The African soccer continent has provided many talented and popular teams with world-class players. Let’s take a look at the top 10 African teams with the most World Cup appearances.
Although no African team has won the World Cup, the African continent has had plenty of participation in the competition.
Let’s take a look at the African teams with the most World Cup appearances.
Without a doubt, Roger Milla’s homeland, Cameroon, is the African country with the most FIFA World Cup participations in history, with seven final phases.
The top 10 African teams to have taken part in the FIFA World Cup?
1-Cameroon: 8 times (1982, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2010, 2014 and 2022)
In December 2022, they kicked off their 2022 World Cup campaign with a 1-0 defeat (their 8th consecutive World Cup loss) to Switzerland, despite a good first half.
During this match, André Onana set a record for a goalkeeper by touching 26 of his 61 balls from outside the penalty area.
Shortly before their second match, André Onana was suspended for indiscipline.
The match against Serbia ended 3-3, with goals from Jean-Charles Castelletto (1st goal in the 29th minute plus an assist on the 2nd goal), Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Vincent Aboubakar (2nd goal in the 63rd minute plus an assist on the 3rd goal).
The introduction of Vincent Aboubakar (55th minute) changed the match situation, with Cameroon trailing 3-1.
Cameroon’s final group match ended in a 1-0 victory over Brazil, a goal scored by captain Vincent Aboubakar in the 90th minute from a cross by Jerome Ngom Mbekeli.
Cameroon thus became the first African nation to beat Brazil in a World Cup match.
2- Morocco: 6 times (1970, 1986, 1994, 1998, 2018 and 2022)
La participation du Maroc à la Coupe du Monde de la FIFA 2022 fait suite à l’échec de la qualification pour la Coupe d’Afrique des Nations 2021.
Après avoir terminé en tête d’un groupe comprenant le Ghana, le Gabon et les Comores, les Lions de l’Atlas ont battu le Malawi (2-1) en huitième de finale, avant d’être éliminés par l’Égypte malgré l’ouverture du score (2-1, après prolongation).
En mars 2022, le Maroc se qualifie pour la Coupe du monde 2022 au Qatar, après avoir battu la République démocratique du Congo (aller à Kinshasa : 1-1, retour à Casablanca : 4-1), atteignant ainsi sa sixième phase finale depuis sa première participation en 1970 au Mexique.
Le 31 août 2022, Walid Regragui a été présenté comme nouveau sélectionneur par Fouzi Lekjaa lors d’une conférence de presse au Complexe Mohammed VI.
Il succède à Vahid Halilhodžić, déjà très critiqué depuis l’élimination de l’équipe de la Coupe d’Afrique des Nations, et en conflit avec certains joueurs clés de l’équipe, comme Hakim Ziyech et Noussair Mazraoui.
A moins de trois mois de la Coupe du Monde, cette décision suscite de nombreuses inquiétudes chez les supporters.
3- Le Nigeria : 6 fois (1994, 1998, 2002, 2010, 2014 et 2018)
At the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, Nigeria finished 2nd in Group B with 6 points behind Madagascar, against whom they suffered a surprise defeat on the final day of the group stages (0-2).
But the Super Eagles made it all the way to the semi-finals, where they were beaten by eventual winners Algeria (1-2), before winning the match for 3rd place against Tunisia (1-0).
At the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, Nigeria were drawn in Pool D with Sudan, Egypt and Guinea-Bissau.
They finished 1st in the group with three wins from 3 matches. Unfortunately, Tunisia stood in their way in the Round of 8.
The Super Eagles then failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar against Ghana. Led by an immersive array of strikers such as Victor Osimhen , Victor Boniface , Moses Simon , Terem Moffi , Samuel Chukwueze, Kelechi Iheanacho etc., Nigeria will be looking forward to conquering their 4th star in Côte d’Ivoire in January 2024.
4- Tunisia: 6 times (1978, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2018 and 2022)
the Tunisian soccer team’s performance at the 2022 Football World Cup, to be held in Qatar from November 20 to December 18, 2022. This will be the country’s sixth appearance in the competition, after 1978, 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2018.
Tunisia meets France, Denmark and Australia in Group D.
For the sixth time, Tunisia fails to qualify for the second round of the World Cup, having finished the tournament in 21st place after a draw (0-0) against Denmark, a defeat (0-1) against Australia and a win (1-0) against France.
5- Ghana: 4 times (2006, 2010, 2014 and 2022)
Having qualified for their fourth World Cup, Ghana are keen to shine in their return to the competition.
Ambitious, the Black Stars arrive determined in a very evenly-matched Group H.
Ghana has become something of a World Cup regular in recent years. Last March, Ghana booked their place at the World Cup in Qatar, their 4th appearance after 2006, 2010 and 2014.
In a group made up of South Africa, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe, Ghana gave themselves a scare, securing first place through direct confrontation with South Africa, who finished with the same number of points (13 pts).
A favourable scenario, but not enough to get to the World Cup.
They then had to overcome Nigeria in the play-offs. In the meantime, the Black Stars had a very disappointing CAN, being eliminated in the first round.
So, against Nigeria, the Ayew brothers’ team-mates were not favourites. However, after two average matches, Ghana finally validated their ticket thanks to the away-goal rule (0-0, 1-1).
Enough to take part in the next World Cup and fill an entire nation with joy.
6- Algeria: 4 times (1982, 1986, 2010 and 2014)
The Algerian team played its first match under the name of the ALN team on June 1, 1957 against Tunisia at the height of the Algerian War, at the Stade Chedly
-Zouiten Stadium in Tunis, winning by a score of six goals to one.
Following the country’s independence in 1962, the first official match in its history was played on January 6, 1963 against Bulgaria, a match won by a score of two goals to one. The Algerian national team qualified for its first World Cup finals in 1970.
It won its first trophy in 1990 at the African Cup of Nations. The team’s best result came in 2019, when it won the competition for the second time in its history.
In the World Cup, Algeria has qualified for a final tournament on four occasions, in 1982, 1986, 2010 and in 2014 in Brazil, where Algeria qualified for the Round of 16 for the first time in its history, becoming the sixth African nation to reach this level.
7- Egypt: 3 times (1934, 1990 and 2018)
It was to be the story of the 2018 World Cup. Egypt, which hadn’t taken part in a World Cup since Italy in 1990, was returning to the world’s biggest competition after a number of hopeful seasons, and having recovered from its dark years.
In February 2012, 74 people were killed in clashes between supporters. The Port Said massacre had led to the suspension of the national championship for two seasons, following the popular uprising of January 2011 and months of political instability. At the time, Egyptian soccer was in dire straits. It has bounced back magnificently.
In March 2015, Hector Cuper took over the reins of the national team. Thanks to his extensive coaching experience, notably on the bench of Inter Milan and Valencia (where he was twice a Champions League finalist), the Argentinian qualified Egypt for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, after the Pharaohs had missed out on three editions. A lesser evil for a country that holds the record for victories in this competition with seven continental crowns.
Cuper once again failed to reach the final, losing to Cameroon (2-1), but regaining his former prestige. His qualification for the Russian World Cup, in a well-controlled group, provoked scenes of jubilation in Cairo.
This time, Egypt, buoyed by its star Mohamed Salah, regained visibility on the international stage and went on to take part in its third World Cup, after 1934 and 1990 in Italy.
Egypt cursed?
“We’re out of luck with this competition,” Egyptian fans told Le Monde in 2014. I don’t know, maybe the players don’t have the mental strength, maybe they prefer to play for their clubs, like those who play in Europe.
I can’t understand how you can do well at the African Cup of Nations and still fail in the World Cup qualifiers.”
Cuper’s players built up their mental strength during the qualifiers, despite the constant pressure on their shoulders.
I take anti-hypertensive medication because of the stress caused by constant criticism,” explained the Argentine coach, who has seen it all during his long career, which began in 1993 as coach of CA Huracan.
Life is full of stress, but this challenge, reaching the World Cup, is the toughest I’ve ever faced.
With their place at the World Cup in the bag, Egypt began to dream of reaching the Round of 16. Having been drawn in what appeared on paper to be a very manageable group, the entire country believed in its chances of progressing beyond the first round.
Even so, with Uruguay and their star-studded line-up, and hosts and group favourites Russia, the task was still a tall order.
The injury to striker Mohamed Salah, of course, thwarted Egypt’s early plans.
After suffering a shoulder injury in the Champions League final following a controversial duel with Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos, the Liverpool striker missed his side’s opening match against Uruguay, which they lost cruelly in the dying minutes.
8- South Africa: 3 times (1998, 2002 and 2010)
The Football World Cup 2010 is the nineteenth edition of the Football World Cup. It took place from June 11 to July 11, 2010 in South Africa, and was won by Spain.
It was the first World Cup finals to be held on African soil. The host country was chosen in May 2004.
From August 2007 to November 2009, selections from 203 countries or political entities took part in a qualifying phase, with the aim of selecting the 31 teams who would play in the final tournament, along with South Africa, automatically qualified as the host country.
This World Cup saw a number of firsts, including the first-round elimination of the two finalists from the previous edition, Italy and France.
South Africa also became the first World Cup host nation to fail to progress beyond the first round. France also made world headlines with a players’ strike that would go down in history.
It was also the first time a European country had won outside its own continent. What’s more, for the first time in 12 years, the winner is a newcomer:
Spain, who had previously only appeared in the last four once (fourth in 1950), took the title, beating the Netherlands in the final after extra time 1-0 on a goal by Andrés Iniesta.
The final itself was also unprecedented, as these two teams had never met in a World Cup.
The Netherlands set a record of three lost finals (1974, 1978, 2010) for a non-titled country, while Spain set a record for the fewest goals scored by a world champion, with eight goals, including five by David Villa alone.
Like Germany in 1972 and 1974, and France in 1998 and 2000, Spain completed the Euro-World Cup double, having won the continental title in 2008.
Finally, it was also the first time that a team had won a World Cup after losing its opening match.
However, one team remained unbeaten during the finals: New Zealand, who failed to progress beyond the first round with three draws from as many matches in their group.
9- Senegal: 3 times (2002, 2018 and 2022)
The Senegalese soccer team is taking part in the 2022 World Cup to be held in Qatar from November 20 to December 18, 2022. This is the third time the Lions, led by Aliou Cissé, have taken part. They reached the Round of 16, where they were eliminated by England (3-0).
10- Côte d’Ivoire: 3 times (2006, 2010 and 2014)
With the 2014 World Cup, Côte d’Ivoire is bringing along its golden generation, led by Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou and Yaya Touré, who we want to support and see through to the end of the World Cup.
And yet, in their last two participations, in 2006 and 2010, the Elephants disappointed (two first-round eliminations) and were unlucky to fall into two very tough groups.
For this, their third World Cup entry, the Ivorians have no excuse: their lack of experience of big duels and the so-called “groups of death” are behind them.
Sabri Lamouchi’s squad features experienced players who are used to major club competitions. The backbone of the 2012 African vice-champions is swarming with players in their thirties, such as Kolo Touré (33), the indefatigable captain Didier Drogba (36) and Yaya Touré (31).
Alongside them is a youthful, athletic and energetic line-up featuring Serge Aurier (21), Gervinho (27) and Wilfried Bony (25), all of whom are preferred to veterans such as Emmanuel Eboué and Romaric.
Côte d’Ivoire boast a number of excellent individual players who have known each other for two World Cup campaigns, some even three.
Surrounded by a Falcao-less Colombia, an unpredictable Greece and a modest Japan, the Elephants will have the bitter impression of having wasted their last ammunition if they don’t make it out of the group stage.
| Pos | Teams | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Cameroun | 1982, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2010, 2014 et 2022 |
| 2. | Maroc | 1970, 1986, 1994, 1998, 2018 et 2022 |
| 3. | Nigéria | 1994, 1998, 2002, 2010, 2014 et 2018 |
| 4. | Tunisie | 1978, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2018 et 2022 |
| 5. | Ghana | 2006, 2010, 2014 et 2022 |
| 6. | Algérie | 1982, 1986, 2010 et 2014 |
| 7. | Egypte | 1934, 1990 et 2018 |
| 8. | Afrique du Sud | 1998, 2002 et 2010 |
| 9. | Sénégal | 2002, 2018 et 2022 |
| 10. | Côte d’Ivoire | 2006, 2010 et 2014 |
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