Egypt have the healthiest lead of any side, with a four-point cushion at the summit of Group A.

Pharaohs captain Mohamed Salah was rested during the latter stages of the Afcon 2025 qualifying campaign, but the forward will hope to carry his rich vein of form with Liverpool into games against Ethiopia and Sierra Leone.

Salah will come up against new Leone Stars head coach Mohammed Kallon, and the former Inter Milan and Monaco striker has selected Manchester City’s new teenage defender Juma Bah and 40-year-old Kei Kamara in his first squad.

Meanwhile, Sami Trabelsi is back for a second stint in charge of Tunisia with the Carthage Eagles top of Group H by two points.

Reigning continental champions Ivory Coast have a one-point advantage in Group F, while new Kenya coach Benni McCarthy is targeting a first-ever World Cup qualification as he looks to reduce the five-point gap to the Elephants.

In Group D, Cameroon are just one point ahead of Cape Verde and Libya, who last week appointed Aliou Cisse as their new boss.

The Indomitable Lions are looking to add to their eight World Cup appearances.

As things stand, the closest group to call is Group G, where the top five sides are separated by just three points.

Vladimir Petkovic comfortably guided Algeria to qualification for Afcon 2025 but Les Verts face Mozambique and Botswana, two more teams who will be in Morocco in December.

Guinea and Afcon 2027 co-hosts Uganda are also poised to capitalise on any slip ups.