2026 FIFA World Cup: Africa’s title challenge ends in a whimper

By Jacob Ajom

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has exposed new realities patterning to the growth, development and spread football enjoys among other sports. When FIFA announced the new expanded 48-team format – with Africa getting 9 automatic slots – for its flagship tournament, skeptics, including yours sincerely felt the field was too large and feared the tournament would become boring with low standard matches.

To a large extent FIFA’s postulations have been justified as majority of the teams that went to the tournament have shown that they were worthy representatives of their confederations. A team like Curacao may have conceded 7-1 against Germany in their opening game, but the Dutch Island exited the tournament with a point and some pride. For Africa, it has not been a bad outing, although it could have been better. Out of the ten African representatives nine made it to the Round of 32,. Only Algeria returned early, with no point. Debutants Cape Verde shook the world with their sleek and robust style of play. They were unlucky not to have progressed beyond the Round of 32. For a long time to come, the football world will not forget them in a hurry. 

Teams from Asia, Oceania and some from Europe made early departures but Africa stood tall after the group stage.. However, it was a different story in the knockout stage, which saw to the exit of seven in quick succession. Only Morocco and Egypt got to the last 16.

A look at the manner African teams were eliminated offers a familiar line. African teams dominate from kick off, take early lead, double the scores, suddenly they become complacent and careless; at times they begin to play to the gallery then lose concentration, lose control, concede in the dying minutes of the match and concede again, then lose the match. The exit door, and they are sent packing.

That was exactly what we witnessed when Ivory Coast played against Germany and Norway, Senegal against Belgium, DR Congo against England and Egypt against Argentina. All lost in similar fashion. The only consolation among Africans was, “they all gave a good account of themselves” and lifted African football to an acceptable level. Defending champions Argentina got more than they bargained for from African teams as Cape Verde and, especially Egypt almost achieved the unthinkable- upset the favourites for the title.

What was evident in the adventures of African teams is the lack of technical discipline, particularly in the defence; poor match management by coaches as most of the losses emanated from wrong choices due to poor substitutions.

Europe still proved to be the continent with the best football playing nations as six European teams: Belgium, England, Norway, Spain, Switzerland and France were among the last 8, while Africa had Morocco and the defending champions Argentina from South America. 

Predictably, France overwhelmed Morocco after posting a routine 2-0 win to send the last African rep packing.

Notwithstanding, the 2026 World Cup was not a bad outing for Africa.

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