THUR JUNE 18 2026-theGBJournal| Africa enjoyed an encouraging start to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, collecting notable wins and several eye-catching results against traditional heavyweights, underlining the continent’s growing competitiveness on the global stage.
Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and DR Congo delivered some of the standout moments.
Caleb Yirenkyi’s stoppage-time strike secured Ghana a dramatic 1-0 victory over Panama, prompting Antoine Semenyo to describe the emotions after the winner as relief and a vital confidence boost ahead of the next match.
Côte d’Ivoire also left it late, with Amad Diallo’s 90th-minute goal sealing a thrilling win over Ecuador, while DR Congo claimed a historic first World Cup point against Portugal thanks to Yoane Wissa’s equaliser.
Wissa hailed his side’s courage and resilience, saying the achievement reflected the character of the team.
Morocco again showed why they are regarded among the world’s most dangerous outsiders, holding Brazil to a 1-1 draw.
Coach Mohamed Ouahbi said the performance demonstrated that the Atlas Lions are capable of reaching the latter stages once more, echoing the spirit that powered their memorable run in Qatar four years ago.
Egypt also earned a credible 1-1 draw with Belgium, while tournament debutants Cabo Verde produced arguably the biggest shock of the opening round, frustrating Spain in a goalless draw.
Goalkeeper Vozinha’s heroics captured global attention, with his social media following exploding after the result.
Not all African representatives enjoyed positive starts. South Africa fell 2-0 to Mexico, Tunisia were overwhelmed 5-1 by Sweden, Algeria suffered a 3-0 defeat to Argentina and Senegal squandered a promising first-half display before losing 3-1 to France.
Midfielder Pathe Ciss admitted the Teranga Lions “fell asleep” after the break but insisted the team would remain positive and learn from its mistakes.
After the first round of matches, African teams have registered two victories, four draws and four defeats.
More significantly, performances against Brazil, Portugal, Belgium and Spain suggest the continent’s representatives are increasingly capable of troubling football’s established powers and could yet play a major role as the tournament progresses.
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