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African nations enjoyed a strong start to the FIFA World Cup 2026, with a record 10 teams reaching the tournament’s final stage. Algeria, Cape Verde, Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia raised hopes that African football could challenge the traditional dominance of European and South American teams.
Those hopes remained high through the group stage as nine of the 10 African teams advanced to the Round of 32, with Tunisia the lone exception. Among the standout performers was tournament debutant Cape Verde, one of the world’s smallest nations. After completing the group stage unbeaten, Cape Verde advanced to the knockout rounds and earned a Round of 32 meeting with defending champion Argentina on Saturday.
Morocco also impressed by defeating the Netherlands in a penalty shootout to reach the Round of 16, where it will face co-host Canada in Houston on Saturday.
However, Wednesday proved to be a disappointing day for African teams as both Congo and Senegal were eliminated after surrendering leads against European opponents.
Congo took an early 1-0 lead over England before captain Harry Kane scored twice in the second half to send the English side into the Round of 16 with a 2-1 victory.
Senegal’s exit was even more painful. After building a 2-0 advantage over Belgium, the West African side conceded three unanswered goals, including a late penalty in extra time, to suffer a dramatic 3-2 defeat.
The loss prompted an emotional response from Senegal midfielder Pape Gueye, who criticized the team’s coaching staff and suggested he would step away from international football if there were no changes.
The 26-year-old wrote on Instagram after the match: “I will come back later to discuss the causes for the elimination.” But today I am declaring that I will stop participating for the national team as long as this coaching staff stays.
Gueye’s comments followed one of Senegal’s most heartbreaking World Cup defeats, with the team appearing firmly on course for the Round of 16 before Belgium mounted a remarkable comeback.
Senegal made an ideal start when Habib Diarra scored from a rebound after Ismaila Sarr’s header struck the post. Sarr later doubled the lead with his fourth goal of the tournament, matching Roger Milla’s record for the most goals scored by an African player at a single men’s World Cup.
Holding a two-goal advantage, Senegal appeared poised to advance. Belgium, however, turned the match around with three late goals.
Romelu Lukaku sparked the comeback by converting a cross from Thomas Meunier before Youri Tielemans equalized to force extra time. Tielemans then converted a penalty, awarded after a challenge by Camera, to complete Belgium’s comeback and secure a place in the Round of 16.
The other painful defeat for African fans came in the Congo-England match. Congo had stunned England by taking a seventh-minute lead through Brian Cipenga and maintained control for much of the contest.
England finally found an equalizer in the 75th minute when Kane headed home Anthony Gordon’s cross. Kane then scored again to give England a 2-1 victory, taking his tally to 13 career World Cup finals goals and his fifth of the 2026 tournament.
The victory marked England’s first comeback win in a World Cup match after trailing at halftime since the 1966 final against West Germany.
Africa’s remaining representatives continue their Round of 16 campaigns with Algeria facing Switzerland, Egypt taking on Australia, Ghana meeting Colombia, and Morocco playing co-host Canada.
