Club World Cup: ES Sétif Eliminated by Auckland City as Africa’s Journey Ends
By BBC Sport | FIFA Club World Cup – Rabat
Africa’s hopes in the FIFA Club World Cup have come to an early end after Algerian champions ES Sétif were defeated 1-0 by New Zealand’s Auckland City FC in the quarter-finals on Saturday. The result means that, following the earlier exit of Morocco’s Moghreb de Tétouan, the continent no longer has a representative in this year’s tournament.
Making their debut in the competition, ES Sétif were unable to find a breakthrough against a disciplined and determined Auckland City side. Despite a promising start and a slight edge in the first half, the Algerians failed to convert their few chances into goals.
The decisive moment came in the 52nd minute when Auckland City forward John Irving delivered a precise cross that was met by a powerful header from De Vries, handing the Oceania champions the lead. From that point on, the New Zealanders managed the game well, frustrating Sétif’s attempts to mount a comeback.
The Algerian side, who qualified as winners of the CAF Champions League, struggled to assert their usual attacking rhythm and were repeatedly denied space and time by a well-organised Auckland defence.
This latest defeat mirrors that of Moghreb de Tétouan, also eliminated by Auckland City earlier in the tournament. The New Zealand side, often seen as underdogs at this stage, have now stunned two North African teams and secured an unexpected place in the semi-finals, where they will face Argentine giants San Lorenzo.
For ES Sétif, the early exit is a bitter disappointment after high hopes of a strong showing in Algeria’s first appearance at the Club World Cup. Their elimination underscores the challenge African clubs still face in translating continental dominance into global success.
Auckland City’s story, meanwhile, continues to captivate. With two consecutive wins, they now find themselves just one step away from the final — a remarkable achievement for a semi-professional side that has once again defied expectations on the world stage.
Next up: Auckland City vs. San Lorenzo in the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup.
