Burundi and Gambia will meet early today on the first day of the African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. Both teams are in Group F, which also includes the Seychelles, Kenya, Gabon, and Ivory Coast.

The match will take place at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium in Dar es Salaam. The stadium, which seats 60,000 people, was inaugurated in 2007.

The game between Burundi and The Gambia is the first official match of its kind in history.

Burundi came close to qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations, but a late loss to Cameroon dropped them to third place in Group C with four points, one behind Namibia.

Gambia qualified for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations after finishing second in Group G with 10 points, trailing Congo and South Sudan. They have gone three games without losing, which has only happened once in 2023, and that was against Mali.

Burundi’s hopes for victory rest on Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana, a 25-year-old striker for Al Ahly Benghazi in the Libyan league. This season, the 25-year-old forward has eight goals and one assist. He has one goal and one assist for his national team in 2023. He has played 16 times for Burundi, scoring five goals and assisting on one.

Meanwhile, the Gambian Scorpions have Ablie Jallow, a 25-year-old striker who currently plays for Metz in Ligue 1. He has two goals and one assist in seven games this season 2023/24. He has a total of 23 caps and six goals for The Gambia’s national team.