Wanyama hails Africa’s historic World Cup showing as Morocco and Egypt carry continental hopes

Kenyan football legend Victor Wanyama believes Africa’s outstanding performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup have changed the way the continent is viewed on the global stage, saying the tournament has proved beyond doubt that African teams can compete with the very best in world football.

Speaking in Nairobi on Monday during the unveiling of a partnership between the Victor Wanyama Foundation and sports betting company 22Bet to support his football academy, the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder praised the collective achievements of Africa’s representatives after a record-breaking campaign.

Nine of the 10 African nations that qualified for the tournament progressed to the knockout rounds, giving the continent a remarkable 90 percent qualification rate from the group stage—the highest success rate among all confederations at the expanded 48-team World Cup.

Only Tunisia failed to advance, while Morocco, Egypt, Ghana, Senegal, Algeria, South Africa, DR Congo, Côte d’Ivoire and Cape Verde all reached the Round of 32 in what has become Africa’s most successful World Cup campaign.

Although several teams were eliminated in the first knockout round, their performances attracted widespread admiration, with DR Congo, Cape Verde and Côte d’Ivoire particularly winning praise for their fearless attacking football and competitive displays against some of the world’s leading nations.

Morocco and Egypt have now emerged as Africa’s standard bearers after both secured places in the quarter-finals, keeping alive the continent’s dream of producing its first FIFA World Cup winner.

For Wanyama, the achievements of African teams represent years of steady progress finally being rewarded on football’s biggest stage.

“The African teams at the World Cup have shown that we are as good as any of the top sides in the world given the performance they showed. The world now knows that you cannot underrate African sides,” Wanyama said at the launch of his partnership with 22Bet on Monday to develop his academy

The former Harambee Stars captain believes the performances across the tournament demonstrate how much African football has evolved in recent years.

“This shows that African football has progressed a lot and deserves the good performance we have seen of the African teams at the World Cup. People know that you cannot underrate an African team at any stage.”

His comments come as African football continues to enjoy unprecedented success internationally.

Morocco have once again led the charge after becoming the first African nation to reach consecutive World Cup quarter-finals. The Atlas Lions followed up their historic semi-final appearance in Qatar four years ago with an emphatic 3-0 victory over co-hosts Canada in the Round of 32, thanks to a brace from Azzedine Ounahi and a late goal by Soufiane Rahimi.

That victory has set up a blockbuster quarter-final against France, with Wanyama also backing the North Africans to go all the way.

Earlier during the same event in Nairobi, the Kenyan legend described Morocco as genuine contenders for the title, insisting their consistency and fearless approach make them capable of beating any team.

Egypt have also carried African hopes into the last eight after another impressive campaign and now face defending champions Argentina in what promises to be one of the standout quarter-final ties.

While Ghana, Senegal, Algeria, South Africa, DR Congo, Côte d’Ivoire and Cape Verde saw their campaigns end in the Round of 32, many departed with enhanced reputations after pushing some of the tournament favourites all the way.

For Wanyama, whose own career took him from Kenya to Celtic, Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur, Africa’s performances offer encouragement to the next generation of footballers across the continent.

The former midfielder is currently investing in that future through the Victor Wanyama Foundation and his new football academy in Busia County, an initiative designed to give talented young players access to world-class facilities and coaching.

He believes the World Cup has demonstrated that the gap between Africa and football’s traditional powers continues to narrow, with the continent no longer content simply to participate but increasingly capable of challenging for the game’s biggest prizes.

As Morocco and Egypt prepare for their quarter-final assignments, they do so carrying not only the ambitions of their own nations but also the hopes of a continent whose performances at the 2026 World Cup have earned unprecedented global respect.