adminAfrica’s history at the World Cup is a long one, going back to 1934. While at a certain point in time only one country could qualify, that number is currently at five. Moreover, CAF will have nine spots in the 2026 World Cup and potentially even 10 thanks to a play-off tournament.
So, how many countries have actually taken part in the World Cup, and how far have they gone? Thirteen African nations have played in this tournament so far: Algeria, Angola, Cameroon, Congo DR, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Togo, and Tunisia. While some were stopped at the group stage, others moved on to the knockout phase. But, why is the World Cup so important, and which country actually showed the best of Africa?
Why is the World Cup so important to Africans?
Football is, without a doubt, the most popular sport in Africa, and the World Cup truly has the power to unite the entire continent. No matter if they’re supporting their home country, a neighbor, or an overseas nation, Africans also like placing some wagers and guessing who might win a particularly interesting match. However, punters should know how important staying within the law is. For example, some countries in Africa don’t allow betting at all, while others have a completely regulated market. Players can easily find legal betting sites in South Africa where they can place a few bets and show their support for their favorite team. When looking for a reputable operator, it’s vital to check for licenses and inspect the website’s security.
Egypt in 1934
Granted, this was not the greatest edition of an African nation, but it’s significant because it was their first. After Egypt played in 1934, Africa would not find itself at the World Cup for another 36 years. This team only played one game, which they lost. After coming back from 2-0 against Hungary, the team couldn’t keep up and eventually lost 4-2.
Tunisia in 1978
The first game that an African nation won at the World Cup was Tunisia’s match against Mexico in 1978. They came back and won 3-1. As they only drew against West Germany and lost to Poland, they couldn’t progress to the knockout stage, but it was still a valiant effort.
Morocco in 1986 and 2022
Not all World Cups ended in the group phase. For example, Morocco finished this stage undefeated and advanced to the Round of 16. However, they couldn’t progress any further as an 88-minute goal from West Germany knocked them out of the competition held in Mexico in 1986.
This year, Morocco has truly shown how eager they are to play. They have won against Portugal and managed to secure their place in the semi-finals for the first time!
Cameroon in 1990
The round of 16 is not the best result that African nations achieved. Three of them also managed to get to the quarterfinals. Cameroon was the first to win a knockout game and reach the QF in 1990. They broke new ground by defeating Colombia in extra time. What is more, they also won against Diego Maradona’s reigning champs Argentina in their opening game. In the quarterfinals, Cameroon faced off against England and went into extra time, where a second Gary Lineker penalty sent them home.
Nigeria 1994
Nigeria made its debut on the world stage in 1994 in the United States. They made quite a splash actually – winning 3-0 against Bulgaria, 2-0 against Greece, and losing 2-1 to Argentina. After finishing first in their group, they lost to Italy, the eventual runners-up, in the overtime of the Round of 16.
Senegal in 2002
Senegal is another country that reached the quarterfinals – and in its debut, at that! They started the tournament strong, by defeating the reigning champion France 1-0. After drawing with Denmark and Uruguay, they made their way to the Round of 16 where they faced off against Sweden. Having won that match 2-1 in sudden death, they were eliminated in the QF by Turkey 1-0, also in sudden death.
Ghana in 2010
The most recent quarterfinal appearance by an African team was in 2010 by Ghana. Played in South Africa, it is one of the most fondly remembered World Cups by people in Africa, only made better by the fact that Ghana made it through the group stage. Having won against Serbia, drawn against Australia, and lost to Germany, the Ghanaians moved on thanks to the goal difference. In the Round of 16, they defeated the United States 2-1 in extra time. Then came one of the most famous matches in the history of football, against Uruguay. Ghana lost the penalty shootout that followed the 1-1 match, having missed a penalty after Suarez handled the ball at the end of extra time.
In 2022, Morocco and Senegal made it to the Round of 16, but only Morocco managed to get to the semi-finals. We are still yet to see how far this African country will go in this FIFA World Cup.
Online Reporter