WORLD CUP ROUND OF 32: How are African teams performing, tricky assignments, players to watch

African football is enjoying its best Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) World Cup ever in 2026, with 9 of 10 African teams having made it to the knockout stages a remarkable continental record.

Out of the 9 that had qualified to the next stage, South Africa crashed out last night, becoming the first African team out in knockouts, after 1-0 to Canada in Round of 32 on June 28.

Stephen Eustaquio’s stoppage-time winner fired Canada to a 1-0 win over South Africa on Sunday in the first match of the World Cup knockout rounds, as the co-hosts advance to the last 16 for the first time in their history.

With both sides making their first-ever appearance in the knockout phase, the game appeared to be heading for extra time, before Eustaquio broke the deadlock with a clinical hit from just outside the area.

Meanwhile, African teams that reached Round of 32 and Still in it are as follows:

– *Morocco* – 2nd in Group C behind Brazil. Faces *Netherlands

One of the standout ties of the round, include Morocco’s next game, the team impressed against Brazil – where they should even have taken more than a draw – before sending away Scotland and Haiti.

It seems they won’t fear anyone, although will recognise they’ve been given a particularly tough draw with a testing battle against the Netherlands.

Another particularly tough one to call, the Cote D’Ivoire have been one of the surprise packages of the tournament so far; riding their luck against Ecuador before snatching it late, holding their own against Germany before losing it at the death, and then getting past Curacao to advance.

– *Egypt* – Lead Group G with 4 points

– *Ivory Coast* – 2nd in Group E. Play runners-up of Group I on June 30

– *Senegal* – Advanced as one of the best 3rd-placed teams after 5-0 win over Iraq

– *Ghana* – 2nd in Group L on goal difference behind England, 4 points

– *Cape Verde* – Group H debutants, unbeaten with draws vs Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia. Now face *Argentina* in Miami

– *Algeria* – 3 points in Group J, clash with Austria decided runner-up spot.

Tricky opponents coming up*

– *Morocco vs Netherlands* – June 29, Estadio Monterrey. Netherlands are 8th in FIFA rankings

– *Cape Verde vs Argentina* – Defending champs, Messi-led

– *Ivory Coast* – Face Group I runners-up, likely France or Norway.

*African players to watch*

1. *Mohamed Salah – Egypt* – 9 goals in qualifiers, Egypt’s talisman

2. *Achraf Hakimi – Morocco* – Key part of Morocco’s 2022 semi-final core

3. *Sadio Mané – Senegal* – Senior leader for Senegal

4. *Riyad Mahrez – Algeria* – Algeria’s main creative threat

5. *Mohamed Amoura – Algeria* – Top African qualifier scorer with 10 goals

6. *Jordan Ayew – Ghana* – 7 goals in qualifiers ab34b12c

*Notable absentees*: Ghana miss *Mohammed Kudus* to injury, and Ivory Coast left out *Wilfried Zaha* fd34

This is the first 48-team World Cup with a Round of 32, and Africa has 9 teams still alive – way up from the previous best of 2 in 2014 + 2022

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