Africans’ World Cup Round Up: Last Man Standing, Morocco Marches On as Egypt Bow Out in Controversy

Ten African teams arrived at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with dreams of glory. Eight fell along the way, some in heartbreak, some in controversy, and some in performances that will live long in the memory.

That left two: Morocco and Egypt, the last standard-bearers for a continent that had already rewritten the record books at this tournament. Both carried the weight of African football on their shoulders into the round of 16, but only one would survive to fight another day.

One marched on. One bowed out in the cruellest fashion imaginable.

Here’s how Africa’s last two teams fared in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Atlas Lions make history by securing back to back Quarter final In the FIFA World Cup

CAF champions Morocco are into the quarterfinals, and they did it in style, dismantling co-hosts Canada 3-0 in Houston to become the first African nation ever to reach the World Cup quarterfinals more than once.

Morocco’s afternoon was disrupted early when leading tournament scorer Ismael Saibari was stretchered off in the 22nd minute with a muscle injury, a blow that will also rule him out of the quarterfinal against France.

Soufiane Rahimi came on in his place, and the game remained goalless through a cagey first half in which Canada, to their credit, had the better of the early exchanges.

The second half was a different story entirely. Ounahi broke the deadlock five minutes after the restart, sweeping a stunning first-time shot from a Hakimi free kick into the bottom right corner.

He doubled the lead in the 82nd minute from a Brahim Díaz lay-off on the counter, Díaz setting a new African record with his fourth World Cup assist in the process. Rahimi completed the scoring in stoppage time to seal a dominant 3-0 win.

Canada bow out as the first co-hosts eliminated at this year’s edition, The Atlas Lions now face 2022 runners-up France in the quarterfinals, their biggest test yet, and a chance to go one step further than their famous semi-final run four years ago.

Egypt Bow Out of the 2026 World Cup as VAR and Messi Magic Combine to Crush the Pharaohs

Egypt crashed out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the most heartbreaking fashion imaginable, victims of one of the greatest comebacks in World Cup history, as Argentina scored three times in eleven minutes to overturn a two-goal deficit and win 3-2 in Atlanta.

The Pharaohs were magnificent from the first whistle. Yasser Ibrahim headed home in the 15th minute to give Egypt the lead, before Shobeir produced a stunning save to deny Messi’s penalty.

Egypt went into half-time ahead, their goalkeeper having also denied Mac Allister and Álvarez before the break. The second half brought more controversy.

Zico appeared to double Egypt’s lead on the hour mark, only for VAR to disallow the goal for a marginal foul on Lisandro Martínez, a decision Egypt’s camp later described as an injustice.

But Zico wasn’t to be denied twice, tucking home from inside the six-yard box in the 67th minute.

Messi delivered a teasing cross for Romero to head home in the 79th minute, before thundering a stunning strike off the crossbar and in to level in the 83rd minute. In the second minute of stoppage time, Fernández headed home the goal in to complete the most improbable of comebacks.

Egypt depart as the ninth African team eliminated, furious at the officiating and heartbroken at the manner of their exit, but having produced one of the finest performances by an African side at a World Cup. Morocco remain as the continent’s last hope, facing France in the quarterfinals.