African teams have all been eliminated from the FIFA Club World Cup at the group stage although they leave with billions but how did each of them perform?
The FIFA Club World Cup mountain proved too steep for African teams when all four were eliminated at the group stage.
Africa had Egyptian giants Al Ahly, Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa, Morocco’s Wydad Athletic Club and Esperance of Tunisia at the tournament but even with high hopes, they did not go far.
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Mamelodi Sundowns
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Mamelodi Sundowns were the last African team standing when they faced Brazilian club Fluminense on Wednesday but they needed a win to seal their place in the Round of 16.
Having beaten Ulsan HD 1-0 before a 4-3 loss to Borussia Dortmund, only victory would see them qualify but they played out a goalless draw, seeing them finish on four points, one behind Fluminense and three adrift of the German giants.
Sundowns, however, walked away with the biggest prize purse from all the African teams, adding $3 million (Ksh388 million) to their participation fee of $9.5 million (Ksh1.2 billion) for a total of $12.5 million (Ksh1.6 billion).
Al Ahly
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Meanwhile, Al Ahly were eliminated after two draws and a loss but will blame themselves for not finishing off their chances and making costly errors in defence.
Al Ahly started with a goalless draw with Inter Miami in the first match of the tournament but should have buried the game as they had chances, including a penalty, before they were outclassed by Palmeiras of Brazil 2-0 and then ended with a classic 4-4 draw against FC Porto.
Al Ahly added $2 million (Ksh259 million) onto their participation fee of $9.5 million (Ksh1.2 billion) for a total prize of $11.5 million (Ksh1.5 billion).
Esperance
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Tunisian giants Esperance ended the tournament with one win and two losses, starting with a 2-0 defeat to Flamengo of Brazil, before beating LA FC 1-0 but it was not enough as they lost 3-0 to Premier League giants Chelsea.
Esperance pocketed an extra $2 million (Ksh259 million) to add onto their $9.5 million (Ksh1.2 billion) participation fee for a total of $11.5 million (Ksh1.5 billion).
Wydad Athletic Club
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Moroccan giants Wydad are still at the tournament but this is just to honour matches and perhaps earn extra millions of dollars.
Wydad lost 2-0 to Manchester City before a 4-1 thrashing by Juventus and now face Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates on Thursday to see if they can end with a win as they are the only African team yet to pick a result that would earn them an extra $1 million for a draw or $2 million for victory to add onto the guaranteed $9.5 million (Ksh1.2 billion).