As the 2026 World Cup approaches, African national teams are stepping up their preparations. The friendly matches played in March have provided an initial glimpse of the current dynamics.
Morocco showed encouraging solidity, holding Ecuador to a 1-1 draw before defeating Paraguay 2-1. Similarly, Senegal confirmed its rise with two controlled victories, 2-0 against Peru and 3-1 against Gambia.
Egypt also stood out, securing an emphatic 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia, followed by a promising 0-0 draw against Spain, a European powerhouse.
Other teams displayed mixed performances. Côte d’Ivoire did the essentials with a narrow but valuable 1-0 win over Scotland, while Nigeria edged Iran 2-1.
Cameroon had an inconsistent run, losing 0-1 to Australia before bouncing back with a 2-0 victory against China. Guinea shared points with Togo (2-2), while Benin defeated Liberia (1-0). Algeria drew with Paraguay and then beat the modest Guatemala side.
On the other hand, some teams struggled to impress.
Ghana suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat against Austria, exposing defensive weaknesses. South Africa recorded a draw (1-1) and a loss (1-2) against Panama, while Cape Verde fell 4-2 to Chile.
Gabon also lost to Uzbekistan (3-1), and Kenya was beaten by Estonia (2-1).
Overall, these friendlies reveal a hierarchy still taking shape. While some nations—such as Morocco, Senegal, and Egypt—already show strong potential, others will need to fine-tune their setups.
Heading into the global tournament, Africa moves forward with ambition, fully aware that every detail will count in the pursuit of success.
