CAF president Dr Patrice Motsepe has hailed Africa’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign as “historic”, saying the continent’s teams have returned home from North America with their heads held high after a record‑breaking collective performance.
Africa was represented at the 48‑team tournament by Algeria, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia. Nine of those 10 sides advanced from the group phase to the Round of 32 – a 90% progression rate that Motsepe described as “remarkable” and “the highest percentage to qualify to date”.
“Significant progress and successes were achieved by the African National Teams at the FIFA World Cup 2026 and I am very proud of their performances,” Motsepe said. “The 9 African National Teams that qualified from the Group Stage to the Round of 32 made history at the FIFA World Cup 2026, as this is 90% of the African National Teams that participated, and is the highest percentage to qualify to date.”
He noted that African sides accounted for just over a fifth of the participants at the tournament, but more than a quarter of the teams that reached the knockout rounds. “We have also identified specific areas where there is room for improvement and I am confident that the coaches, technical teams and players will implement the necessary improvements,” he added.
Egypt and Morocco went on to reach the Round of 16, with Morocco achieving back‑to‑back quarter‑final qualifications and cementing their position among the global elite. Motsepe also highlighted “impressive performances” by Cabo Verde, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Ghana and Tunisia, arguing that the collective showing underlines the growing depth of African football.
“The previous percentages of the African National Teams to qualify to the Knockout Stage were: 40% in 2022, none in 2018 and 40% in 2014,” he said. “This will ensure even greater successes for African National Teams in future FIFA World Cups… We remain confident that an African nation will be Champions of the FIFA World Cup.”
Motsepe announced that CAF will convene a technical and strategic conference to analyse the 2026 campaign and to prepare for 2030. “CAF will be hosting a conference and will invite the National Team coaches, technical teams, former African National team players and other football experts and stakeholders to evaluate and assess the performances of the African National Teams at the FIFA World Cup 2026, with the objective of making recommendations that will ensure that the African National Teams will be even more successful at the FIFA World Cup 2030,” he said.
He linked the World Cup performance to long‑term investments in coaching, youth development and infrastructure across the continent. “We will continue to train and invest in our boys and girls football players, amateur football, professional Football Leagues and our National Teams in each of the 54 African countries to make African Football globally competitive and amongst the best in the world,” Motsepe said.
According to the CAF president, improving facilities at home is central to sustaining this progress. “Every National Team and Football Club must play its matches in their country and in front of their local supporters and fans. It is essential that in each of our 54 Member Association Countries there is a stadium that is at the requisite CAF and FIFA level,” he said, calling for stronger partnerships with governments and the private sector to build, upgrade and maintain football infrastructure.
“We will also strengthen and expand the partnerships between our Member Associations and the Governments and the private sector to develop, support, sponsor and grow football in each of the 54 African countries,” he added. “CAF is making enormous progress in developing and growing men’s and women’s football in Africa and making it amongst the best in the world. We remain confident that an African nation will be Champions of the FIFA World Cup.”
