Africa-Press – Mozambique. Former France international and World Cup winner Marcel Desailly has expressed strong confidence in the ability of African nations to make a deep impact at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, citing the growing presence of African players in top European leagues.
The former defender noted that many African national teams are now built around players who are regular starters in Europe’s elite competitions. According to Desailly, this exposure has significantly raised the technical and tactical level of teams across the continent.
“When you look at most of the teams now in Africa, you can see that inside the team there is a lot of first-choice players in Europe. So the potential is there,” Desailly said.
He added that beyond individual talent, African teams are also developing the mental strength and belief required to compete at the highest level. Desailly pointed to Morocco’s historic run to the semi-finals at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar as clear evidence of what African nations can achieve with the right structure and confidence.
“The quality is there, the belief is there. As Morocco did by reaching the semi-final, Senegal can do the same thing. Ivory Coast can also,” he stated.
Morocco became the first African nation to reach the last four of a World Cup, defeating the likes of Belgium, Spain, and Portugal in a memorable campaign. Their achievement has since served as inspiration for other teams across the continent.
With the 2026 World Cup set to be hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and expanded to 48 teams, Africa will have increased representation at the tournament. This expansion is expected to give more nations from the continent an opportunity to showcase their talent on the global stage.
Desailly believes that with better organization, improved infrastructure, and continued development of young players, African teams are well-positioned to challenge traditional powerhouses.
As qualification campaigns intensify across the continent, his comments have further fueled optimism among fans and stakeholders that Africa could be on the verge of another historic breakthrough at football’s biggest stage.
