The president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Dr. Patrice Motsepe, congratulated the nine African teams that qualified for the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026. This unprecedented collective achievement, according to him, showcases the steady progress of African football on the international stage and confirms the evolution of the continent’s nations against global powerhouses.
For the first time in the history of the competition, Africa boasts a success rate of 90% for its representatives advancing past the group stage. The nine qualified teams are South Africa, Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, and Senegal. This massive presence at such an advanced stage of the competition marks a significant turning point for African football, which has long struggled with consistency and performance at the highest level.
In a statement released this Sunday, Patrice Motsepe praised the commitment of the players and the work of the coaching staff. He highlighted the symbolic significance of this success, stating, “The competitiveness of African football on the world stage, as well as its world-class level, is recognized and highlighted by the victories and qualifications of each of these nine national teams.” The CAF president also emphasized the pride felt across the continent and its diaspora through these results.
The CAF president believes these performances are the result of a deep transformation in African football. He pointed out several development areas, including investment in youth talent training, professionalizing coaching staff, and the gradual improvement of national leagues. Added to this are efforts made in modernizing sports infrastructure and governance reforms aimed at enhancing transparency and financial management of federations.
🚨 𝐂𝐀𝐅 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐬𝐞𝐩𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝟗 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐈𝐅𝐀 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐂𝐮𝐩 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝟑𝟐. 🌍🔥
For the first time in World Cup history, 90% of Africa’s… pic.twitter.com/8SkIBxYPZg
— Micky Jnr (@MickyJnr__) June 28, 2026
According to Patrice Motsepe, this structural evolution has also helped boost the attractiveness of African football to economic partners and international sponsors. These new investments contribute to solidifying the foundations for the long-term development of the sport on the continent. The leader also thanked the national federations and public authorities for their role in this achievement while expressing encouragement to the teams still in the competition.
