FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Motsepe
The president of the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) Patrice Motsepe congratulated the nine African national teams that qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32.
“It is the first time in the history of the FIFA World Cup that 90 per cent of the African national teams qualified from the group stage of the FIFA World Cup,” Motsepe said.
The nine national teams that qualified for the Round of 32 are Algeria, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and South Africa.
Only Tunisia did not make it past the group stage.
In the opening game of the knockouts on Sunday, South Africa fell to co-hosts Canada 1-0 in the 92nd minute.
“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 2026 Round of 32,” Motsepe said.
“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 World Cup 2026 Round of 32 by each of the nine African national teams.
“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, is 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 presidents of the nine CAF member associations 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 World Cup all the best and we are confident that they will continue to make their countries and Africa extremely proud.”
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