The FIFA World Cup represents the biggest stage of football with many countries in the race to earn a spot at the showpiece event.
As the qualifying rounds for the 2026 edition reaches its final round in Africa, the race for the remaining seven automatic spots promises to be intense, as Morocco and Tunisia have already secured qualification.
No African country has ever lifted the World Cup, but Morocco made history with their remarkable run at the 2022 tournament in Qatar. Where did the Atlas Lions finish and how have other African countries fared at the tournament.
In this article, SportPremi highlights the highest ever finishes by African countries at the World Cup;
6. Algeria (Round of 16):
Two-time African champions Algeria’s best-ever finish at the FIFA World Cup was reaching the round of 16 in 2014.
The Desert Warriors finished second in Group H with four points and advanced to the second round where they faced eventual winners Germany.
They put up a spirited performance and dragged the game into extra-time, before they eventually went down 2-1.
5. Nigeria (Round of 16):
The Super Eagles have qualified for six editions of the FIFA World Cup, but have never progressed beyond the second round.
They became the first African country to progress beyond the group stage on their debut, reaching the round of 16 in 1994, before going down to Italy after extra time.
The three-time African champions also reached the second rounds in 1998 and then in 2014, losing out to Denmark and France respectively.
4. Cameroon (Quarterfinals)
The Indomitable Lions became the first African country to reach the quarterfinals of the World Cup with their historic run in 1990.
After shocking the world by finishing top of Group B ahead of Argentina, Romania and Soviet Union, Cameroon advanced to the last 16, where they defeated Colombia.
Their run was ended in the last eight, as Gary Lineker scored a penalty in extra time to give England a 3-2 win, ending their fairytale run.
3. Senegal (Quarterfinals)
The Lions of Teranga became the second African country after Cameroon to reach the quarterfinals of the World Cup in 2002.
What made the achievement even more impressive was the fact that they accomplished it on their debut in the tournament.
After a second-placed finish in Group A, they advanced to the round of 16 and secured a shock win over Sweden, before suffering elimination at the hands of Turkey in the quarterfinals.
2. Ghana (Quarterfinals)
The Three Lions came agonizingly close to a last four spot in the 2010 edition hosted in South Africa, but were denied by a controversial handball by Uruguay striker Luis Suarez.
Ghana looked set to score a late winner in the quarterfinal tie between the two countries, but Suarez deliberately stopped the ball from entering the net with his hands and was subsequently sent off.
Asamoah Gyan stepped up and blazed the resulting spot-kick over the bar, before Ghana went on to lose in the ensuing shootout.
1. Morocco (Semifinals)
The Atlas Lions became the first African country to reach the semifinals of the World Cup with their remarkable run in Qatar 2022.
They recorded shock eliminations of 2010 champions Spain in the round of 16 and Cristiano-Ronaldo led Portugal team in the quarterfinals to reach the last four.
Morocco ultimately missed out on a place in the final, going down 2-0 to France in the last four.
