Africa’s hopes undone by familiar late sucker punch
Mqondisi Dube | Monday July 6, 2026 06:00
Africa’s World Cup hopefuls are dropping one by one, undone by a familiar curse. For the first time since 1930, Africa had 10 representatives at this year’s global football showpiece.
It is a massive jump from zero at the first World Cup 96 years ago, and the continent took this year’s invitation with both hands. Africa’s representatives have left a lasting impression across the co-hosting countries of the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The 10 representatives ensured a 90% success rate for the continent as they all but one emerged from the group stages. Tunisia became the odd one out as South Africa, Senegal, Morocco, debutants Cape Verde, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Algeria, and Ghana all made it out of the group stages. It was widely held as a firm reminder of Africa’s leap into the global football elite. Africa’s 90% success rate was the best for all six continents, with South America coming second at 83.3% whilst Europe was third with 81.25%. Out of nine Asian teams that qualified for the World Cup, only two – Japan and Australia – made it to the round of 32.
North America had a 50% success rate after three teams, the United States, Canada, and Mexico, progressed to the next round. Oceania had one team, New Zealand, and the All Whites finished bottom of their group to board the next plane home. But whilst Africa was still celebrating a milestone, the round of 32 revealed a recurring curse as one-by-one teams departed the grand stage. A lot was expected given the campaign-defining displays in the group stages.
In particular, new boys Cape Verde typified Africa’s defiance in a 0-0 stalemate against former champions Spain, whilst DRC were unmoved against a star-studded Portugal side. It set the tone for the rest of the tournament as African nations made a loud statement.
With nine in the round of 32, the continent was looking for further progress in a tournament where Africa has been measured by how deep their teams go rather than being in to win it. But the latest round has served to disappoint for an expectant continent. South Africa, who had secured progress after shocking South Korea 1-0, suffered the first of many sucker punches to follow for the continent.
Bafana Bafana were in control of their tie against co-hosts Canada, but conceded deep into injury time to become the continent’s first casualty in the round of 32. Against the Netherlands, Morocco were the better side, but failed to finish off the Dutch in regulation time, needing a penalty shoot-out to settle the contest.
The North Africans became the first team from the continent to progress to the round of 16. On Tuesday, Ivory Coast had Norway on the ropes for the larger part of the match but conceded first before Manchester United’s Amad Diallo appeared to have forced the tie into extra time. But just like South Africa, Ivory Coast conceded late to bow out of the competition.
The DRC lined up next and had a dream start when Briand Cipenga gave them a seventh-minute lead. But like their other brothers, the Congolese let two late Harry Kane goals to decide the contest. The late sucker punch has persistently haunted African teams in this round of 32, but none was as devastating as Senegal’s heartbreak against Belgium. On Wednesday night, as the continent rallied behind the Lions of Teranga, few could have anticipated what was to come. Africa was sent into delirium when Habib Diarra poked home from close range.
Senegal had appeared to take the game away from the fancied Belgians when Ismail Sarr doubled the West African’s lead. Belgium were poor and rarely threatened Senegal, appearing resigned to an early flight back to Brussels.
But the proverbial sucker punch, the ever-present danger, was lurking ominously. And it did strike. With four minutes of regulation time, Romelu Lukaku pulled back what appeared to be a consolation goal.
But with Africa’s history with sucker punches in this round of 32, there was unease written all over the Senegalese fans in the stadium.
The heart-sinking moment was delivered right at the death when Youri Tielmans found the equaliser in the 89th minute. From then on, the familiar script played out as Belgium converted a penalty in extra time, delivering another sucker punch to end Africa’s hopes.
Football fans took to social media questioning the mentality of African teams in managing games. However, local football analyst Jimmy George argues it is not just a mentality issue.
“It is different things for different teams. For Bafana Bafana, it’s inexperience, whilst for Senegal it is lack of motivation from a team that has played together for a long time and suffered internal issues.
DRC also showed they could do with a bit of maturity, and Ivory Coast lack genuine match winners, and they were badly exposed by Norway,” he said.
“So there is no blanket solution to the problem. It is commendable that almost all the teams negotiated the initial phase, so, in all, it’s a good performance all round, and Cape Verde and Morocco deserve special mention,” George added. Zebras assistant coach, Pontsho ‘Piro’ Moloi said African teams lack a huge aspect of game management. “This also is because a whole lot of them are still not satisfied with where they play (at club level) so they are more interested in trying to sell themselves and forget the mandate of the team at hand,” Moloi said.