Let’s just sit with this for a second: nine African teams in the Round of 32. Nine. Out of ten that qualified. Only Tunisia missed the cut. The Carthage Eagles were dreadful in all three of their group stage matches, losing all and conceding 12 goals.
What the nine other African teams achieved is not just good — that’s a record. The old mark was two teams, set back in 2014 with Algeria and Nigeria. Africa just quadrupled it. So if you’re a fan of the continent’s football, you’re allowed to feel a little smug right now.
But here’s the question everyone’s actually asking: which of these nine can keep the run going into the Round of 16?
I’ve gone through the draws, the form, and the way each team has actually looked on the pitch in the first round — not just their results on paper and below are the teams that have a good chance of making it to the nnext round
5 African teams that can progress into the Round of 16
1. Egypt — vs. Australia
I’m still starting here, because this is the one I feel most confident about. Egypt finished second in Group G, and Mohamed Salah has looked like himself — sharp, dangerous, pulling strings in the final third. Yes, there’s a slight hamstring concern hanging over him, and that’s worth watching. But even at less than 100%, Egypt’s technical quality is a level above Australia’s. The Socceroos are resilient, well-organized, hard to break down — but they’re not going to out-class Egypt. This is the most winnable knockout tie any African team has.
2. Morocco — vs. Netherlands
You can’t talk about African chances at this World Cup without talking about Morocco’s pedigree. This is a team that reached the semi-finals in 2022 — the first African nation in history to do so — and beat Spain and Portugal along the way. That kind of experience doesn’t just disappear. They’ve looked composed again here, drawing Brazil and finishing the group unbeaten.
Yes, the Netherlands are tough — Group F winners, well-organized, dangerous on the counter. But Morocco have already shown they can go toe-to-toe with bigger names and not blink. I underrated them the first time around. I’m not doing it again.
3. South Africa — vs. Canada
You have to love this story. Bafana Bafana opened the tournament getting hammered 2-0 by co-hosts Mexico, and they spent most of that game down to nine men. Most teams don’t recover from that. South Africa did. They drew Czechia, then beat South Korea, and just like that, they’re in their first-ever World Cup knockout stage.
Now they get Canada, which finished second in their group rather than first. South Africa have shown real defensive discipline and a team that’s growing in belief with every match. I wouldn’t bet against them here.
4. Ivory Coast — vs. Norway
This is the one I’ll call “probably” rather than “definitely” — but it deserves a real look. Ivory Coast carry a golden generation and recent continental pedigree (2023 AFCON champions), and they’ve shown they can find a way to win, beating Curaçao and Ecuador in the group while taking Germany to the wire. Norway have been efficient rather than spectacular. If Ivory Coast’s front line clicks the way it did against Ecuador, this is very winnable.
5. Algeria — vs. Switzerland
Algeria’s route to the knockouts was chaos in the best way. A 3-3 draw with Austria, capped by a Riyad Mahrez stoppage-time goal that should’ve sealed it — only for Austria to equalize with literally the last kick of the match. Heart-stopping stuff. But it was enough for both sides to go through.
Switzerland are solid and well-drilled, but they’re not a team that overwhelms you. Algeria have shown character and attacking edge all tournament. I think they’ve got enough to cause an upset.
6. Senegal — vs. Belgium
Senegal’s group stage was rocky on the scoreboard — a 3-1 loss to France and a 3-2 loss to Norway before a 5-0 demolition of an already-eliminated Iraq side got them through as one of the best third-placed teams. That’s not the cleanest form line. But don’t sleep on the quality of the reigning African champions. Sadio Mané, and the young stars: Iliman N’Diaye, Ibrahim Mbaye, Ismaila Sarr, Habib Diarra, Pape Gueye, among others— this is a team built on players who’ve competed at the very top of European football, and Senegal reached the quarter-finals back on their World Cup debut in 2002. Belgium will not go in as favorites despite putting five past New Zealand – the Red Devils have been unconvincing. If Senegal’s big-game players show up the way their pedigree suggests they can, they are capable of sending Belgium back to Brussels.
