With the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup completing its first two matchdays of the group stage, African football is on the verge of a historic milestone. Up to nine nations remain firmly in the hunt for a place in the new Round of 32, shattering previous group-stage benchmarks.
Here is how the continent’s representatives have fared so far.
The Pacesetters: In Pole Position
A few nations have taken total control of their destiny, putting one foot firmly into the knockout rounds.
Morocco (Group C – 4 Pts): Carrying the momentum of their historic 2022 semi-final run, the Atlas Lions opened with a brilliant 1-1 draw against Brazil before grinding out a crucial win over Scotland. They currently sit comfortably at the top of Group C.
Egypt (Group G – 4 Pts): Led by Mohamed Salah, the Pharaohs secured a massive draw against Belgium before flying past New Zealand 3-1 to secure their first-ever World Cup match victory.
Ghana (Group L – 4 Pts): The Black Stars started strong by defeating Panama and followed it up with an incredibly disciplined 0-0 stalemate against a powerhouse England side.
The Fighter’s Circle: Very Much Alive
Photograph: Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images
Several teams suffered early bumps but showed incredible resilience to stay in the qualification conversation.
Cape Verde (Group H – 2 Pts): In an absolute fairytale debut, the Blue Sharks remain unbeaten after locking down a 0-0 draw with Spain and fighting through a thrilling 2-2 draw against Uruguay.
Algeria (Group J – 3 Pts): After dropping their opener to Argentina, the Desert Foxes bounced back with a massive character-building 2-1 comeback victory over Jordan.
Ivory Coast (Group E – 3 Pts): The Elephants find themselves second in Group E after rebounding beautifully to defeat Curaçao following a narrow, hard-fought loss to Germany.
DR Congo (Group K – 1 Pt) & South Africa (Group A – 1 Pt): Both teams earned massive respect—and vital lifelines—by securing brilliant draws against global giants; DR Congo held Portugal to a 1-1 draw, while Bafana Bafana grabbed a point against Czechia.
Up Against the Wall
It hasn’t been smooth sailing for everyone, with two heavyweights facing major uphill battles.
Senegal (Group I – 0 Pts): It has been a heartbreaking tournament for the Teranga Lions, who sit on zero points after a grueling defeat to Norway left them on the brink of an early exit.
Tunisia (Group F – 0 Pts): Following a brutal run that culminated in a 1 goal aggregate differential across two opening defeats, Tunisia is officially the first African nation eliminated from the tournament.
With the third and final matchday underway, Africa is highly favored to surpass its previous record of three teams advancing past the group stage. The continent has arrived on the world stage with unparalleled depth.
