As the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in North America, I find myself asking a question that millions of African football fans have asked for decades: can an African country finally win the World Cup?
For the first time in history, Africa will have 10 representatives at football’s biggest tournament. Algeria, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia will carry the dreams of more than a billion people across the continent.
When I look at that list, I see more than just football teams. I see decades of struggle, progress, heartbreak and hope.
I think about Egypt becoming the first African nation to play at the World Cup in 1934. I think about the years when Africa had only one representative and was often treated as an outsider in the global game. I think about Cameroon shocking the world in 1990, Senegal stunning defending champions France in 2002, and Ghana coming within inches of a semi-final place in 2010.
I also remember the pain.
The controversial moments. The missed penalties. The narrow defeats. The feeling that Africa was always close but never quite close enough.
Then came Qatar 2022.
I watched Morocco achieve something no African country had ever done before. The Atlas Lions defeated Belgium, Spain and Portugal to reach the semi-finals. For the first time, I felt that the impossible no longer looked impossible.
Morocco changed the conversation.
Before Qatar, many people spoke about African teams as outsiders. After Qatar, they started talking about African teams as genuine contenders.
That is why I believe the 2026 World Cup could be the tournament that changes everything.
With 10 teams competing, Africa has never had a stronger presence at the World Cup. The continent has more opportunities than ever before to produce a champion.
But if I had to choose the two African countries most capable of lifting the trophy, my picks would be Senegal and Morocco.
Morocco remains Africa’s strongest football story of recent years. Their success in Qatar was not built on luck. It was built on organisation, discipline, tactical intelligence and belief.
Many of the players who reached the semi-finals remain at the peak of their careers. They understand what it takes to compete with the world’s elite nations. More importantly, they no longer fear them.
The Atlas Lions have already broken one barrier. Winning the World Cup would be the next.
Senegal is my other favourite.
The Teranga Lions possess something every successful World Cup team needs: experience, physical strength, quality players and a winning mentality.
Over the last decade, Senegal have consistently remained among Africa’s strongest teams. They won the Africa Cup of Nations, have competed at multiple World Cups and continue to produce players who perform at the highest level in Europe.
Unlike previous generations, this Senegal team understands how to handle pressure. They know how to win difficult matches. They know how to suffer and survive when things are not going their way.
That experience could prove crucial in a tournament as demanding as the World Cup.
Of course, winning the competition will not be easy.
Traditional powers such as Brazil, Argentina, France, Germany, Spain and England will arrive with the same ambition. History remains firmly on their side.
No African nation has ever reached a World Cup final, let alone won one.
But history is not a law of nature.
Every record exists until someone breaks it.
For years, people said an African team could never reach the semi-finals. Morocco proved them wrong.
Now people say an African team cannot win the World Cup.
Perhaps they are right.
But perhaps they are only right until someone proves otherwise.
As I prepare to watch the 2026 World Cup unfold, I cannot ignore the feeling that African football is entering a new era. From Egypt’s lone appearance in 1934 to 10 representatives in 2026, the journey has been remarkable.
The numbers have grown.
The quality has improved.
The belief is stronger than ever.
And if Africa is finally going to produce a World Cup winner, I believe Morocco and Senegal offer the continent’s best chance of making history.
