Five African countries will look to represent the continent with honors as the FIFA World Cup kicks off in Qatar. Africa has five representatives out of the thirty-two competing at Qatar: Ghana, Tunisia, Senegal, Morocco, and Cameroon, are the countries to represent Africa in this prestigious event. Africa is also trailblazing in this World Cup, as this marks the first time all qualifying African nations will have African coaches.
The World Cup is one of the most watched and followed sporting events in history. It features qualified teams from all over the world, representing their various countries in a series of fixtures to bring home the World Cup. This year's tournament is being held in Qatar whose government has spent a record USD 220 billion on infrastructural development, making it the most expensive World Cup yet. Additionally, this will also be the first time a Middle Eastern country will host the event.
Africa has five representatives out of the thirty-two competing at Qatar: Ghana, Tunisia, Senegal, Morocco, and Cameroon, are the countries to represent Africa in this prestigious event. Africa is also trailblazing in this World Cup, as this marks the first time all qualifying African nations will have African coaches. This article briefly discusses the African countries set to compete in the world cup.
Senegal
This is the third time Senegal will participate in the competition. First in 2002, when they reached the quarterfinals, shocking holders France along the way, and then in 2018, when they got knocked out in the group stages. They are to face Qatar, Netherlands, and Ecuador in Group A.
Senegal has a couple of players playing in Europe's top leagues, like Edouard Mendy (Chelsea), Kalidou Koulibaly (Chelsea), Idrissa Gueye (Everton), and their record goal scorer, Sadio Mane (Bayern Munich), and will be coached by Aliou Cisse, a member of that 2002 team. Unfortunately, Mane will not participate due to complications from an injury picked up before the World Cup.
Senegal is currently 18th on the FIFA World rankings, making them the highest-ranked team amongst the African teams.
Morocco
Morocco will be making their sixth appearance at the World Cup in Qatar since they first qualified in 1970. They were also been present at the 1986, 1994, 1998, and 2018 tournaments, making them one of Africa’s most frequent representatives. They will be facing Belgium, Canada, and Croatia in Group F, making it one of the toughest groups any African team is facing. Some of their star players include; Achraf Hakimi (PSG), Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea), and Nayef Aguerd (West Ham) and will be coached by Moroccan national Walid Regragui, who also represented his country 45 times.
Morocco is 22nd in the FIFA World rankings, making them the second-highest-ranked team amongst the qualified African teams.
Tunisia
The 2022 World Cup will also mark the sixth appearance (1978, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2018, and 2022) for the Tunisian national team. They will be facing Denmark, Australia, and France in Group D and will be coached by Jalal Kadri. Birmingham City midfielder Hannibal Mejbri and ex-Sunderland forward Wahbi Khazri have been selected to represent their country in this competition.
Tunisia is currently 30th on the FIFA World rankings and is the third-highest-ranked African team in the competition.
Cameroon
Cameroon is set to participate in their eighth World Cup this campaign, making them the Africa's most-frequent qualifier. They first made the tournament in 1982, significantly later than countries like Morocco and Tunisia, then in qualified for six out of seven World Cup tournaments between 1990 and 2014. Their best performance in the competition was a quarterfinal finish in 1990. They will face Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland in Group G. Maxim Choupo-Moting (Bayern Munich), Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford), Toko Ekambi (Lyon), and Vincent Aboubakar (Al-Nassr) are a few of the players that Cameroon may utilize to ensure qualification into the knockout stage of the competition. Like Senegal, they are coached by a former national team captain, Rigobert Song, a former defender of great renown.
Cameroon is 43rd on the FIFA World rankings and is the fourth highest-ranked African team in the competition.
Ghana
Ghana is making its fourth World Cup appearance after qualifying for the first time in 2006 and again in 2010, 2014, and 2022. They meet Portugal, Uruguay, and South Korea in Group G this campaign, as they look to replicate their 2010 World Cup campaign, were they got to the quarterfinals. Tariq Lamptey (Brighton), Daniel Amartey (Leicester City), Thomas Partey (Arsenal), and Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace) are some of the more experienced players in a youthful squad, which Otto Addo will coach.
Ghana currently sits on the 61st spot of the FIFA World rankings, making it the lowest-ranked African country in the competition.
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