The quarter-finals are the furthest an African team has gone at a FIFA World Cup. That feat was achieved by Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002), and Ghana (2010). Five countries will hope to make history this year by going at least one step further than the last eight at the tournament.
Cameroon, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia will all travel to the FIFA event from the CAF. Here is a look at who has the best chance of progressing the furthest of those teams.
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Cameroon
In Italy 12 years ago, Cameroon became the first African country to reach the last eight. Their run was eventually ended by England in extra time. Since then, they have been regulars at the FIFA World Cup finals, as they have only failed to qualify in 2006 and 2018.
Rigobert Song’s side qualified by the away goals rule against Algeria in the third round of CAF qualification. Earlier in 2022, they finished third at the Africa Cup of Nations, so they have had a solid year. Cameroon has been drawn in the same group as Brazil at the 2022 World Cup, the number one ranked team in the FIFA rankings. They will also face Serbia and Switzerland in Group G. As of the 28th of September, they are +333 in Betway’s World Cup odds to qualify for the last 16 of the competition.
Ghana
It has been 12 years since Ghanaian’s hearts were broken when their country was eliminated on penalties against Uruguay at the 2010 World Cup. As Bleacher Report documented, the Black Stars had a great tournament, but they eventually fell in the last eight. Ghana’s squad features several players who compete in Europe for major clubs. Arsenal’s Thomas Partey, Crystal Palace’s Jordan Ayew, and Leicester’s Daniel Amartey are some of their most recognizable players.
In a group that includes Portugal, Uruguay, and South Korea, Ghana will feel they have a good chance of reaching the knockout stages again. Their form will need to improve though, as they have won just one of their last five matches, with a success coming against Nicaragua.
Morocco
This will be Morocco’s sixth appearance at the World Cup finals this year. As reported by ESPN, They made it through to the competition following a 5-2 victory against DR Congo over two legs. Morocco has been in great form in 2022, they have lost just one game in 90 minutes so far. That was a 3-0 defeat to the USA back in June, as per the Los Angeles Times report. They will meet Belgium, Canada, and Croatia in Group F of the tournament.
Key players for Morocco include Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech, Sevilla forward Youssef En-Nesyri, and Serie A midfielder Sofyan Amrabat.
Senegal
Senegal is the highest-ranked African team in the FIFA world rankings. They are 18th in those standings. Their position was boosted back in February when they won the Africa Cup of Nations, beating Egypt on penalties.
Sadio Mane, Edouard Mendy, and Kalidou Koulibaly, three of the Premier League’s trending players, are some of the best players in the world in their position and they should shine in Qatar for Senegal. Their squad is full of experience and head coach Aliou Cisse seems to be getting the best out of them. He has a 69.93% win rate as manager of the national team since taking over in 2015.
The Lions of Teranga will believe they have a great chance of becoming the first African country to go all the way in the tournament. They will be expected to get out of Group A, and then they are unlikely to be a team many will enjoy facing beyond that.
Tunisia
In a group that includes defending champions France, Denmark, and Australia, Tunisia will be underdogs at the World Cup this year. Two of those teams (France and Denmark) are in the top 10 of the FIFA world rankings.
The Eagles of Carthage have failed to get out of the group stages in all five of their appearances at the World Cup finals. If they can pick up positive results against Denmark and Australia, they may make history this time around.
Montpellier forward Wahbi Khazri is the leading goalscorer in the Tunisia squad. He has scored 24 goals in 70 appearances for his country, and he is likely to be their leading goal threat. This year’s World Cup looks set to be an open tournament and it might just be the year where one of the underdogs gets their hands on the trophy.
