African teams have justified their increased allocation of World Cup spots following strong performances at the 2026 tournament, challenging earlier criticism from former Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso.
Gattuso had argued that Africa did not deserve more places after FIFA expanded the tournament to 48 teams, increasing Africa’s slots from five to nine, later becoming ten after DR Congo qualified through a playoff.
However, results on the pitch told a different story.
Nine of Africa’s ten representatives advanced to the knockout stage, marking a 90% progression rate, the highest among all regions. Only Tunisia failed to win a match and exited early.
Five African teams finished as group runners-up, while four progressed as top-performing third-placed teams. This strong group-stage showing outperformed South America (83.3%), Europe (81.25%), and Asia (22.2%).
Despite this success, African teams struggled in the knockout rounds. Seven were eliminated in the round of 32, with only Egypt reaching the last 16 and Morocco advancing to the quarter-finals.
A recurring issue was conceding late goals. Egypt lost 3–2 to Argentina after leading by two goals, while Senegal and Ivory Coast also surrendered leads in crucial matches.
Pundits pointed to poor game management as a key weakness. Analysts noted that while African teams showed talent and energy, lapses in concentration proved costly.
Morocco’s quarter-final defeat to France highlighted the gap between African sides and Europe’s elite, with the Atlas Lions managing just one shot on target.
Off the pitch, Senegal faced internal tensions, while Egypt raised concerns about refereeing decisions, claims dismissed by FIFA.
Still, there were bright moments. Cape Verde, despite not winning a match, impressed fans with spirited performances, including a draw against Spain and a narrow loss to Argentina.
Overall, Africa’s performance demonstrated clear progress and competitiveness, reinforcing the case for increased World Cup representation.
