With a record 10 African teams competing in the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup, Morocco is expected to shine again, while Bafana Bafana faces a challenging path in Group A. Picture: ABDEL MAJID BZIOUAT / AFP/Google Gemini
Image: ABDEL MAJID BZIOUAT / AFP/Google Gemini
There will be a record 10 African teams on display at the FIFA World Cup next month, but which team has the best chance of making it deepest into the knockout stages?
Of course, the FIFA World Cup had its format expanded from 32 teams to 48, and this is the reason behind more African teams appearing at the quadrennial showpiece event.
Fortunately, the draw was designed to ensure no two African teams were drawn in the same group.
That means that Morocco, Senegal, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Ghana, Cape Verde, and DR Congo are spread across 10 of the 12 groups at this year’s edition. With the top two, plus the eight best third-placed finishers in each group advancing, there could be a strong African presence in the round of 32 knockout round.
It’s difficult to see any African team eclipsing the run of Morocco in the 2022 FIFA World Cup when they made it to the semi-finals. This time around, the top-ranked team in Africa, Morocco, is again expected to shine once more.
Drawn in Group C alongside the much-fancied Brazil, Morocco should be too strong for the other teams in their group, which are Haiti and Scotland.
Nothing less than a top-two finish in their group will be good enough for this African powerhouse. In the knockout stages, they will then be able to use their experience from 2022 when it comes to those vital pressure moments.
Depending on the draw, I would expect Morocco to at least make the quarter-finals.
Tunisia could also make a deep run at the World Cup, as they will also be expected to finish in the top two of Group D as they line up alongside co-hosts USA, Paraguay, and Australia.
Senegal, though, as the number two team in Africa, will have their world cut out in Group I alongside the mighty France, but should be too strong for Iraq and Norway.
A top two finish should be the bare minimum and should be expected to at least make it as far as the round of 16.
Meanwhile, Algeria, Ivory Coast, Egypt, and Ghana will all be expected to advance to the round of 32. As always, Ghana and the Mo Salah-led Egypt will fancy their chances of making a run to the quarter-finals.
As for Bafana Bafana? Drawn in Group A alongside co-hosts Mexico, Korea Republic, and Czechia - they will have their work cut out to finish in the top two to automatically advance. They may have to rely on being one of the best third-placed finishers.
However, finishing bottom of their group is an all-too-real possibility, and despite this tournament being the first FIFA World Cup South Africa has qualified for since the 2002 edition (2010 they gained automatic entry as hosts).
As much as Bafana have achieved by making it to the event, actually performing on the biggest stage may be a bridge too far. Let’s just hope I’m dreadfully wrong.
* The views expressed are not necessarily the views of IOL or Independent Media.
** JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Send us an email with your comments, thoughts or responses to iolletters@inl.co.za. Letters should be a maximum of 500 words, and may be edited for length. Anonymous correspondence will not be published. Submissions should include a contact number and physical address (not for publication).