Despite flashes of brilliance at past FIFA senior men’s events, African teams are yet to translate their vast footballing talents, dotting the best leagues across the globe, into World Cup glory.

The most celebrated sports mundial will again be on display from November 20, 2022 in the Persian gulf of Qatar and five African countries will jostle for honours in the 32-team month-long tournament.

No African team has made it past the quarter final stage at previous competitions but the teams participating this fall would be hoping to make history on Arabian soil.

In looking up to a remarkable showing at Qatar 2022, Peoples Gazette went down the memory lane to relive exploits of some African teams that have braced the odds to acquit themselves impressively at past FIFA men’s World Cup.

CAMEROON 1990

The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon became Africa’s first national team to play in the quarterfinals of the World Cup back in 1990, playing five games, winning thrice and losing two times. 

Talismanic legend, Roger Milla propelled the Lions to their uncommon feat during that campaign, emerging one of the top scorers despite being advanced in age (38 then) and not starting any of his team’s matches. And then who forgets his memorable makossa dance for goal celebrations?

Their first game against Argentina ended with a 1-0 victory, despite having two players sent off. They maintained winning momentum against Romania in the second game with a 2-1 scoreline before tasting defeat against the USSR in the third by 4-0. Cameroon defeated Colombia in the round of 16 2-1 before losing to England 3-2 in the final eight.

NIGERIA 1994

With the Super Eagles tagged as the golden generation during their astute campaign in the USA in 1994, they could only reach the round of 16. It was their first World Cup outing, with the maiden match coming against Bulgaria at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. Nigeria won the match 3-nil in a game Rasheedi Yekini scored Nigeria’s first-ever World Cup goal- not a few grown ups would remember his iconic goal celebration where he clinged passionately on the net. 

Nigeria lost 2-1 against Argentina in the second match but gained a 2-0 victory over Greece in the third. The Azzurri (Italian national team) ended the Super Eagles’ run in the round of 16 with a 2-1 victory, as Emmanuel Amunike’s only goal for Nigeria wasn’t enough to go past Italy. The team played four games, won two, and lost two while scoring seven and conceding four goals.

SENEGAL 2002

The Teranga Lions of Senegal did one better in 2002 by becoming just the second African nation to reach the quarterfinals in the World Cup, playing five games, winning two, drawing two, and losing one. Pape Malick Diop’s goal helped pull off an upset with his goal against France in Senegal’s first game, winning 1-0. The second and third games ended 1-1 and 3-3 against Denmark and Uruguay, respectively. 

Senegal defeated Sweden in the round of 16, with Henri Camara’s brace sealing a 2-1 victory before getting knocked out by a slim 1-0 margin in the quarterfinals at the hands of Turkey.

GHANA 2010

South Africa hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup for the first time in Africa, but the Black Stars of Ghana would get to the tournament’s quarterfinals. Ghana started the campaign on a winning note against Serbia, courtesy of an Asamoah Gyan 84th-minute penalty. The second game was a draw against Australia, with Asamoah Gyan scoring another penalty. 

Ghana tasted defeat in the final group game against Germany before gaining victory over the USA in the first knockout round, with Asamoah Gyan again snatching the winner in a 2-1 win. 

The Black Stars’ progress was thwarted by Luiz Suarez’s 120th-minute goal-line handball clearance, an action that saw the player sent off, but Gyan failed to convert the resulting penalty. Gyan scored their first penalty kick in the shootout, but Uruguay triumphed 4-2.

With African coaches leading all five African team into the Qatar World Cup for the first time, the teams would be hoping to go even further by at least making it into the semifinals.

Senegal sits as the best team in Africa. It is the continent’s biggest hope for a deep run after winning the AFCON title earlier in the year and defeating Egypt over two legs during the qualifiers.

Morocco is closely behind, following decent performances with a closely-knit squad that has been together for a while now.

Ghana defeated Nigeria in the qualification round and would still be licking their wounds from over a decade ago. At the same time, Tunisia, who may not be among the favourites, would fancy their fate in Group D.

AFCON’s most successful team, Cameroon, are in Group G and their indomitable spirit could spur them to shock the world.