Africa has already enjoyed its most successful World Cup even before the knockout phase has truly got underway. Ten nations qualified for the expanded tournament, while nine of these made it to the Round of 32. Tunisia were the only team to fall short, so let’s have a closer look at what’s being taking place.
Africa's Record-Breaking Campaign
Looking back at previous World Cups, the hope was always that one team could perhaps make a surprise run. This year has been very different. There is no need for one standout team, as those across the continent have picked up some amazing results.
Both Morocco and Ivory Coast qualified by securing second place in their groups, with Egypt and Cape Verde also taking runner-up places. Ghana, Senegal, Algeria, and DR Congo all made it through by being the best third-placed teams. Only Tunisia failed to make it through, meaning that the continent has nine teams in the last 32.
South Africa's Historic Run Comes to an End
The first African team to leave the knockout stage was South Africa. This came after a 1-0 defeat to co-hosts, Canada. The goal came deep into stoppage time, with Stephen Eustaquio denying Bafana Bafana an historic extra-time opportunity.
Despite the disappointment, South Africa leaves the tournament with plenty to celebrate. They had never previously reached the World Cup knockout rounds, making this their best performance on football's biggest stage.
Morocco Continues to Lead Africa's Challenge
Once again, it’s Morocco that appears to be Africa’s best hope of progressing further. Having reached the semi-finals in 2022, the Atlas Lions produced a composed finish to the group stage, coming second behind Brazil. This sees them set to face the Netherlands in the Round of 32.
This has to be one of the toughest ties that any African nation will face. However, Morocco has shown that it has the capability to deliver. Anyone looking at football odds will know that this is a team that can’t be written off. A win would see them progress to the last 16, with Canada then standing in the way of any quarter-final hopes.
Difficult Tests Await the Remaining Nations
The draw for the round of 32 has not been overly kind to the African nations. Several teams are set to face tough opposition as they look to progress to the next stage.
Senegal is taking on Belgium, while DR Congo will be facing an in-form England side. Algeria only just squeezed through the group stage and now meet Switzerland, while Ghana face Colombia, Egypt take on Australia, and Ivory Coast come up against Norway.
Cape Verde's reward for an outstanding debut World Cup is a meeting with defending champions Argentina. Few would make them favourites, but simply reaching this stage represents a simply amazing achievement for a nation appearing at the finals for the first time.
Supporters who are following the knockout games through platforms like WePari will see that some of these matches are far closer than the actual rankings suggest. Senegal is certainly capable of troubling Belgium, and Egypt and Algeria can certainly progress if they deliver one of their best performances.
Players Who Have Made Their Mark
The opening weeks of the tournament have been special. They have also allowed several African players to enhance their reputations with some standout performances.
A look at DR Congo’s forward, Yoane Wissa, allows you to see one of the best performances so far. He scored twice in the 3-1 win over Uzbekistan, helping his side to secure its first-ever win in the World Cup. The third goal in the match came from Fiston Mayele, and he has played a key role in helping DR Congo to progress.
The experience of Algeria’s captain proved vital, with him delivering when his side needed him the most. His performance in the draw with Austria was crucial, allowing them to claim one of the last qualification places. Morocco has a different story. This is a team that is all about the collective effort, with no standout individuals. This is perhaps what makes them so dangerous.
A Chance to Create Even More History
Africa has made history with nine nations making it to the knockout stages. However, there is clearly more to be done if they are to progress any further. Morocco is certainly capable of another run, and Senegal and Egypt have the quality needed to produce some major upsets.
Even if more teams follow South Africa and fall at the first hurdle, this is a World Cup that the continent will remember. The world has seen how African football has progressed, and we can be sure that they will go even further in future campaigns.
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