African nations Senegal, Cameroon, and Ivory Coast face challenges in their quest for a direct ticket to the 2026 World Cup due to their positions at the bottom of the qualification wall.

Gabon and Ivory Coast are set to face off in an exciting match, with both teams aiming for different outcomes. While Ivory Coast has impressively not conceded a single goal in the qualifiers, Gabon is eager to gain an advantage in Group B, currently one point behind the African champions.

However, Gabon will be without the presence of Logan Costa, a former Toulouse player, who is out due to injury. On the other hand, Thierry Mouyouma has taken over the captaincy from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and passed it to Bruno Ecuélé Manga.

Meanwhile, in a different group, Vincent Aboubakar, the captain of Cameroon, will lead his team in a crucial match against Cape Verde. A win is necessary for Cameroon to retake the lead in their group, as they have only won once against Cape Verde in four matches.

The DR Congo team, who have faced challenging matches before, particularly against West African countries, will be facing Senegal on the same day. Despite the pressure, the Congolese team will be playing on a synthetic pitch, not exactly state-of-the-art, at the Martyrs' Stadium, where tens of thousands of supporters are expected.

The match could have a significant impact on the troubled zones of the Democratic Republic of Congo, with weapons falling silent, according to reports. The national TV in the Democratic Republic of Congo is focusing on the match, with L'Equipe set to broadcast the game live at 9 PM.

Senegal, led by key player Sadio Mané, is expected to impose itself in the match, having already experienced the passionate crowd at the airport upon arrival. Mané is not concerned about the potential full stadium, having proven that the team knows how to travel.

Elsewhere, Cape Verde will also be playing Cameroon on Tuesday at 6 PM (L'Equipe live). The wind, the synthetic pitch, and the determination of the Cape Verdean people could play a decisive role in the match.

In another significant match, DR Congo will play Senegal on the same day at 6 PM (L'Equipe live). The announced capacity for the match has been reduced from 80,000 to around 55-58,000.

Thierry Mouyouma has brought a new sense of unity to the Gabon team, putting authority back into the squad that was previously torn apart by ego problems. Players like Didier Ndong, Mario Lemina, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have been put back on track by Mouyouma.

Aubameyang, who is expected to play one of his last battles with Gabon, potentially one of the most beautiful to win, could be a key player in Gabon's bid to overtake Ivory Coast.

With these crucial matches approaching, Africa could see at least nine teams at the World Cup, potentially ten, depending on the playoff results. The stakes are high, and the drama is palpable as the African teams fight for a spot at the 2026 World Cup.

African nations Senegal, Cameroon, and Ivory Coast face challenges in their quest for a direct ticket to the 2026 World Cup due to their positions at the bottom of the qualification wall.