The 2026 World Cup draw has set the stage for a summer of drama in North America, and Africa’s representatives now know the mountains they must climb.
Nine nations have already sealed their tickets, with a potential tenth, DR Congo, still fighting through the intercontinental playoff.
Some African teams landed favourable paths; others drew gauntlets that will test depth, experience and nerves.
Here’s a sharp, scene-setting look at who faces the toughest tasks next July and the storylines to watch as the countdown begins.
DR Congo on the brink of a dream
The Leopards have reignited belief. After a dramatic CAF playoff run in November, a last-gasp winner from Chancel Mbemba to beat Cameroon and a penalty shootout upset over Nigeria, DR Congo now head to the interconfederational playoff.
Their next hurdle is the winner of Jamaica vs New Caledonia, with a World Cup berth on the line. If they make it, the tournament will welcome a side riding a wave of momentum and fearless momentum that could unsettle any group.
Morocco drawn into a heavyweight pool
Morocco remain the benchmark for African teams after their historic run in 2022.
The Atlas Lions, however, have been handed a stern Group C test alongside five-time champions Brazil, a resurgent Scotland making their first World Cup appearance since 1998, and Haiti, whose sizeable diaspora in the US could turn stadiums into hostile territory.
Morocco will likely chase second place behind Brazil, which would set up a daunting round-of-32 clash with the Netherlands. The path opens only if Walid Regragui’s side can combine homegrown grit with the kind of tactical nous that took them to the 2022 semi-finals.
Senegal must bridge generations against France and Norway
Senegal arrive with pedigree and pressure. The Lions of Teranga impressed in 2022 even without Sadio Mané, and now the squad must balance the fading brilliance of veterans like Mané, Kalidou Koulibaly and Édouard Mendy with the hunger of the next wave; players such as Iliman Ndiaye and Nicolas Jackson.
Their group is brutal: an opener against France — a heavyweight rematch that stirs memories of 2002 — followed by a showdown with Norway, spearheaded by Erling Haaland. Senegal’s challenge will be to blend experience and youth quickly, or risk being outpaced by elite European firepower.
Ghana’s uphill climb in a stacked group
Ghana face a classic World Cup trap. The Black Stars begin against Panama, a match they are expected to win, but the real tests come next: England, bristling with stars like Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, and Croatia, a side that has repeatedly punched above its weight on the world stage.
Ghana’s group demands tactical discipline and clinical finishing; without those, the Black Stars could find themselves eliminated before the knockout drama even begins. Their best hope is to treat the Panama game as a launchpad and then shock one of the European heavyweights.
Who has the toughest task
• Morocco face elite opposition and a likely clash with the Netherlands if they finish second, making their route perilous despite their recent pedigree.
• Senegal must navigate a group with France and Norway, a test of both leadership and succession planning.
• Ghana confronts two European powerhouses and a must-win opener, a combination that leaves little margin for error.
Final verdict and what to watch
The draw has handed Africa a mix of opportunity and adversity.
Key things to monitor: injury updates for star players, how managers integrate emerging talents, and whether any African side can turn a tough group into a galvanising run.
Upsets are the lifeblood of World Cups; a single inspired performance can rewrite a group and send a dark horse into the spotlight. As July approaches, expect drama, tactical masterclasses and the kind of national theatre that only the World Cup can deliver.
