African’s World cup Round-Up: Glory, Heartbreak and a Fairytale Farewell
The round of 32 was where African dreams were made and broken, and it delivered every emotion the beautiful game has to offer.
A goalkeeper who plays second-division football becoming a World Cup legend. A record-breaking Kane brace ending a historic Congolese run. A Panenka from a captain who battled back from injury. A comeback for the ages stolen by the latest goal in World Cup history. And a fairytale so extraordinary, the whole world stopped to watch.
When the dust settled, two African nations marched into the round of 16, Morocco and Egypt, while seven others bowed out, some in heartbreak, some in glory, and one in a performance that will be talked about for generations.
Here’s how every African team fared in the Round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Canada late winner sends South Africa packing
Stephen Eustáquio’s 92nd-minute half-volley crashed Bafana Bafana out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in heartbreaking fashion, ending South Africa’s historic first-ever knockout stage appearance.
The match, itself a piece of history as the first-ever Round of 32 game played at a World Cup , was a tale of two halves of the same story: Canada dominant, South Africa defiant. Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Aubrey Modiba produced heroic last-ditch clearances to keep the scores level, while Ronwen Williams was protected brilliantly by a backline that repelled wave after wave of Canadian pressure.
But Eustáquio had the final word, controlling a Shaffelburg cross on his chest before hammering a volley into the far corner, a goal he dedicated to his late parents, lost within a year of each other. South Africa pushed desperately for an equaliser but never truly threatened.
Bafana Bafana bow out as the second African team eliminated, but with their heads held high. Canada go ahead to face Morocco in the round of 16.
Morocco edge Netherlands in close encounter
The Atlas Lions marched into the round of 16 after one of the most dramatic nights of the tournament, edging the Netherlands 3-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in Monterrey.
Morocco were the better side for long stretches, only to be sucker-punched by a Gakpo goal in the 72nd minute, scored just two days after the Dutch forward announced the tragic loss of his unborn son.
Issa Diop, who had only recently switched international allegiance to Morocco, headed home a 90th-minute equaliser to force extra time, before Rahimi was denied a winner by a jaw-dropping Verbruggen save.
The shootout was nervy, with El Aynaoui hitting the crossbar and Kluivert hitting the post, before Bounou saved Summerville’s attempt and Saibari converted the decisive kick.
The Atlas Lions face co-hosts Canada in the round of 16, aiming to recapture the magic of their 2022 semi-final run.
Erling Haaland late winner Eliminates Ivory Coast from the World Cup
Erling Haaland broke Ivory Coast hearts with an 86th-minute tap-in, ending the Elephants’ historic first-ever World Cup knockout appearance and earning Norway their first-ever knockout stage win.
Antonio Nusa’s curling opener gave Norway the lead against the run of play, before substitute Amad Diallo produced a stunning two-act performance, first clearing a Heggem volley off the line, then jinking past several defenders to fire home a brilliant equaliser.
But Haaland, as ever, had the final word, he grabbed his third goal of the tournament making him only the third player in World Cup history to score in each of his first three appearances at the competition.
Ivory Coast bow out as the third African team eliminated, having made history simply by reaching this stage.
Senegal blow a two goal lead and it did not end well
Youri Tielemans scored the latest goal in FIFA World Cup history as Belgium completed one of the tournament’s most stunning comebacks, breaking Senegalese hearts in the cruellest fashion.
Senegal were magnificent for large parts, leading 2-0 through Diarra and a stunning Sarr strike before the hour mark.
But Belgium’s bench changed everything: Lukaku pulled one back in the 86th minute, before a Mory Diaw goalkeeping error gifted Tielemans an equaliser in the 89th minute.
A deeply controversial VAR penalty in extra time allowed Tielemans to complete his brace in the 125th minute, the latest goal ever scored in a men’s World Cup game, sending Senegal crashing out as the fifth African team eliminated.
Harry Kane brace sinks DR Congo
Harry Kane’s brilliant second-half brace sent DR Congo crashing out but not before the Leopards gave England the scare of their tournament lives.
Brian Cipenga shocked England with a 7th-minute opener, and DR Congo held their lead for over an hour with Lionel Mpasi producing a string of heroic saves to frustrate Bellingham, Rashford, and Kane.
But substitute Anthony Gordon’s cross found Kane in the 75th minute for a powerful header, before Kane rifled home the winner in the 86th, his brace taking him above Pelé to become the outright second-highest scorer in World Cup history.
DR Congo depart as the fourth African team eliminated, having written one of the great African World Cup stories, from a 52-year wait for their first-ever World Cup win to their first-ever knockout appearance.
Algeria’s World Cup Dream Ends at the Hands of Switzerland
The Desert Foxes fell to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Switzerland in Vancouver, becoming the sixth African team eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Algeria came into their first knockout round since their famous 2014 run, where they pushed Germany all the way before losing in extra time, with genuine belief. And for the opening ten minutes, they were the better side. But they were made to pay for their wastefulness.
In what was Switzerland’s first real attack of the game, 20-year-old Freiburg winger Johan Manzambi burst down the right with frightening pace, skipped past Aissa Mandi, and delivered an inch-perfect cross for Breel Embolo to tap home in the 10th minute.
Algeria pushed for a response throughout the first half and ended it in the ascendency, but they couldn’t find the breakthrough. And in just 48 seconds into the second half, Switzerland doubled their lead.
A Bensebaini pass was cut out by Denis Zakaria, whose delivery fell to Nottingham Forest’s Dan Ndoye, who rifled a low drive into the bottom-left corner from the edge of the box, leaving Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane with no chance.
Riyad Mahrez, at 35 years old and the second-oldest African player ever to start a World Cup knockout match, had his only real chance blocked by former Manchester City teammate Manuel Akanji, as Switzerland sealed the win to setup round of 16 clash with Colombia.
Egypt’s Flawless Penalty Shootout Sends Pharaohs Into Uncharted Territory
The Pharaohs marched into the round of 16 after a nervy 1-1 draw with Australia was settled by a penalty shootout, with Mohamed Salah’s cheeky Panenka sealing one of the moments of the tournament.
Egypt’s unbeaten run at the 2026 World Cup continued in Dallas, making them one of the few sides yet to taste defeat at this tournament. They set the tone early, with Emam Ashour rising to head home in the 13th minute to give the Pharaohs a deserved lead.
Egypt looked comfortable for long stretches, but the game turned in the 55th minute when Mohamed Hany flicked a dangerous Australian free-kick into his own net, the 13th own goal of the tournament, to level the scores and send the game into extra time.
Egypt had the better of the chances in the additional period, with Harry Souttar at times inspired in the Australia defence, producing a string of crucial blocks to keep the scores level. Australia attempted a bold tactical switch just before the shootout, replacing goalkeeper Patrick Beach with the more experienced Mathew Ryan, but it made little difference.
Egypt were flawless from the spot, converting all four of their penalties. Salah, who had battled back from a hamstring injury to take his place in the starting lineup, stepped up last and produced a cool Panenka, chipping the ball down the middle as Ryan dived to his right.
Australia’s misses came from captain Harry Souttar, who blazed the first kick over the bar, and 18-year-old Lucas Herrington, who also failed to convert.
The win gives Egypt their first-ever World Cup knockout stage victory, and they now face the ultimate test, defending champions Argentina in the round of 16. For a side that had never previously won a World Cup match before this tournament, the Pharaohs are writing history with every passing game.
Cape Verde’s Extraordinary World Cup Journey Comes to an End
Cape Verde’s fairytale World Cup run finally came to an end, but not before the Blue Sharks pushed defending champions Argentina to the absolute limit in Miami, in what many are calling the greatest match of the 2026 World Cup.
Messi opened the scoring in the 29th minute with his 20th World Cup goal,a record, only for Deroy Duarte to level it just before the hour mark.
Extra time brought even more drama: Lisandro Martínez restored Argentina’s lead, before Sidny Lopes Cabral produced arguably the goal of the tournament, curling a stunning right-footed effort into the far corner to make it 2-2.
Argentina finally settled it in the 111th minute through a Diney Borges own goal, with Vozinha, the 40-year-old second-division keeper turned World Cup star, still finding time to make eight saves on the night.
Cape Verde depart as the seventh African team eliminated, but undoubtedly the story of this tournament. As coach Bubista said: “We dignify what our country is. We showed our identity.”
Colombia Send a Toothless Ghana Crashing Out in Kansas City
The Black Stars bowed out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 1-0 defeat to Colombia in Kansas City, becoming the eighth African team eliminated from the tournament and ending their first knockout stage appearance since 2010.
The game was settled early and never truly recovered as a contest. Both sides were forced into changes within the opening 13 minutes due to injury, Ghana losing Marvin Senaya, Colombia losing Jhon Córdoba, in what became the first match in World Cup history to see both teams make a substitution before the 15th minute.
Colombia’s replacement, veteran Luis Suárez, made an immediate impact: coming on in the eighth minute and delivering the assist for Jhon Arias’ opener just six minutes later.
Lawrence Ati Zigi was Ghana’s standout performer, making a series of crucial saves to prevent the scoreline from becoming an embarrassment, but Ghana offered almost nothing going forward, failing to register a single shot on target all game.
Ghana depart having made history simply by reaching the knockout stage, but the manner of their exit leaves questions about whether this squad has what it takes to go further at a World Cup. Colombia, meanwhile, march on to face Switzerland in the round of 16.
