Dear Editor,

The year was 1930, and a dozen years had elapsed since the conclusion of World War I. It was also 26 years since the major football nations formed the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).

In 1930, the 13 nations that comprised FIFA launched the inaugural World Cup tournament which had all members participating via invitation.

In that inaugural tournament only three of the seven continents participated, and it was done automatically since qualifying rounds did not become part of international football protocol until 1934.

That tournament in 1934 welcomed the continent of Africa as Egypt demolished British-controlled Palestine 11-1 in home-and-away qualifiers. So the cradle of civilisation was now playing the beautiful game with the rest of the planet.

The other three continents were South America, North America, and Europe. Egypt was the new kid on the proverbial continental block. The only participant from the African continent.

In 2030, FIFA will be celebrating a century of World Cup football. As the world prepares for the 2026 tournament in June, only Morocco from Northern Africa have advanced as far as the semi-finals, and that was in Qatar during the 2022 staging of the event. Other African nations that advanced to the quarter-finals were Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002, and Ghana in the South Africa-hosted 2010 tournament.

Cameroon, which didn’t qualify this time around, previously qualified eight times for the World Cup. The other three will all be participating in the current tournament. These three nations have qualified a total of 16 times for the World Cup.

Ghana, although not doing well in the recently concluded African Nations Cup, are qualifying for their fifth tournament along with a quarter-final appearance in 2010 and must be taken seriously.

Morocco, a seven-time qualifier and losing finalist in the 2026 African Nations Cup, are intent on improving on their fourth-place finish in 2022, while Senegal, the current African Nations Cup champion, have qualified for their third consecutive World Cup and are definitely going to be a force to be reckoned with as they try to improve on their 2002 quarter-final appearance.

Defenders will certainly have their hands full as they endeavour to contain Sadio Mane, the elusive, deft-passing, precision-shooting ex-Liverpool and current Al Nassar forward who now earns his keep in the Saudi Arabian professional league. Mane was also awarded the Most Valuable Player award in the 2026 African Nations Cup final.

It would be foolhardy and short-sighted to underestimate the chances of Egypt, led by Mohamed Salah; Algeria, led by Riyad Mahrez; South Africa, bolstered by central defender Lyle Foster; and Cape Verde, with veteran Roberto Lopes in defence. Mention must also be made of Antoine Semenyo, Manchester City’s two-footed forward who plays for Ghana, as well as Franck Kessie, Barcelona’s hard-working midfielder who will be assuming control of Ivory Coast’s midfield.

Having outlined all the above, safe wagering dictates that Senegal should be the African nation, based on current form, that will advance to the semi-finals with a pragmatic chance of playing in the finals.

As one reflects on how geopolitical realities affect life generally and sports specifically, the ramifications of 19th-century European political decisions that have so adversely affected the African continent readily come to mind.

If the scramble for Africa did not materialise after the Berlin conference (1884-1885), which was attended by 14 European nations, with no African participation, what a different Africa we would have today. European racism in the 19th century had no boundaries, as the advent of neo-colonialism has so aptly displayed.

Just contemplate for a second how invincible the continent would have been with all that incredible football talent playing as the United States of Africa. The continent that has supplied the needs and wants of the entire Western world for centuries would have the number one football squad on Earth.

Will 2026 be the year when Africa plays in the final on July 19 in the Met Life Stadium, East Rutherford New Jersey? Who knows? But I do know that I wouldn’t be wrong if I stated, without fear of refutation or contradiction, that the most dynamic and prolific footballer known to humankind was an African. But just because of the intricacies and complexities of the North Atlantic Slave Trade, he became known as a Brazilian.

You can take the baller out of Africa, but you can’t take Africa out of the baller. Will Africa be crowned world champions in 2026, 2030, or in 2034? I don’t know, but I do know, as sure as night follows day, that a nation from that continent will one day be crowned champion of the world. Hopefully, much sooner than later.

Jah D