Africa’s World Cup 2026 Judgement Day: Egypt, Ghana Fight

A record nine African teams, and three of them play today

This has already been a historic World Cup for African football. Nine of the ten African nations that qualified reached the Round of 32 — the best return the continent has ever had at a World Cup — even with Nigeria sitting this tournament out after that heartbreaking playoff defeat to DR Congo back in November. For Nigerian fans, cheering on the rest of the continent has been the next best thing, and July 3 is the day that determines how much of Africa’s story continues into the Round of 16.

Three African sides play knockout football today: Egypt against Australia, Cape Verde against Argentina, and Ghana against Colombia. By the time the last whistle blows in Kansas City in the early hours of Saturday morning WAT, we’ll know exactly how many African teams are left standing.

### Where Africa stands before kick-off

Of the nine African qualifiers, the Round of 32 has already been brutal. South Africa were beaten 1-0 by Canada. Ivory Coast lost 2-1 to Norway. DR Congo went out 2-1 to England. Senegal were edged 3-2 by Belgium after extra time. Algeria were beaten comfortably, 2-0, by Switzerland, who scored twice inside the first 46 minutes in Vancouver.

That leaves Morocco as the only African side already through — they beat the Netherlands on penalties after a 1-1 draw, and now wait to discover their Round of 16 opponent. Full details on their run are on our Morocco World Cup 2026 guide.

Today, three more African nations get their chance to join Morocco in the next round.

### Egypt: first knockout game in their history

Egypt’s tie with Australia at AT&T Stadium is historic before a ball is even kicked — it’s the first knockout match Egypt have played at a World Cup. Mohamed Salah has been central to everything good about their tournament, including their first-ever World Cup group-stage win, but a hamstring strain picked up against Iran leaves his fitness for this game genuinely uncertain. Australia have never won a World Cup knockout match, which gives Egypt a real opening even if Salah isn’t at his sharpest.

### Cape Verde: the fairytale continues, or ends, against Messi

Cape Verde’s run to the World Cup Finals for the first time in their history has already been one of the best stories of the tournament — they’re only the second African nation, after Ghana in 2006, to reach the knockout stage on their debut. Standing between them and the Round of 16 is Lionel Messi’s Argentina, who have scored nine goals in three games. It’s a huge ask, but Cape Verde have already beaten the odds simply by being here.

### Ghana: the late show

Ghana’s tie with Colombia kicks off at 2:30am WAT — a genuinely difficult watch for Nigerian fans committed to staying up — but it’s arguably the most winnable of the three African games today on paper, even with Colombia deservedly favoured. Full preview and betting tips are in our separate Ghana vs Colombia match preview, and the complete story of their campaign is on our Ghana World Cup 2026 hub.

### Why this matters beyond the results

Every African team that reaches the Round of 16 adds to what’s already a landmark tournament for the continent, and gives Nigerian audiences without a team of their own a reason to keep watching deep into the knockouts. Whatever happens today, Africa has already outperformed most pre-tournament expectations — the only question left is how far this run goes.

Follow NigerianMatchday for continued coverage of every African team left in the competition, plus daily betting tips on the best betting sites in Nigeria.