It took African teams a long time to gain recognition on the world stage. At first, they had to prove that they even deserved a spot in the main tournament. Then they had to show that they were capable not only of taking part, but also of achieving significant results.
At today’s world championships, Africa is no longer just a story of rare breakthroughs, but a journey marked by both high-profile setbacks and victories that have transformed perceptions of the entire continent. 1xBet invites you to look back at the most iconic performances by African teams at the No. 1 football tournament.
Struggle for recognition
In 1934, Egypt became the first African team to compete in the World Championships, and its player, Abdelrahman Fawzy, scored the first goals ever by an African player in the tournament. The Pharaohs lost 4-2 to Hungary and were eliminated from the tournament (at that time, teams played in a single-elimination format without a group stage), but their participation in the championship was of great significance for African football.
From then on, qualifying for the World Football Forum became difficult. For example, to qualify for the 1966 tournament, the winner of the African qualifiers had to defeat the strongest team from Asia or Oceania. African football associations viewed this as unfair and boycotted the qualifiers. The move worked, and starting in 1970, Africa was guaranteed a spot in the tournament.
From participation to first victories
In 1974, Zaire (now the DR Congo) became the first team from Sub-Saharan Africa to compete in the World Championship. The tournament was not a success for the team: it lost all 3 matches and failed to score a single goal. However, Zaire’s participation marked an important milestone for African football.
A real turning point came in 1978, when Tunisia defeated Mexico 3-1, marking the first victory by an African national team at the world’s main tournament. That was the moment when Africa stopped being seen as an exotic presence at the World Championship.
How African national teams changed perceptions of Africa
In 1986, Morocco became the first African team to advance to the knockout stage of the tournament; in the group stage, the Atlas Lions finished ahead of England, Portugal, and Poland, but lost 1-0 to Germany, the eventual runner-up, in the Round of 16.
The world’s perception of African football changed forever thanks to Cameroon’s success at the World Championship 1990. Its victory over Argentina featuring Diego Maradona, strong performances against Romania and Colombia, and Roger Milla’s goals and celebratory dances made that team the symbol of the entire tournament. The Indomitable Lions were seven minutes away from reaching the semifinals, but lost to England on two penalty kicks.
Height of success in the 21st century
At the global championship in 2002, despite being a first-time participant, Senegal defeated France, the reigning world and European champions, and then advanced to the quarterfinals, where they lost to Turkey in extra time.
In 2010, the tournament was held in South Africa, and the Ghana national team reached the quarterfinals. The team’s run was memorable not only for the result but also for the drama of the match against Uruguay. Ghana had a golden opportunity to advance to the semifinals, but its captain missed a penalty kick in the final minute of stoppage time, after which the Black Stars lost in a penalty shootout. That moment remains one of the most painful in the history of African football.
In 2022, Morocco reached new heights for African national teams and advanced to the semifinals. Victories over Belgium, Spain, and Portugal made the tournament a historic one for all of Africa. It was no longer just a breakthrough; it was proof that a team from the African continent is capable of reaching a stage that, until then, had been reached almost exclusively by Europeans and South Americans.
The history of African national teams at the World Championship has long ceased to be a series of rare upsets. It has been a journey marked by the struggle for recognition, first victories, a quarterfinal appearance, and eventually a place in the semifinals. The next step seems clear, and following Morocco’s success in 2022, a final no longer feels out of reach for an African national team.
Will our teams make history again this summer? We’ll find out very soon. Support the African national teams at the Globe Cup 2026 with 1xBet!
