CONFEDERATION of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe has expressed pride in the performances of the 10 African teams that participated in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which ended on Sunday.
Africa was represented at the 2026 World Cup in the United States of America, Mexico and Canada by Algeria, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia.
Nine of the 10 African teams advanced from the group stage to the round of 32, with the 90 percent the highest percentage in the history of the competition.
Africa represented 20.8% of the 48 national teams that participated in the expanded World Cup but constituted 28.1% of the teams that qualified from the group Stage to the round of 32.
This achievement was second only to UEFA, which had 40% of its national teams qualify from the group stage to the round of 32.
Egypt and Morocco reached the round of 16, with the latter achieving a remarkable milestone by advancing to consecutive quarter-finals.
There were also impressive performances at the 2026 World Cup by Cape Verde, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, South Africa, Ghana and Tunisia.
“Significant progress and successes were achieved by the African National Teams at the FIFA World Cup 2026 and I am very proud of their performances,” Motsepe said today at a press conference in Johannesburg, South Africa.
“The nine African national teams that qualified from the Group Stage to the Round of 32 made history at the FIFA World Cup 2026, as this is 90% of the African National Teams that participated, and is the highest percentage to qualify to date.
“The previous percentages of the African national teams to qualify to the knockout stage were 40% in 2022, none in 2018 and 40% in 2014.
“We have also identified specific areas where there is room for improvement and I am confident that the coaches, technical teams and players will implement the necessary improvements.
“This will ensure even greater successes for African national teams in future FIFA World Cups.
“CAF will be hosting a conference and will invite the national team coaches, technical teams, former African national team players and other football experts and stakeholders to evaluate and assess the performances of the African national teams at the FIFA World Cup 2026, with the objective of making recommendations that will ensure that the African national teams will be even more successful at the FIFA World Cup 2030.
“We will continue to train and invest in our boys and girls football players, amateur football, professional football leagues and our national teams in each of the 54 African countries to make African football globally competitive and amongst the best in the world.
“CAF is increasing its funding for the training of coaches at all levels and will be conducting numerous coaching training courses in each of the six CAF regions or zones on the African continent.
“CAF is also focusing on increasing the quality and competitiveness of the CAF African Schools Football Championship as this is an important platform and initiative for the development and growth of African youth football.
“We will also strengthen and expand the partnerships between our Member Associations and the governments and the private sector to develop, support, sponsor and grow football in each of the 54 African countries.
“These partnerships are also important for building, upgrading and maintaining football infrastructure and facilities in each of our Member Association countries.
“Every national team and football club must play its matches in their country and in front of their local supporters and fans. It is essential that in each of our 54 Member Association countries there is a stadium that is at the requisite CAF and FIFA level.
“CAF is making enormous progress in developing and growing men and women’s football in Africa and making it amongst the best in the world. We remain confident that an African nation will be champions of the FIFA World Cup.”
