The Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe has issued a statement to congratulate the nine Africans who made it past the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is co-hosted in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
In the tournament that kicked off on June 11th, nine teams made it from the group stage, the first time in the history of the FIFA World Cup that 90% of the African national teams qualified from the group stage of the global showpiece.
The teams that qualified include; Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and South Africa.
“On behalf of the CAF Member Associations that represent 54 African Countries, I would like to express our heartfelt congratulations to the national team players and technical teams of Algeria, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and South Africa for their hard-earned and well-deserved qualification to the FIFA World Cup Round of 32,” read a statement from Motsepe.
“The players and technical teams have made each of their countries proud and have also made the 1.6 billion people on the African Continent and in the Diaspora, proud.
“The global competitiveness and world-class quality of African football is being recognised and highlighted by the victories and qualification to the FIFA World Cup, Round of 32, by each of the nine African national teams.”
Motsepe’s statement added: “The hard work and investments in youth football development, coaching, professional football leagues and football infrastructure in each of CAF’s 54 Member Associations and in the CAF Competitions are bearing fruit.
“The governance, transparency, management, financial and auditing best practices that have been introduced have attracted new sponsors and partners and these financial partnerships have contributed to the development and growth of African football.
“I also want to congratulate the nine CAF Member Association Presidents and their Executive Committees and to thank the African Governments for their cooperation and support of the CAF Member Associations in their countries.
“CAF wishes each and every one of the nine African national teams that will continue competing in the FIFA World Cup, everything of the best and we are confident that they will continue to make their countries and Africa extremely proud.”
