
12. DR Congo ⬇️1️⃣
Record: 2-4
For the second time in the current campaign, the Leopards lost two of their three games, leaving them with a 2–4 win–loss record. They have a lot of work to do if they are to catch up with the front-runners.
However, a stronger performance in the first round of Group F could turn their fortunes around.
11. Cape Verde ⬇️1️⃣
Record: 3-3
Cape Verde secured a second consecutive victory against Libya, but losses to South Sudan and hosts Cameroon in the second round of Group A mean they must find solutions quickly ahead of their Group E matches against Guinea, Tunisia and Nigeria.
Cape Verde are one of three teams in the second round with fewer than ten points, two behind the group leaders.
10. Egypt ⬇️1️⃣
Record: 3-3
For the first time in more than three decades, Egypt stunned Angola. The 79-73 win on Angolan soil was a morale-boosting and special occasion for the Pharaohs.
Less than 24 hours after their big win, they showed tremendous resolve in seeing off a determined Ugandan team. Veteran Amr Gendy stepped up when Egypt needed him most, leading the team with 20 points off the bench.
Egypt's 2–1 record in Luanda could not have come at a better time for a team chasing a direct World Cup qualification spot.
9. Tunisia ⬇️1️⃣
Record: 4-2
Tunisia arrived in Luanda knowing that they needed to perform better than in their home campaign in November, where they finished with two wins and one loss. They won two of their three games, including a resounding 61-50 victory over high-flying Guinea, which reaffirmed their legitimate ambitions to secure a place at the 2027 Qatar tournament.
Firas Lahiani and Omar Abada led the way for the Tunisians, and Coach Adel Tlatli's masterful game plans were crucial in neutralising Guinea's star players, Shannon Evans and Souleymane Boum Jr.
8. Nigeria ⬆️4️⃣
Record: 4-2
One of the biggest winners of the last 24 games was undoubtedly Nigeria, who arrived in Luanda with a renewed roster and head coach. They finished with a 3-0 record, which will give them a massive morale boost for the rest of the campaign. The D'Tigers won all three of their games, largely thanks to their terrific and aggressive defence. Every time they stepped onto the Arena Kilamba floor, they did so with desperation and everything worked according to plan. At this point, it's only fair to issue a warning: WATCH OUT, THE D'TIGERS ARE BACK!
7. South Sudan ↔️
Record: 4-2
The Bright Stars of South Sudan fielded an almost entirely different roster from the first round of the group stage and welcomed back coach Royal Ivey. However, their results remained the same: two wins against Cape Verde and Libya, and a second consecutive four-point loss to Cameroon. Former NBA player JT Thor was outstanding in the opening two games against Libya and Cape Verde, but was restricted to eight points in the crucial match against the hosts, Cameroon. This result saw the Bright Stars finish second in Group A.
6. Guinea ⬇️2️⃣
Record: 4-2
Guinea suffered a major setback in the second round of the group stage. They welcomed Alpha Diallo, one of the team's most talented players, who has enjoyed a successful career in European basketball. However, an injury prevented him from making a difference for a team that arrived in Luanda undefeated, but went on to win only one of their three games. Matters worsened for Guinea when their head coach, Nedeljko Asceric, stepped down after their 61–50 loss to Tunisia. They are now heading to the second round, where they will face South Sudan, Cameroon and Cape Verde, and many questions remain unanswered.
5. Angola ↔️
Record: 4-2
The Angolans had an almost unblemished home record, but this changed after their 79-73 loss to a determined Egyptian team in front of their home fans. This was one of the most shocking results of the last 24 games. While Angola may have left some wondering about their chances in the competition, they have Selton Miguel. The shooting guard has established himself as one of the team's two go-to players, sinking some crucial shots for the reigning African champions.
4. Cameroon ⬇️1️⃣
Record: 5-1
Beating South Sudan not once, but twice in the current campaign, says a lot about Cameroon's pedigree and ambition in the race for one of the five places available to African teams at the 2027 World Cup. The Indomitable Lions faced tough opposition in front of their home fans in Douala, but their 5-1 victory sent out a strong message ahead of the second round in Group E, where they will compete against Guinea, Nigeria and Tunisia.
3. Côte d'Ivoire ⬆️3️⃣
Record: 5-1
To find a larger losing margin for Côte d'Ivoire than their 85-72 defeat to hosts Senegal on the opening day of Group B on 2 July 2026, we had to go back as far as 26 February 2023. In 2023, the Ivorians lost 79–64 to Cape Verde. This occurred on the final day of the 2023 World Cup African qualifiers, by which point they had already secured their place in the World Cup. They bounced back with a resounding 94-51 victory over the Democratic Republic of the Congo, before narrowly defeating a determined Madagascar team 108-102 in the highest-scoring game of the campaign. With five wins in six games, they remain a realistic contender.
2. Mali ⬇️1️⃣
Record: 5-1
When few expected it, Angola dented Mali's perfect campaign with an 88-74 victory on the last day of the group stage. The Eagles of Mali played well against Angola, never allowing the reigning African champions to go on a scoring run early in the game. However, they made costly mistakes, turning the ball over 27 times and missing 14 of their 27 free throws. The Malians remained defiant, showing tremendous confidence in their chances in the second round. Omar Ballo and Siriman Kanouté proved pivotal once again for Mali, propelling the team forward when they seemed to be running out of steam.
1. Senegal ⬆️1️⃣
Record: 5-1
Who better than Brancou Badio to propel Senegal to pole position in the current African qualifiers? The versatile guard has been the driving force behind Senegal's success in the last three games, averaging 20 points and 5.5 assists per game. Their 85-72 win over Côte d'Ivoire proved to be a turning point, as they went on to finish the second round of the Group B campaign with a perfect 3-0 record.
DISCLAIMER: The Power Rankings are completely subjective and in no way represent an official or precise ranking system. All comments reflect the author’s opinions.
FIBA