The President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Dr Patrice Motsepe, has praised nine African nations for reaching the Round of 32 at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The teams progressing include Morocco, South Africa, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Cape Verde, Ghana, Senegal, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Algeria, with only Tunisia failing to progress beyond the group stage.
The achievement marks one of the strongest collective performances ever recorded by African nations at a World Cup, made possible in part by the expanded format, which allows more third-placed teams to reach the Round of 32.
Even so, the scale of African representation (90%) in the knockout phase has still been widely regarded as a landmark moment.
In a statement, Dr Motsepe said the achievement reflected the hard work of players, technical teams and national associations across the continent, adding that their performances had made Africa and its diaspora proud.
He said: “On behalf of the CAF Member Associations that represent 54 African countries, I would like to express our heartfelt congratulations to the national team players and technical teams of Algeria, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and South Africa for their hard-earned and well-deserved qualification to the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32.
“The players and technical teams have made each of their countries proud and have also made the 1.6 billion people on the African continent and in the diaspora proud.
“The global competitiveness and world-class quality of African football is being recognised and highlighted by the victories and qualification to the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 by each of the nine African national teams.
“The hard work and investments in youth football development, coaching, professional football leagues and football infrastructure in each of CAF’s 54 member associations is bearing fruit.
“The governance, transparency, management, financial and auditing best practices that have been introduced has attracted new sponsors and partners, and these financial partnerships have contributed to the development and growth of African football.
“I also want to congratulate the nine CAF member association presidents and their executive committees and to thank African governments for their cooperation and support.
“CAF wishes each and every one of the nine African national teams everything of the best as they continue competing in the FIFA World Cup 2026, and we are confident they will continue to make their countries and the continent extremely proud.”
CAF says the teams will now turn their attention to the knockout stage, where they will face some of the world’s strongest sides in a bid to continue their remarkable run.
