Everything you need to know about the 5 African teams at WC22
For the first time in history, all 5 African nations at a World Cup will be playing under African coaches. Here’s a detailed profile for each country so that you can closely follow your favourites in Qatar.
Senegal
The Lions of Teranga became champions of Africa for the first time in their history back in February this year. Optimism about their chances in Qatar had reached fever pitch before talismanic skipper Sadio Mané was cruelly ruled out of the tournament with an injury he sustained playing for Bayern Munich.
A Premier League flavour in midfield comprising Everton’s Idrissa Gueye, Leicester’s underrated Nampalys Mendy, battle-hardened Nottingham Forest man Cheikhou Kouyaté and Tottenham newcomer Pape Matar Sarr should make them competitive at the very least. Aliou Cissé will be confident that his side can qualify from an open looking Group A.
Cissé, incidentally, is the only one of the 5 men taking charge of African sides in 2022 who has coached at a World Cup finals before. He was also part of the Senegal class of 2002 which shocked the planet 20 years ago by beating defending champions France and eventually reaching the final 8.
World ranking
18
Key player
It hasn’t been a great start to his Premier League career for Kalidou Koulibaly, but “K2” remains a colossal figure. Without Sadio Mané’s star power, Senegal will be leaning on the Chelsea man’s leadership and sheer presence as he marshals their defensive efforts. If he can rediscover his Napoli form, then Senegal will be difficult to beat.
Best finish
Quarter-finals (2002)
Morocco
After missing 4 consecutive finals appearances, the Atlas Lions qualified in 2018 and now they’re back in the big time 4 years later. Morocco sacked Bosnian coach Vahid Halilhodzić 3 months ago and replaced him with Walid Regragui, a Moroccan favourite.
Preparations were recently hampered by an injury to Marseille playmaker Amine Harit, the best player on the park away to Sporting Lisbon last month in the Champions League, so it’s up to Sofiane Boufal to step into that central creative role. Chelsea’s talented left-footer Hakim Ziyech is also more than capable of creating chances from the inside right channel.
Technically gifted Besiktas defender Romain Saïss, Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and his clubmate Youssef En-Nesyri combine to make up a formidable central spine. The emergence of Noussair Mazraoui, who has started his Bayern Munich career impressively, means coach Regragui is spoiled for choice at right-back, giving him the option of utilising Achraf Hakimi further forward. More on him in a second. Any team with weaknesses on their left side could certainly struggle against this unit.
Morocco have the pedigree and tactical know-how to cause some serious problems for their opponents Croatia, Canada and Belgium in Group F.
World ranking
22
Key player
The Moroccans are known for their defensive solidity and stubbornness, but Achraf Hakimi has the flair, directness and marauding instincts to bring a dimension of unpredictability to their game. He’s already represented PSG, Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid and Inter in his young career, so his pedigree at the highest level is beyond doubt. This will be his second appearance at a finals and he’s only just turned 24.
Best finish
Round of 16 (1986)
Ghana
The Black Stars finished bottom of their Africa Cup of Nations group this year, and that included a defeat to debutants Comoros, and have dropped down the rankings as a result, with 10 African sides currently above them. However, there is renewed hope that a revival is on the cards.
Coach Otto Addo, who knows a thing or two about promising talent after serving as Borussia Dortmund’s youth coach, has assembled a young and ambitious group that has been supplemented by Mohammed Salisu, Tariq Lamptey and Athletic Bilbao legend Iñaki Williams. Versatile Ajax midfielder Mohammed Kudus is still only 22 but is already a relatively senior figure. That tells you a lot of what you need to know.
Ghana’s heartache moment against Uruguay in 2010 was the last time an African side made it to the quarter-finals, and Ghana will be determined to get there again. A reunion with the Uruguayans will have millions around the globe glued to their screens.
World ranking
61
Key player
Arsenal midfield general Thomas Partey started life slowly in North London, but now he’s one of the finest schemers in the Premier League, producing imperious displays on a weekly basis. If he can thread his passes between the lines and set the tempo, the Black Stars have a chance of qualifying from a difficult group that includes Uruguay, South Korea and Portugal.
Best finish
Quarter-finals (2010)
Cameroon
Cameroon got the better of Algeria in a dramatic play-off to qualify for their eighth World Cup finals, the most of any African nation. However, the Indomitable Lions lost all 3 group games at their last 2 finals appearances. In a group also containing Brazil, Switzerland and Serbia, Cameroon’s work is cut out for them. One BIG positive is the fact that Brentford’s industrious forward Bryan Mbeumo has opted to represent the Indomitable Lions.
World ranking
43
Key player
All-action midfielder André-Frank Zambo Anguissa is a quality operator producing dazzling displays for high-flying Napoli in 2022/23, which is a far cry from his form for Fulham after joining the West Londoners back in 2018. He will be their literal and figurative fulcrum. Anguissa is, it’s no exaggeration to say, one of the most improved players in European club football in recent years.
Best finish
Quarter-finals (1990)
Tunisia
The Eagles of Carthage have now qualified for 5 of the last 7 editions of the World Cup but have never gotten out of their group. They’ll look to keep things tight after keeping 7 consecutive clean sheets before a 5-1 defeat to Brazil in September. They like to set up in an attacking 4-3-3 shape against inferior opposition, but will be more conservative in a 4-5-1 when facing the likes of France and Denmark.
World ranking
30
Key player
Much of the goalscoring burden will rest on the shoulders of 32-year-old Youssef Msakni, who we may be seeing at a major finals for the last time.
Best finish
Group stage (1978, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2018)
In Conclusion
Africa's teams have a massive point to prove. In 2018, for the first time since 1982, no side from the continent reached the knockout stages. That should change in 2022.