2026 World Cup: Africa’s 10 teams face mixed expectations
Ten African Teams Compete in Record-Breaking 2026 World Cup
In a historic milestone, ten teams from Africa will participate in the 2026 World Cup, which features a record 48 squads. The nations representing the continent include Morocco, Senegal, Ghana, Algeria, Cape Verde, Tunisia, South Africa, Egypt, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Côte d’Ivoire.
Victor Oluwafemi, Senior Social Media Manager at Sporty TV, shared insights on the tournament, stating, “Off the pitch, if there were a fashion or arrival trophy, Africa already won that thanks to Congo and others bringing in the heat.” However, he expressed concerns about the teams’ competitive prospects, remarking, “On the pitch, I don’t think we can equal the feat of 2022 due to the immense quality of football and competition.”
The increase in African representation from five to ten teams has been viewed with cautious optimism. “Yet, a large percentage of them might just make the numbers,” Oluwafemi commented.
In their recent matches, South Africa faced a tough defeat, ending their opening game with nine players as they lost 2-0 to co-hosts Mexico. Conversely, Morocco secured a commendable performance against Brazil, earning a 1-1 draw thanks to a last-minute equalizer from Vinícius Jr.
Côte d’Ivoire marked a significant moment for African football by securing the continent’s first win at the tournament. Amad Diallo scored the decisive goal in the 90th minute, leading to a 1-0 victory over Ecuador.
On the same day, Sweden defeated Tunisia 5-1, while European champions Spain faced debutants Cape Verde, and Belgium battled seven-time AFCON champions Egypt.
Oluwafemi praised Morocco for their performance against Brazil, emphasizing their ability to dominate possession, particularly in the first half. He noted, “They proved that a fourth-place finish at the 2022 World Cup was no fluke.”
Despite the defeat, he acknowledged South Africa’s struggles against Mexico, saying, “They made the Mexicans look super and unstoppable,” while expressing disappointment over their performance compared to earlier qualifying rounds.
Looking forward, Oluwafemi predicted that Morocco and Senegal would advance to the knockout stages. He also included Côte d’Ivoire and potentially Ghana as teams capable of progressing. “Since their debut in 2006, Ghana have not had a poor World Cup performance by Africa’s standards,” he noted, highlighting the squad’s blend of experience and youth.
As the tournament continues, fan expectations remain high for the African teams to make a significant impact on the world stage.
