Africa made an appearance at only the second edition of the World Cup more than 90 years ago now, but it was not until 1970 that the continent commanded a regular spot at the finals.
African representation has dramatically increased for this month’s tournament in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, with nine automatic qualifiers plus the Democratic Republic of Congo coming through a complicated playoff system.
In 1970 and 1974, there was just a single team, and it slowly increased after that to two in 1982, 1986, and 1990 and three for the 1994 finals, which was hosted by the US
From 1998 onwards, there were five African sides at each of the World Cups up and including the last tournament in Qatar, although when South Africa hosted in 2010, there were six African countries at the 32-team tournament.
Now the field for the World Cup has been increased to 48, allowing for increased African representation.
But back at the 1934 finals in Italy, which was the second ever tournament, Egypt proved African pioneers, beating Palestine to qualify and then travelling to Naples, where they lost their only game 4-2 to Hungary.
The first African World Cup scorer was Abdel Rahman Fawzi, who netted twice in the space of four minutes late in the first half as Egypt came from 0-2 down to be level at the break but then gave up two more goals in the second half.
It would be another 36 years before an African team would return to the World Cup finals, with Morocco competing in the 1970 finals in Mexico, where they scored a first point for Africa in their opening round group by drawing with Bulgaria. They also led eventual semifinalists West Germany before suffering a narrow 2-1 defeat.
In 1974, Zaire (now DR Congo) went to the finals in West Germany and conceded 14 goals in their three group games. They became the brunt of much derision, and their performance was a low point for the African game.
Four years later, in 1978, Tunisia restored the continent’s reputation with a first-ever World Cup finals win, 3-1 against Mexico in Rosario.
African representation was increased for the 1982 finals, where Algeria pulled off their sensational victory over West Germany, and in 1986, Morocco broke further ground for Africa by finishing top of a group that featured three European sides – ending ahead of England, Poland, and Portugal, who they famously thumped 3-1.
Morocco were, therefore, the first African team to advance past the first round at the finals.
Italia ’90 remains a reference point for African soccer with the remarkable progress of Cameroon to the quarterfinals.
The Indomitable Lions upset holders Argentina in the opening game with François Omam Biyik’s headed goal and came close against England in the last eight, losing only in extra time.
The Cameroonians captured the heart of the continent and today remain, for many Africans, their first or second favourite team.
But the next two World Cups were disappointing, even if Africa’s numbers increased. All three sides bombed out in USA ’94, with Nigeria famously throwing away a 1-0 lead over Italy in the last minute of their second-round match in Boston.
In 1998, Nigeria were again the only Africans to get past the first round in France, but then their goalkeeping Achilles’ Heel saw them torn apart by Denmark in a disappointing exit.
But in 2002, Senegal managed to match the benchmark that Cameroon had set 12 years earlier, and in the opening game of the 2002 finals in Seoul, achieved the same feat against defending world champions France and went on to match Cameroon’s record of reaching the quarterfinal.
They did not match the Indomitable Lions for charisma but were arguably a better team, and there was a sense they might have done much better as they lost in the last eight to Turkey – a game that they had every chance of winning but were defeated on a golden goal in extra time.
The World Cup in South Africa in 2010 saw the hosts suffer the ignominy of a group stage exit, which was the first time a home country had been knocked out that early in World Cup history. Ghana took up the mantle and made it to the last eight as well.
The bitter manner of their defeat at the hands of Uruguay, and Luis Suarez in particular, in the last eight still rankles with many, but striker Asamoah Gyan missed a penalty that effectively cost Ghana a semifinal berth.
Russia 2018 was a low point for Africa in that all five teams went out in the group stage, although Senegal were eliminated on a countback of yellow cards.
The finished level with Japan on points, goal difference, and goals scored, as well as the head-to-head result between the two countries, so it came down to which team had the better disciplinary record to ensure progress.
The Russia calamity was all forgotten with Morocco’s heroics in Qatar four years ago, when they became the first Africans to go as far as the last four.
Beating Belgium, Canada, Portugal, and Spain saw Morocco advance to where no African team had gone before, and they are now a reference point for others to try and emulate.
“We're pleased with what we've achieved. We felt that we could have even gone further but were undone by the small details that make real champions,” reflected coach Walid Regragui afterwards.
It all started in their first game against Croatia with something of a surprise … the crowd. Few had figured that the North African teams – Morocco and Tunisia – would be so generously supported in Qatar, but both had large migrant communities living and working in the country, and they were immediately able to hand their team an edge.
Morocco were able to feed off the passion from the stands as the red-clad army of fans added an extra decibel or two to the noise and willed their team to a draw with the highly fancied Croatian and then victory over Belgium.
In the knockout stages, the crescendo grew even louder, and they fed off the energy to reach the semifinals, where they finally came unstuck against France.
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