JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AFP) — When four-time World Cup winners Italy failed to qualify for the 2026 tournament, then Head Coach Gennaro Gattuso lamented that Africa had so many places at the global showcase.

“Africa deserves fewer World Cup slots,” he said, referring to the number of automatic qualifying places allocated to that continent rising from five to nine, in an expanded 48-nation event.

It became 10 when the Democratic Republic of Congo won an inter-continental play-off and returned to the World Cup after 52 years.

Was Gattuso, a midfielder in the Italian 2006 World Cup-winning team, correct? Was Africa over-represented in the United States, Canada and Mexico?

Apart from a disastrous showing by Tunisia, who axed Coach Sabri Lamouchi after their first group game and lost all three matches, African flag-bearers proved competitive, justifying their presence.

The other nine representatives reached the knockout stage, five as group runners-up. The other four were among the eight best third-placed teams.

That represents 90 per cent success, the highest among the FIFA regions, followed by South America (83.33), Europe (81.25) and Asia (22.22).

Europe did surge to the fore in the knockout phase with six quarter-finalists. Africa and South America had one each.

African teams were less successful in the round of 32, with seven eliminated. Egypt made the round of 16 and Morocco became the first African team to reach the quarter-finals twice.

A worrying trend was conceding late goals, with star strikers Lionel Messi, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland among those benefiting.

Messi levelled as Argentina turned a two-goal deficit against Egypt into a 3-2 triumph. Kane struck twice as England edged DR Congo and Haaland netted the winner for Norway over Ivory Coast.

A spectacular collapse saw Senegal surrender a two-goal advantage with five minutes remaining against Belgium to lose after extra time.

Many Africans believed Senegal would be the best performers of the 10 qualifiers, but they flopped, losing three of four games and scraping into the round of 32 as the eighth best third-placed side.

In the aftermath of the Teranga Lions’ exit there were hints of internal strife. Midfielder Pape Gueye said he would not represent his country again until Coach Pape Thiaw was dumped.

Egypt led Argentina 2-0, having had another goal controversially disallowed, with 12 minutes left. But a dramatic turnaround led to an Enzo Fernandez header giving the title-holders a 3-2 victory.

Losing Coach Hossam Hassan speculated that the officiating team for the game, headed by French Referee Francois Letexier, may have been subjected to “external pressure” to favour Argentina.

FIFA referees chief Pierluigi Collina responded: “Match officials make honest decisions and, just like players and coaches, they always try to do their best.”

TV analyst and former French star Thierry Henry said, “African sides relax too early. People talk about talent and passion, but when they go two goals up, the focus drops.”

Brazil’s Vinicius Junior (left) dribbles past Morocco’s Neil El Aynaoui during the World Cup Group C opener at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, United States, on June 13, 2026. (Photo: AFP)

Co-analyst and ex-Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic added: “Several African teams that were leading found a way to lose. In a World Cup, that is not bad luck, that is bad game management.”

Morocco losing to France in the quarter-finals demonstrated that while African football is progressing, there is still a significant gap when facing the cream of Europe.

It took the Atlas Lions 83 minutes to have a shot on target and France goalkeeper Michael Maignan comfortably pushed away the speculative shot from Azzedine Ounahi.

There were no excuses from Morocco Coach Mohamed Ouahbi: “France are a really great side… they have rarely had as much talent as they do now.”

Morocco have already qualified for the 2030 World Cup along with fellow hosts Portugal and Spain. A 115,000-seat stadium is being built near Casablanca with an eye to staging the final.

While Morocco went furthest, last-32 losers Cape Verde enthralled millions of spectators and TV viewers, despite not winning any of their four matches.

The tiny archipelago off west Africa with a population of just over half a million people defied Spain in their opening match to force a 0-0 draw.

Goalkeeper Vozinha, 40, made a string of superb saves to foil one of the title favourites. The worldwide impact was stunning. His Instagram following soared from 50,000 to five million.

Cape Verde equalised twice before losing 2-3 to Argentina in a last-32 tie, and their second goal — a looping cross-cum-shot from Sidny Lopes Cabral — should be a contender for the best of the tournament.