Qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is entering its final phase in Africa to determine which countries will clinch the nine automatic slots for the showpiece tournament.
Algeria and Egypt have joined Morocco and Tunisia as those that have qualified, leaving just five more slots available ahead of the last two rounds of qualifiers in most groups.
Nigeria are in danger of missing out on a second consecutive tournament, while the likes of Senegal, Cameroon and Ivory Coast are also locked in battles to secure qualification.
In this article, SportPremi takes a look at five times an African giant has missed out on a place in the FIFA World Cup;
Nigeria (2022 World Cup):
Nigerians around the world followed the 2022 World Cup closely, although their beloved national team was absent from the tournament.
The Super Eagles had been drawn with eternal rivals Ghana in the CAF playoff rounds, which also had other juicy fixtures to determine the five teams that will represent the continent in Qatar.
The three-time African champions ultimately fell short of qualifying, suffering elimination on the away goal rule after a 1-1 draw in the second leg at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
Egypt (2010 World Cup):
The Egyptian national team dominated African football between 2006 and 2010, winning three African Cup of Nations titles but never reached the World Cup, despite boasting some of the continent’s biggest names.
They finished level on points with Algeria in the group stages of qualifying and with nothing to separate both sides due to their identical record, a playoff tie was scheduled to determine African last representative at the 2010 edition.
Algeria won the match by a single goal and qualified for the World Cup at the expense of Egypt.
Cameroon (2018 World Cup):
The Indomitable Lions joins the list of star-studded African teams to have missed the World Cup after failing to qualify for the 2018 edition in Russia.
Cameroon recorded victory in the 2017 African Cup of Nations, defeating Egypt 2-1 in the final, but fell short of a place in the showpiece event after finishing third in their group.
Nigeria finished as group winners and qualified to Russia, where they reached the second round of the tournament.
Algeria (2018 World Cup):
The Desert Eagles joined the list of African giants to have missed the 2018 FIFA World Cup after finishing bottom of their group.
Algeria were expected to build on an impressive campaign in 2014, where they were on the brinks on the quarterfinal before losing in extra-time to eventual winners, Germany.
However, they bounced back from the disappointment to win the 2019 African Cup of Nations, defeating Senegal 1-0 in the final.
Egypt (2022 World Cup):
The Pharaohs appears on this list for a second time, after they missed out on a place in Qatar following a playoff defeat to Senegal.
Egypt fell short in their mission for revenge against Senegal who had defeated them in the 2021 African Cup of Nations final, losing once again on penalty shootout after both legs had ended in a draw.
