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Following the 2026 World Cup draw, Pulse Sports dissects the chances of the African countries.
The FIFA World Cup draw garnered attention the world over, although not every headline written has been a positive one.
Still, Africa's nine representatives heading to North America next summer now know their fate and their potential path to the MetLife Stadium final on July 19th. And of course, there could yet still be a tenth nation from the continent that secures an invite to football's biggest party.
That, of course, is the DR Congo, which punched its ticket to the interconfederational playoffs by winning the CAF playoffs in November. The Leopards first beat Cameroon in the playoff semifinals courtesy of Chancel Mbemba's last-gasp winner in Morocco.
Then, they managed to upset heavy favorites Nigeria in the final, winning on penalties after misses from Super Eagles Moses Simon and Semi Ajayi. Now, they will face the winner of the clash between Jamaica and New Caledonia with a place in the World Cup on the line.
But what of the African teams that have already secured their spot in North America next summer? Well, some will be happier than others with their draw. But which have the toughest tasks ahead of them? Let's take a look.
Morocco
Morocco shocked the world back in 2022 as they upset the odds time and again in Qatar. The Atlas Lions were in disarray heading into the showdown in the Arabian Gulf, with former manager Vahid Halilhodzic sacked just three months prior to the tournament getting underway due to a bust-up between himself and star player Hakim Ziyech.
According to insights from Ignition Casino, managerial changes often bring renewed motivation, and that proved to be the case in this instance. The appointment of new boss Walid Regragui immediately reinstalled Ziyech, lifting spirits and triggering a run for the ages.
The new boss managed to lead Morocco to a famous semifinal appearance, becoming the first African team in history to feature in the final-four after masterminding wins against Belgium, Spain, and Portugal. However, next summer, the Atlas Lions will have their work cut out if they are to replicate that success.
Morocco has been drawn into a challenging group C alongside five-time champions and one of the favorites for glory in North America, Brazil. As well as that, the returning Scotland - appearing at the World Cup for the first time since 1998 - will also provide a stern test, while Haiti cannot be overlooked, especially considering the large Haitian population currently residing in the US.
Should Regragui's men qualify for the knockout round, they will likely do so as runners-up to the Selecao, triggering a crunch clash with the Netherlands in the round of 32. The draw could well open up from the Round of 16, providing Morocco manages to defeat the Oranje, but that, of course, is easier said than done.
Senegal
Senegal also did Africa proud in 2022, reaching the round of 16 without the talismanic Sadio Mane, who was injured for the tournament. Their run would come to an end at the hands of England, but not before the Lions of Teranga had made a lasting impression. Fast forward to now, and while Mane is fit, he is also well into the twilight of his career, as are fellow stars Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy. As such, the pressure is on the next generation, namely the likes of Iliman Ndiaye and Nicolas Jackson, to step up and shoulder some of the burden.
But the task certainly won't be easy. Senegal has been drawn to face France in their opening game in a repeat of the 2002 curtain raiser, when the Lions of Taranga upset the reigning champions Le Bleus in their World Cup debut.
Next up, they will face another tough task in the form of the returning Norway. The Scandinavians are led by the prolific Erling Haaland, who topped the scoring in all qualifying with a whopping 16 goals in just eight games. They will certainly be no pushovers.
Ghana
Another African nation coming up against two European heavyweights in the group stage is Ghana. The Black Stars were drawn into Group L, the final qualifying group, meaning that they will have to wait a full six days from Mexico's curtain raiser against South Africa to kick off their campaign.
They will first face Panama, a clash that the Ghanaians will be heavily expected to win. After that clash, however, it's an uphill struggle.
Ghana's second group game comes against England, the World Cup's second favorites behind frontrunners Spain. The Three Lions have reached the last two European Championship finals, and under Thomas Tuchel, they are expected to finally make an impression on the global stage after 60 long years of hurt.
With the likes of Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and Bukayo Saka all firing on all cylinders, the Black Stars will certainly have their work cut out.
Croatia then awaits in the final group game in a clash that could decide who progresses to the knockout round. The Croatians shockingly reached the final back in 2018, beating England along the way, as well as beating Brazil en route to the semifinals in 2022. As such, Ghana is a firm outsider to progress beyond the group stage.