African Teams at the 2026 World Cup: First Round Results, Standouts, and Knockout Hopes

There are 10 African teams playing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, whose first-round results are mixed up, wins, draws and defeats.

After the opening matches, African teams recorded 2 wins, 4 draws, and 4 defeats.

How the 10 African Teams Performed in Round 1

Ghana also secured a crucial win, beating Panama 1-0 thanks to Caleb Yirenkyi’s fifth-minute goal in second-half stoppage time.

Tunisia made World Cup history by sacking Sabri Lamouchi after a humiliating 5-1 loss to Sweden.

Tunisia immediately hired African football icon Hervé Renard to save their tournament group stage campaign against Japan and the Netherlands

Standout Players from Round 1

Morocco:

• Ismael Saibari scored Morocco’s stunning first World Cup goal in the 21st minute, assisted by Brahim Diaz

Ivory Coast:

• Amad Diallo scored the 90th-minute winner after Wilfried Singo’s rampaging run set him up

Ghana:

• Caleb Yirenkyi scored the late winner in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time (95) against Panama.

Egypt:

• Emam Ashour scored Egypt’s goal in the 20th minute, before Belgium equalized within seconds of Romelu Lukaku’s arrival as a substitute, with Mohamed Hany putting through his own net.

DR Congo:

• DR Congo team fought back as Yoane Wissa, the Brentford striker, scored DR Congo’s first-ever World Cup goal, leading his nation to a1-1 draw against Portugal.

Also Read: Top African Players to Watch at FIFA World Cup 2026

Cape Verde:

• Vozinha, Cape Verde’s goalkeeper, made an incredible performance against Spain. He made 7 crucial saves, including blocking a header from Mikel Oyarzabal that was saved in the top centre of the goal. Vozinha’s outstanding defensive work helped Cape Verde hold Spain to a 0-0 draw, surprising everyone.

South Africa’s Match Today Against Czech Republic and Their First-Round Red Card Effect

South Africa, currently in 4th place in Group A with zero points, faces the Czech Republic on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

South Africa’s opening match against Mexico turned into a nightmare.

In their first-round match against Mexico, South Africa were reduced to nine men after red cards for Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane, which led to the Bafana Bafana losing 2-0.

With two red cards in their first match, South Africa has now totaled four dismissals in World Cup history.

Next Matches: Round 2 and Round 3 Fixtures for the African Teams

Round 2 Fixtures

 Round 3 Fixtures (Final Group Matches)

 Can African Teams Progress to the Knockouts?

Only the top two teams in each group qualify for the Round of 16. Here’s what each African team needs:

Group C: Morocco

• Current: 1 point (3rd place)
• What they need: In the two matches remaining, Morocco needs 4+ points for a high chance of qualification. 5 points will ensure safety, while 4 points will likely get them in as the best third-place team.

Group E: Ivory Coast

• Current: 3 points (2nd place)
• What they need: To qualify, they need one more win (6 points) or draw (4 points). A draw from Germany guarantees qualification for them.

Group L: Ghana

• Current: 3 points (1st place after beating Panama)
• What they need: One more win (6+ points) or a draw (4 points) against England or Croatia will guarantee a knockout stage spot.

Group G: Egypt

• Current: 1 point (3rd/4th place)
• What they need: A win (4+ points) or consecutive draws (3 points) against New Zealand and Iran can make them advance.

Group H: Cape Verde

• Current: 1 point (2nd place after holding Spain 0-0)
• What they need: In order to qualify, needs to secure at least 3 more points against Uruguay and Saudi Arabia

Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2026 Explained: How Teams Will Progress Out of the Group Stages in New Format

Group I: DR Congo

• Current: 1 point (2nd/3rd place after 1-1 draw with Portugal)
• What they need:DR Congo qualifies by winning (4+ points) or drawing (3 points) against Colombia and Uzbekistan to advance.

Group I: Senegal

• Current: 0 points (4th place)
• What they need: Senegal needs at least four points from upcoming matches against Norway and Iraq to safely secure a knockout stage spot

Group J: Algeria

• Current: 0 points (4th place)
• What they need: They need at least four points from remaining matches against Austria and Jordan to advance to the knockout stage.

Group A: South Africa

• Current: 0 points (4th place)
• What they need: South Africa will need at least four points against Czechia and South Korea to secure a knockout stage spot.

Group F: Tunisia

• Current: 0 points (4th place)
• What they need: Win both remaining matches against Japan and the Netherlands and have the best goal difference among third-place teams (minimum 6 points)

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