Africans’ World Cup Round up: Who’s surging, hanging on, and out after Matchday 2

Matchday 2 was a rollercoaster for Africa’s ten World Cup representatives, and by the time the dust settled, the continent’s fortunes had been rewritten in dramatic fashion.

A historic goal in record time. A coaching change that didn’t save a sinking ship. A debutant nation refusing to read the script against two-time champions. Last-gasp goals, stunning comebacks, and one defensive masterclass that frustrated a footballing giant for ninety minutes straight.

From the Atlas Mountains to the Sahara, Africa’s World Cup story took twists nobody saw coming. Some teams strengthened their grip on the knockout stages.

Others watched their dreams slip away in the cruellest fashion. And a few are still hanging on by the thinnest of threads, with everything to play for in the final round.

Here’s how every African team fared in Matchday 2 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Africans’ World Cup Round Up: Matchday 2

South Africa survived early elimination

South Africa’s World Cup hopes flicker back to life as Teboho Mokoena’s late penalty rescued a vital point against Czech Republic in Atlanta.

After a disappointing opening defeat to Mexico, in an eerie echo of the 2010 World Cup, where the same fixture opened the tournament on home soil.

Bafana Bafana had a point to prove in their second outing. Things didn’t start well: Michal Sadilek fired Czech Republic ahead in just the sixth minute, capitalizing on sloppy South African defending.

For long stretches it looked like another frustrating afternoon, until Pavel Šulc’s inadvertent handball in the box gave South Africa a way back. Mokoena stepped up and converted from the spot in the 83rd minute, sending his shot low past goalkeeper Matěj Kovář to snatch a crucial 1-1 draw.

The result keeps South Africa’s World Cup dream alive heading into a decisive final group game against South Korea. A win would give Bafana Bafana a strong chance of reaching the round of 32 for the first time in their history. Though their progress isn’t entirely in their own hands, with Group A still wide open heading into the final round.

Morocco takes bold step towards round 32

CAF crowned champions of Africa, Morocco, took a huge step toward the round of 32 with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Scotland, following an opening 1-1 draw against Brazil.

PSV Eindhoven’s Ismael Saibari reportedly closing in on a move to Bayern Munich was again the difference-maker, netting the only goal of the game just 70 seconds in.

It’s the fastest goal ever scored by Morocco at a World Cup, overtaking a previous one set by Hakim Ziyech, and came with a personal history for Saibari, who joins Mohamed Salah as the only Africans to score in each of their first two World Cup appearances.

The result lifted the Atlas Lions to the top of Group C with four points, before they were ultimately overtaken by Brazil, who won 3-0 against Haiti, on goal difference.

With qualification to the knockout stages seemingly assured, Morocco face the already eliminated Haiti next, looking for a win that may seen them finish as group winner.

Unlucky Elephants bow to Germany

Ivory Coast’s World Cup rollercoaster experience continued in Toronto, where a stunning comeback from Germany turned the Elephants’ bright start into 2-1 heartbreak.

Yan Diomande tore through the German defence all game, and his low cross was turned home by captain Franck Kessié in the 30th minute to put the underdogs ahead.

Ivory Coast held firm for long periods, But Germany’s bench changed the game: substitute Deniz Undav volleyed in an equaliser in the 68th minute, then struck again in the 94th to snatch a dramatic win and send the Germans through to the round of 32.

Despite the late heartbreak, Ivory Coast’s fate remains in their own hands. A win or draw against already-eliminated Curaçao in their final group game would be enough to secure a maiden trip to the knockout rounds.

Given the fight they’ve shown in both matches so far, the Elephants look every bit like one of the African sides capable of making a real run at this World Cup.

Clueless Tunisia sent packing

Tunisia became the first African team eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, their exit confirmed by a 4-0 defeat to Japan that leaves them with nothing to play for in their final group game.

The campaign unraveled fast. A 5-1 opening-day mauling by Sweden cost Sabri Lamouchi his job, with the federation sacking him just one matchday in, making Tunisia only the second nation in World Cup history to change coach mid-tournament twice, having also done so in 1998.

The collapse is a brutal reversal of fortunes for a side that didn’t concede a single goal across ten qualifying matches. Tunisia have now shipped nine goals in two games at the tournament proper, a stark contrast to the meanest defensive record in African qualifying history.

There’s no escaping the disappointment, but Tunisia will want to finish on a respectable note when they close out their group campaign against the Netherlands.

Egypt earned first win in 92 years

Egypt secured their first-ever FIFA World Cup win after 92 years thanks to three second-half goals in comeback victory against New Zealand in Vancouver, which leaves them on the cusps of history as they look destined for the knockouts.

A 1-1 draw against Belgium in their opener left Egypt still hunting for a feat that had eluded them across three previous World Cup appearances, a first-ever win at the tournament.

Round 2 against New Zealand didn’t start well, with Finn Surman heading the All Whites into a 15th-minute lead, and the Pharaohs went in behind at halftime for the first time in their World Cup history.

But the Egyptians roared back after the break: Mostafa Zico headed home an equaliser in the 58th minute, Mohamed Salah swept in the go-ahead goal nine minutes later, and substitute Trezeguet added a third with a diving header in the 82nd.

The 3-1 win secured Egypt’s first-ever World Cup victory at the ninth time of asking; a 92-year wait since their tournament debut.

The result lifts Egypt to the top of Group G, though qualification isn’t yet confirmed. With a draw and a win to their name, the Pharaohs now face Iran in their final group match, needing at least a point to guarantee their spot in the round of 32.

Cape Verde continues fairytale run

From World Cup debutants to genuine round of 32 contenders. Cape Verde’s stunning 2-2 draw with Uruguay has the Blue Sharks one result away from history.

The Blue Sharks made history with their World Cup debut, and they made it count, holding Spain to a thrilling 0-0 draw in their opening match.

Round 2 against two-time champions Uruguay was an even bigger statement. Kevin Pina opened the scoring in the 21st minute with a stunning 32-meter free kick, Cape Verde’s first-ever World Cup goal, only for Maxi Araújo and Agustín Canobbio to put Uruguay ahead with two goals either side of half-time.

But Cape Verde refused to fold: substitute Hélio Varela, on for mere minutes, pounced on a goalkeeping error to fire home the equaliser, securing a stunning 2-2 draw.

The result leaves Cape Verde third in Group H, level on points with Uruguay, heading into a final group game against Saudi Arabia.

A win would put their fate in their own hands and could be enough to secure a maiden trip to the round of 32, either as group runners-up or among the best third-placed teams, depending on how results elsewhere fall.

Even a draw could keep their hopes alive. For a nation making its World Cup debut, the Blue Sharks have already written one of the great underdog stories of this tournament.

Senegal fumbled in Norway defeat

Senegal’s hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is now hanging on a thread after the Teranga Lions fell to a second defeat in as many games against round of 32 bound Norway.

The Teranga Lions were tipped as one of the African sides to watch, but their tournament has unraveled fast. A 3-1 opening defeat to France was followed by more heartbreak against Norway in round 2.

Marcus Pedersen put Norway ahead just before the break, and Erling Haaland doubled the lead moments into the second half with a clinical finish.

Ismaila Sarr hauled Senegal back into it with a well-taken goal, only for Haaland to restore the two-goal cushion minutes later.

Sarr wasn’t done, though, he struck again deep into stoppage time to make it 3-2, but the comeback fell agonizingly short as Norway held on.

The result confirmed Norway’s place in the round of 32 and leaves Senegal’s World Cup hopes hanging by a thread.

With two defeats from two, the Teranga Lions now face a must-win finale against Iraq, and even then, they’ll need goals to spare and a slice of luck elsewhere if they’re to sneak into the best-third-place qualification picture.

Algeria secured first win in 14 years

Algeria came from behind to beat Jordan 2-1, their first World Cup win since 2014, in a result that eliminated the debutants and kept the Desert Foxes’ own knockout hopes alive.

After an opening 3-0 defeat to Argentina, Algeria knew a response was needed in their second match in San Francisco, and for long periods, it looked elusive.

Jordan struck first, with Nizar Al-Rashdan curling a composed finish past Luca Zidane in the 36th minute to give the Asian side a deserved lead.

Algeria pushed hard after the break and were rewarded in the 69th minute, as substitute Nadhir Benbouali rose to head home from a Riyad Mahrez corner.

The comeback was completed in the 82nd minute when Amine Gouiri poked in the winner from another corner, a goal that survived a VAR check for offside.

The win moves Algeria level on points with Austria, who they face next in a winner-takes-it-all finale for second place in Group J. A win or potentially even a draw should be enough to send Algeria through to the round of 32 for the first time since their famous 2014 run.

Ghana hold off the Three Lions

Ghana didn’t just survive England, they suffocated them, holding the Three Lions to a goalless draw that edges the Black Stars closer to the round of 32.

The Black Stars are enjoying their time at the 2026 World Cup. Following a late winner from Caleb Yirenkyi in their opening game against Panama, Ghana came fully prepared for England and produced a defensive masterclass.

From the opening whistle, Ghana sat deep and compact, content to defend their goal and manage just 21% possession for the entire match. They offered little going forward, but were a different animal without the ball, organized, disciplined, and difficult to break down.

Thomas Tuchel’s late substitutions weren’t enough to find a breakthrough. Nico O’Reilly came closest, crashing a header off the crossbar in the dying minutes, only for the rebound to fall to Harry Kane, who blazed his shot high over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

Ghana held firm to secure a goalless draw against England, a result that leaves both sides well-placed heading into their final group games.

With one foot in the round of 32, Ghana will now look to finish the group stage unbeaten and carry that momentum into the knockout rounds.

DR Congo edged in Colombia defeat

DR Congo’s World Cup dream takes a hit as a Daniel Muñoz strike with 14 minutes left sends Colombia through and leaves the Leopards fighting for survival.

Congo had opened their campaign with an impressive draw against Portugal, two-time UEFA Nations League champions, and carried that optimism into their second match.

But this time they found themselves under siege, with Colombia dominating possession and peppering the goal throughout.

Goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi was the difference for long stretches, producing a string of brilliant saves to keep the scoreline level, until Daniel Muñoz finally broke through in the 76th minute, finishing first-time off a Juan Quintero assist to settle it.

The defeat leaves DR Congo bottom of Group K on one point, with their World Cup hopes now hanging entirely on their final match against debutants Uzbekistan.

Anything less than a win will end their tournament; only victory keeps alive their hopes of sneaking through as one of the best third-placed teams.