Is the World Cup 2026 a moment of glory for African teams?

[Fivestar4everMVP]

What glory is in losing 8 out of 9 teams that qualified for the knockout stages? The number of teams Increased, but that , infact wasn't an advantage for us. How long can Morocco sustain alone out there and how far will the waves of luck take them? Other African teams should have been a hope for them to always remember that they're not alone is this race, but now? It almost feels like all eyes on the Moroccans. Everyone depends on their victory and shine with their glory, but maybe this one will pass us

You are right, absolutely right and this is the reason why in my previous comment, I did talked about Africa waking up to take our players more seriously, because Asia, Europe is doing differently that we are not doing is trying as much as possible to catch their players young, but here in Africa, we have old men of over 35 years and 40 years playing as under 20 and so, and there are alot of talents on the streets with no one to help them climb.

I completely feel for Morocco because when every other African countries have left, it will actually take alot of zeal and endurance to keep going because this is like being a goat in the midst of sheeps, such goat will not be comfortable being in that group because he will be lonely. Those sheeps are going to be seeing the goat as inferior and unworthy to be in their midst and this can downgrade morale, I wish Morocco all the best really.

[OsaiEmma]

~snip

You are right, absolutely right and this is the reason why in my previous comment, I did talked about Africa waking up to take our players more seriously, because Asia, Europe is doing differently that we are not doing is trying as much as possible to catch their players young, but here in Africa, we have old men of over 35 years and 40 years playing as under 20 and so, and there are alot of talents on the streets with no one to help them climb.

I completely feel for Morocco because when every other African countries have left, it will actually take alot of zeal and endurance to keep going because this is like being a goat in the midst of sheeps, such goat will not be comfortable being in that group because he will be lonely. Those sheeps are going to be seeing the goat as inferior and unworthy to be in their midst and this can downgrade morale, I wish Morocco all the best really.

Honestly it is really sad. Africa in general haven't been doing much when it comes to football for a very long time, and that's partly because of the point you made about not taking good care of their players. But one of the points I'd love to make is that, most African countries don't invest much in football; they just see it as another entertainment. It's like trying to invest in the country's movie or music industry, it's just for entertainment and not national development. I guess that is one of the reasons African countries are doing badly in football.

Surprisingly enough, we do have very good players playing for countries of other continent. These players are performing exceptionally, I believe they're looking for greener pastures that's why they refused to come back.

[Wakate]

Honestly it is really sad. Africa in general haven't been doing much when it comes to football for a very long time, and that's partly because of the point you made about not taking good care of their players. But one of the points I'd love to make is that, most African countries don't invest much in football; they just see it as another entertainment. It's like trying to invest in the country's movie or music industry, it's just for entertainment and not national development. I guess that is one of the reasons African countries are doing badly in football.

Surprisingly enough, we do have very good players playing for countries of other continent. These players are performing exceptionally, I believe they're looking for greener pastures that's why they refused to come back.

There are African teams that have been qualifying for the world cup tournament for years but they have not been getting closer to the final stage. If there can be more African teams that can qualify for the 16 round and 8 round, that will be impressive and I have seen the struggles on the pitch for the few teams remaining to qualify for the world cup round 16 stage.

[Akbarkoe]

There are African teams that have been qualifying for the world cup tournament for years but they have not been getting closer to the final stage. If there can be more African teams that can qualify for the 16 round and 8 round, that will be impressive and I have seen the struggles on the pitch for the few teams remaining to qualify for the world cup round 16 stage.

Morocco, who have made it to the round of 16 in the current World Cup which is one of the representatives and regions of Africa, they will meet with Canada which is classified as strong and is also one of the current World Cup hosts who also qualified for the round of 16.
Now it's just waiting for the Cape Verde and Ghana matches, Ghana seem to have a great chance against Colombia so they can qualify for the last 16 but for Cape Verde it's a nightmare where they will face Argentina who are one of the strongest countries as a candidate for World Cup winners, if they can beat them here it's a great achievement.

[DubemIfedigbo001]

There are African teams that have been qualifying for the world cup tournament for years but they have not been getting closer to the final stage. If there can be more African teams that can qualify for the 16 round and 8 round, that will be impressive and I have seen the struggles on the pitch for the few teams remaining to qualify for the world cup round 16 stage.

Morocco, who have made it to the round of 16 in the current World Cup which is one of the representatives and regions of Africa, they will meet with Canada which is classified as strong and is also one of the current World Cup hosts who also qualified for the round of 16.
Now it's just waiting for the Cape Verde and Ghana matches, Ghana seem to have a great chance against Colombia so they can qualify for the last 16 but for Cape Verde it's a nightmare where they will face Argentina who are one of the strongest countries as a candidate for World Cup winners, if they can beat them here it's a great achievement.

For now Morocco is the only country that has advanced, for Ghana and Cape Verde, it's still very much tentative. It would actually look very disappointing and ugly if Morocco is the only African team that makes it to the last 16 afterall. I'm disappointed at the way African teams start matches very well in this R32 and end up losing in the ending minutes of the second half. I hope Ghana doesn't follow that pattern. Like you said, I've more faith in Ghana. Cape Verde would need more than a miracle to win Argentina.

[tiCeR]

I think you can clearly see that the African teams can no longer be taken lightly. A few of them have been very good for a long time, but this time around it is as if they have improved significantly over the years. There is no really easy match for any of the European heavy weights. All of the matches are tough against Cape Verde, Senegal, today Congo against England, Egypt and some others. I remember the times when there was no big discussion whether the big times from Europe would win, but I think this has changed now. England was on the brink of losing as Congo had a huge chance to score the second goal. It was close and Harry Kane saved them. Overall they have gained quality for sure.

In every World Cup, 1-2 teams perform better than expected. Looking back at previous years, we see many teams that we wouldn't consider strong among the last 32. But this year is different; the African teams are really well-prepared. Perhaps, due to their economic situation, football could be an opportunity for them, a way to improve their lives. Many players who show their talent in this tournament will transfer to European teams, which is a huge opportunity

I think it has more to do with policies and rules in football and the fact that human beings in general have become much more mobile, more globalized, more open to go to other countries and pursue a career. Many years ago there were rules in European leagues that limited the number of players per team that were allowed to be on the team, or actively playing and that rule has been further and further softened over time and in theory, as far as I know, you can have 11 foreign players on the pitch as of now in most leagues (or all of them in Europe?). There still need to be native players registered for the team, but they don't have to play. That is one factor that had an impact.

Another factor is that it is far more common for African players, or any other continent if you will, to go abroad and go where the money is. And I think that is great and while we fail at achieving equality in many areas of life, in sports it's about your talent and nothing else. Many of the best African players play in great clubs and then I think African football has made tremendous progress overall. I have watched several of those matches and I was shocked in a positive way how passionately these players want to make their nations proud. That was so pleasing to watch them and everything counts as a success for them. If they can't win, they can tie the match, and if they can't tie the match, they can score a goal. and if they can't score a goal, they can make sure to make it tough to even win 1-0 against them.

At first I thought expanding the World Cup could have negative effects on the quality of the matches and I think in some cases that is true, but the trade-off was worth it in my opinion. Many of the matches were far more interesting than I could have imagined. I don't like Infantino because he is corrupt to the sky, but expanding the World Cup and allowing more of the presumably weaker football nations to participate was a good decision.

[giammangiato]

Surprisingly enough, we do have very good players playing for countries of other continent. These players are performing exceptionally, I believe they're looking for greener pastures that's why they refused to come back.

Africa in general has not invested much in football, not only in economic terms, many African players play on other continents and some are really very good.
So basically there is no lack of quality, there is a lack of real management, could FIFA somehow help lend a hand to African football? In my opinion, yes, also because Africa is a great continent in every sense, players need more opportunities to grow professionally.

[L E G E N D A R Y]

Honestly it is really sad. Africa in general haven't been doing much when it comes to football for a very long time, and that's partly because of the point you made about not taking good care of their players. But one of the points I'd love to make is that, most African countries don't invest much in football; they just see it as another entertainment. It's like trying to invest in the country's movie or music industry, it's just for entertainment and not national development. I guess that is one of the reasons African countries are doing badly in football.

Surprisingly enough, we do have very good players playing for countries of other continent. These players are performing exceptionally, I believe they're looking for greener pastures that's why they refused to come back.

You actually right but that was in the past, this time, Africans really put in their best which no one really except they will play that good this time, their coaches also put their efforts to make sure the teams will do very well and honestly it was a thing of surprise and hopefully they will make it to the finals if they keep playing with this energy. Though, they might not put more attention to football but I think there will be change this time around for good.

[AmaGold70]

No victory  has been achieved yet, I think scaling through from the first stage in this number is very encouraging. I realize that these countries also have formidable squad with players that plays professional football, and some of these countries in Africa have produced top players in the professional leagues, so I know they are contesting this FIFA world cup with their counterparts in other nations. In the most previous world cup, Morocco got to semi final which they gained the support of the whole African countries at large, and this time, we are expecting African countries better than they did before, and equally believe that despite that various countries from Africa are involved in this FIFA world, they are all gaining the support of Africa at large.

[Lida93]

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You nailed it, the African nations were underestimated in this world cup, but they have showed that they can do better and just imagine if African countries can get more serious in sports, I mean get more prepared before competitions like this, perhaps they would have played more than they are doing right now, although some of the teams were too good which I must confess.
...

Same way I thought they were too good when about 9 teams from our continent made it to the round of 32 but this round of 16 which many of them has to be eliminated in a  disturbing pattern where they play and have control of the game and then lose it to their opponent towards the last minutes when they should be holding still on victory. I don't know if am to call that fear or respect on the European and South American teams they met going into the round of 16. It's time for the African teams to start challenging to the finals stage  especially with such high slots given them.

[Rockson1]

...

You nailed it, the African nations were underestimated in this world cup, but they have showed that they can do better and just imagine if African countries can get more serious in sports, I mean get more prepared before competitions like this, perhaps they would have played more than they are doing right now, although some of the teams were too good which I must confess.
...

Same way I thought they were too good when about 9 teams from our continent made it to the round of 32 but this round of 16 which many of them has to be eliminated in a  disturbing pattern where they play and have control of the game and then lose it to their opponent towards the last minutes when they should be holding still on victory. I don't know if am to call that fear or respect on the European and South American teams they met going into the round of 16. It's time for the African teams to start challenging to the finals stage  especially with such high slots given them.

What happened during the round of 32 that got most African team out of the tournament, was as a result of miscalculation from their individual coach, a case study is the match between Senegal and Belgium, senegal coach made a rubbish substitution that mess up the game for them, the team was playing very well and was also leading until Gueye was removed from that midfied very good observation by localhostspeed when he quoted me, although I never took note of that but when I watch the match highlights I come to the conclusion that it was that mistake that led them to being defeated by Belgium, I don't think it is about fear, maybe it is miscalculation as I said earlier,

[Ishicryptic]

So far African teams in this world cup have proven that they are not pushovers that are in the competition just to fill out the space for their continent, they fought gallantly but unfortunately some of them have been eliminated just like teams from other continents. I believe that the moment of glory for African teams would be if more than one team qualifies for the semi finals, that would really crown African football. Morocco, reached semi finals in the last world cup if they can do it again and another African team will join them that would be the real glory, if an African country were to win this world cup that would be the peak of the glories. I have my doubts about the remaining African teams but this is football where an underdog team can surprise everybody.

[POPOLUV]

~snip

You are right, absolutely right and this is the reason why in my previous comment, I did talked about Africa waking up to take our players more seriously, because Asia, Europe is doing differently that we are not doing is trying as much as possible to catch their players young, but here in Africa, we have old men of over 35 years and 40 years playing as under 20 and so, and there are alot of talents on the streets with no one to help them climb.

I completely feel for Morocco because when every other African countries have left, it will actually take alot of zeal and endurance to keep going because this is like being a goat in the midst of sheeps, such goat will not be comfortable being in that group because he will be lonely. Those sheeps are going to be seeing the goat as inferior and unworthy to be in their midst and this can downgrade morale, I wish Morocco all the best really.

Honestly it is really sad. Africa in general haven't been doing much when it comes to football for a very long time, and that's partly because of the point you made about not taking good care of their players. But one of the points I'd love to make is that, most African countries don't invest much in football; they just see it as another entertainment. It's like trying to invest in the country's movie or music industry, it's just for entertainment and not national development. I guess that is one of the reasons African countries are doing badly in football.

Surprisingly enough, we do have very good players playing for countries of other continent. These players are performing exceptionally, I believe they're looking for greener pastures that's why they refused to come back.

You will be thinking that it is only African teams that are facing this crisis of not doing well lately when it comes to football but i noticed that most of the African teams is becoming worst as the years approaches because most of the African teams players that are not opportune to be playing themselves in international football, might be lack consistent practice or training of football and when such African teams meets with those teams that has been practicing consistently,  those African teams that has not been put effort when comes to practicing, they always finding it difficult to win the teams with the consistency, African teams needs to pick up from their slumber and take the challenge of in proofing in football before it gets worst than the situation at hand.

[Sithara007]

So far African teams in this world cup have proven that they are not pushovers that are in the competition just to fill out the space for their continent, they fought gallantly but unfortunately some of them have been eliminated just like teams from other continents. I believe that the moment of glory for African teams would be if more than one team qualifies for the semi finals, that would really crown African football. Morocco, reached semi finals in the last world cup if they can do it again and another African team will join them that would be the real glory, if an African country were to win this world cup that would be the peak of the glories. I have my doubts about the remaining African teams but this is football where an underdog team can surprise everybody.

Imagine what will happen if players like Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal represents the country of their parents rather than the country of their birth/citizenship. Already African teams are performing exceptionally. If some of the Europe-born players of African descent decides to represent these teams, then they will become extremely strong. And we need to respect the decision by FIFA to provide 10 slots for CAF in this edition. There was a lot of hue and cry from the European fans, but FIFA went ahead with their decision (during the last edition, there were just 5 CAF teams).

[Odohu]

Recent developments have shown that African teams are mostly overwhelmed by the World Cup as most of them could not sustain the advantages they had in the knockout stages. Senegal were leading Belgium by 0-2 up to the 83rd minute of the game but were not prepared for what happened from that moment onward. Belgium scored 2 goals within three minutes to win the match in extra time. DR Congo was leading England until the dying minutes too but lost the match before full time. Algeria are out and Ghana as and Cape Verde might join them. If there is hope for African teams, we are looking up to Morocco and Egypt.

[Akbarkoe]

Morocco, who have made it to the round of 16 in the current World Cup which is one of the representatives and regions of Africa, they will meet with Canada which is classified as strong and is also one of the current World Cup hosts who also qualified for the round of 16.
Now it's just waiting for the Cape Verde and Ghana matches, Ghana seem to have a great chance against Colombia so they can qualify for the last 16 but for Cape Verde it's a nightmare where they will face Argentina who are one of the strongest countries as a candidate for World Cup winners, if they can beat them here it's a great achievement.

For now Morocco is the only country that has advanced, for Ghana and Cape Verde, it's still very much tentative. It would actually look very disappointing and ugly if Morocco is the only African team that makes it to the last 16 afterall. I'm disappointed at the way African teams start matches very well in this R32 and end up losing in the ending minutes of the second half. I hope Ghana doesn't follow that pattern. Like you said, I've more faith in Ghana. Cape Verde would need more than a miracle to win Argentina.

I believe Ghana will be able to give the best game they can do and of course sudha saw how the country sejilayahknya experience the same mistake, they too maximize the power in the first half but tidka can not leave the energy in the second half that makes losing a lot of stamina and it was his fault so in the second half they experienced fatigue pad apemain them, the Ghanaian players and coaches have to make a balance on the use of stamina of their players both in the first half and second half, senegal became one of the proofs that they must pay attention to long-term play until the second half ended.
For Cape Verde just pray bro, and Morocco seems to have a greater chance of qualifying for the next round.

[davis196]

All the teams that will play in the 1/16 finals of the 2026 World Cup have been determined. 16 pairs of 32 teams have been formed. This list includes 9 African teams: South Africa, Morocco, Senegal, Ivory Coast, DR Congo, Cape Verde, Egypt, Algeria and Ghana. Only Tunisia failed to advance from the group stage. Let's look closer at their performance.

There were lots of African teams in this edition of the World Cup and I think that it's normal for some of them to show a decent performance and surprise their fans. However, I wouldn't call this "a moment of glory". A true moment of glory would be an African team winning the World Cup or at least finishing at top 4. This is almost impossible to happen, since most African teams got eliminated in the round of 32. I don't think that Egypt and Chana would reach the semifinals and there's no way for Cabo Verde to eliminate Argentina. Most African footballers are playing in Europe, which proves that they are good enough to achieve something big in such tournament, but there's always something missing in terms of tactical discipline and team play.

[Tungbulu]

African countries would only try their best in this world cup, as usual, but they can't attain the final stage with the level they play compared to how some other countries play. And what you explained as "tired" is not so in my observation. The African team are not often tired, as they are used to playing, but were overwhelmed by the opposition team. At first, the match might not be as fierce as it should be, but with time, especially in the second half, those European teams switch to the maximum gear, which makes African teams look tired, but they are only powerless.

You sound rather confident about this. Well I’m not saying they would lift the trophy, but I still can’t say it’s impossible, I mean this is football and if there’s one thing about football, it’s the fact that it’s full of surprises and even the underdogs can do the unthinkable. The African teams are not doing bad, if they can work more on their defense, I believe they’ll go far, and there’s really no say on how far they can really go.

[EarnOnVictor]

African countries would only try their best in this world cup, as usual, but they can't attain the final stage with the level they play compared to how some other countries play. And what you explained as "tired" is not so in my observation. The African team are not often tired, as they are used to playing, but were overwhelmed by the opposition team. At first, the match might not be as fierce as it should be, but with time, especially in the second half, those European teams switch to the maximum gear, which makes African teams look tired, but they are only powerless.

You sound rather confident about this. Well I’m not saying they would lift the trophy, but I still can’t say it’s impossible, I mean this is football and if there’s one thing about football, it’s the fact that it’s full of surprises and even the underdogs can do the unthinkable. The African teams are not doing bad, if they can work more on their defense, I believe they’ll go far, and there’s really no say on how far they can really go.

The truth is that I was intentional about that, for I like to face the reality. This is not to undermine African team, but they can't do more than what they are capable of. Talking about luck in football...lol, not like this one; it doesn't work that way. Luck may drag us further, perhaps, to somewhere between the quarter-final and semi-final, but I don't see us going farther than that. And the country that could luckily get us there is either Morocco or Egypt. The tides are not favourable, TBH.

[Yablee0]

We cannot call it a moment of glory for African teams just yet until the world cup is over but from we can all see that African teams are doing very well in this world cup and honestly a lot of us that are Africans didn't even expect this from them. From the way I see it I doubt if Any African team can win this world cup.

You are right, we can't really called it moment of of glory when isn't over, until it is, that is when one can be able to decide if one will called it moment of glory or not, although they are really trying their best, as they are putting so much effort to make sure they win they win the World Cup, but just like I said, until its over, one won't be able to predict accurately, as things may turn around and as we also know, football is full of surprises and what one might not expect that is what will happen. So, one should not conclude yet when the tournament is not yet over.

That's the point I am talking about, what's the need calling all the sweet names when we are not even sure of our position as Africans in a league that's just starting. Africans are making it big now but I not actually convinced and satisfied untill they attain something meaningful with it otherwise all will be considered a wasted energy. However, instead of the focusing more on hyping, it will be better channelling same energy and time in to bringing out tangible result because that's the only thing that can make me feel better not the glory stuff I'm hearing here.