When four time World Cup winners Italy failed to qualify for the 2026 tournament, then head coach Gennaro Gattuso argued that Africa had been given too many places at football’s biggest event.
The number of automatic qualifying slots for the continent had risen from five to nine as part of the expanded 48 nation format, and became 10 once the Democratic Republic of Congo won an intercontinental playoff to return to the World Cup after 52 years.
The results suggest Gattuso’s criticism did not hold up. Aside from a disastrous campaign from Tunisia, who sacked coach Sabri Lamouchi after one game and lost all three group matches, Africa’s representatives were competitive throughout.
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Nine of the continent’s ten qualifiers reached the knockout stage, five as group runners up and four among the eight best third placed teams, a 90 percent success rate, the highest of any confederation, ahead of South America on 83.33 percent, Europe on 81.25 percent and Asia on 22.22 percent.
Europe did dominate from the round of 16 onwards, providing six of the eight quarter finalists, with Africa and South America contributing just one each. Egypt reached the round of 16, while Morocco became the first African nation to reach the quarter finals in consecutive tournaments, before their run ended against France.
A recurring theme across the African sides was conceding late goals. Argentina’s Lionel Messi, England’s Harry Kane and Norway’s Erling Haaland all punished African opponents in the closing stages of matches, while Senegal suffered the most painful collapse of the tournament, surrendering a two goal lead in the final five minutes against Belgium before losing in extra time.
Senegal, tipped by many as Africa’s strongest side, lost three of their four matches and only advanced as the eighth best third placed team, with midfielder Pape Gueye saying afterwards he would not represent his country again unless coach Pape Thiaw was replaced.
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Egypt’s exit was similarly dramatic, squandering a 2-0 lead against Argentina with 12 minutes remaining. Coach Hossam Hassan suggested the officiating had been influenced by outside pressure, a claim FIFA referees chief Pierluigi Collina rejected. Pundits Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimovic both pointed to a pattern of African sides relaxing after taking the lead, with Ibrahimovic calling it poor game management rather than misfortune.
Morocco’s quarter final exit to France showed the gap that remains against Europe’s best, managing just one shot on target the entire match. Coach Mohamed Ouahbi offered no excuses, praising France’s depth of talent. Morocco have already qualified for the 2030 World Cup as co-hosts alongside Spain and Portugal, with a new 115,000 seat stadium being built near Casablanca in hope of staging the final.
– AFP
Photo: REUTERS/Eloisa Sanchez
