World Cup 2026: Can sub-Saharan Africa outdo noisy neighbours from north?

Published 6 June 2026 · sports

After Morocco became the first Africans to reach a World Cup semifinal in 2022, can a sub-Sahara side step up in 2026? Africa’s performance at

After Morocco became the first Africans to reach a World Cup semifinal in 2022, can a sub-Sahara side step up in 2026? Africa’s performance at World Cups peaked at Qatar 2022 when Morocco became the first side from the continent to reach the semifinal stage. Even their quarterfinal appearance was noteworthy – the Atlas Lions were only the fourth African nation to get there. Although Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana are the three other African teams to reach the quarterfinals, North Africa has dominated the continent’s success overall at the World Cup and at the Africa Cup of Nations. Egypt are the record seven-time winners of AFCON, while three of the top five African qualifiers for World Cup finals are Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria. Al Jazeera breaks down the chances of the sub-Saharan nations looking to outshine their neighbours from the north at the tournament which kicks off on June 11 SENEGAL World Cup Appearances: Four – 2002, 2018, 2022 and 2026 Best finish: Quarterfinals Overall record: P12 W5 D3 L4 F16 A17 FIFA ranking: 14 Prediction: Eliminated at quarterfinal stage Senegal head to World Cup 2026 with a burning sense of injustice firing their campaign. The Lions of Teranga were stripped of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which decided the mid-game walk-off by the Senegalese players and staff voided January’s final – which was later awarded to Morocco, along with the trophy, as a 3-0 win. In 2002, Senegal upset the odds and reached the ⁠quarter-finals in their World Cup debut at the tournament co-hosted by Japan and South Korea. More than two decades later, expectations are running high – perhaps carrying the greatest expectation on all African teams, including Morocco. The depth of the 26-man squad is seen as their greatest strength over continental neighbours, but their star power is also envied by rivals. Sadio Mane remains the country’s greatest export. Although midfield kingpin Pape Gueye, goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and captain Kalidou Koulibaly would grace almost any side at the tournament. All three are French-born and another shot at the two-time winners of the competition is in their sights. A 1-0 win against then defending champions France at the 2002 edition announced Senegal as a rising footballing powerhouse. Their first Group ⁠I encounter this time around is against Didier Deschamps side in New York on June 16.

“It’s always a pleasure to play against France. It’s a country we know well,” said Senegal coach Pape Bouna Thiaw, who moved to France aged 17. “If I lose even a second of my belief that I can win the World Cup with Senegal, I will step down,” he added. Senegal’s group is completed by Iraq and Norway. GHANA World Cup Appearances: Five – 2006, 2010, 2014, 2022 and 2026 Best finish: Quarterfinals Overall record: P15 W5 D3 L7 F18 A23 FIFA ranking: 74 Prediction: Eliminated at quarterfinal stage Ghana have only missed one World Cup since their 2006 debut. Four years after their global bow they became the third African side to reach the quarterfinal stage at Germany 2010. Their run-up to this tournament has not been smooth, with a late change of coach as veteran Portuguese Carlos ⁠Queiroz replaced Otto Addo following a run of poor results. The German-born former Ghana international led his nation at Qatar 2022, but the ⁠failure to qualify for the last AFCON and comprehensive losses in their four high-profile games in November and March saw him fired in early April. It will be a fifth successive World Cup for the 73-year-old Queiroz, whose past African experience has been with South Africa and Egypt, and who managed Real Madrid, and was Alex Ferguson’s right-hand man at Manchester United. Group L, against Panama, England and Croatia, appears to be the ‘group of death’ in the opening stage of the competition, but with Manchester City’s Antoine Semenyo leading a strong attack, Ghana will fully expect to progress. “I think that this country has a huge, enormous potential. This is a country of footballers,” Queiroz said. The Black Stars will, however, be without the injured Tottenham forward Mohammed Kudus, who has become the team’s talisman and key factor in their last two successful qualifying campaigns. IVORY COAST World Cup Appearances: Four – 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2026 Best finish: Group Stage Overall record: P9 W3 D1 L5 F13 A14 FIFA ranking: 34 Prediction: Eliminated at quarterfinal stage The Ivory Coast return to the global stage after a 12-year absence – one that was hard-felt following the retirement of some of their greatest players in Yaya Toure and Didier Drogba. It has been a long rebuild for the Ivorians, but they have won two AFCON titles since their last World Cup appearance.