With two qualified for the 1/8, the continent equals its performance of 2014, where Nigeria had given France a hard time (2-0 for the Blues), and even more Algeria to Germany, future world champion, winner in overtime (2-1 ap).

"I want to say: it's time. Africa is rather behind on its roadmap", explains to AFP Philippe Troussier, who notably guided South Africa to the 1998 World Cup.

"African teams have players who shine in the big clubs in Europe, and this observation does not date from today, they should have reached this level of performance before," he continues.

Claude Le Roy, who led African teams for more than 20 years, believed in African teams in Qatar from the start.

"I predicted three qualifiers, and Tunisia didn't go far," he told AFP.

"The organization of the selections"

The poor results of the first day were "misleading", adds the + Blond wizard +, "Cameroon had played better for me than Switzerland despite the defeat (1-0), Senegal lost for a detail (a missed outing by goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, editor's note) against the Netherlands (2-0)..."

Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly celebrates his goal against Ecuador at the 2022 World Cup on November 29 in Doha.

© JUNG Yeon-je / AFP

This success of African teams comes "in part from the gradual improvement in the organization of selections and the professionalization of football in African countries", estimates Alain Giresse for AFP.

"It also seems to me that we find more African players than before in the big clubs in Europe, like Kalidou Koulibaly at Chelsea, and I regret that Sadio (Mané) is not there", continues "Gigi", who notably coached Senegal and Tunisia.

Senegal, who face England on Sunday, and Morocco, who face Spain on Tuesday, qualified in style.

The "Atlas Lions" dominated a group with the 2nd (Croatia) and 3rd (Belgium) of the last edition, and the "Lions" of Dakar taught the lesson to the promising Ecuadorians (2-1) in the match decisive.

Second time for Morocco and Senegal

The eliminated came out with honors, the Tunisians beating France (1-0) and the Cameroonians surprising Brazil (1-0).

Morocco coach Walid Regragui celebrated by his players during the team's qualification for the 1/8 finals of the 2022 World Cup on December 1 in Doha.

© Fadel Senna / AFP

Only Ghana missed its World Cup, unable to overcome its demons against Uruguay (2-0), where André Ayew missed a penalty, twelve years after that of Asamoah Gyan against the same opponent for a place in the semi-finals , after the voluntary hand of Luis Suarez.

The two eighth finalists arrive for the second time at this level, joining Ghana (2006 and 2010).

The continental record remains with Nigeria, which has played three 1/8s (1994, 1998 and 2014).

Morocco had already won their group in 1986 and inherited a full-bodied round of 16, the FRG in Mexico, which beat them 1-0 at the end of the match on a free kick from Lothar Matthaüs (1-0).

In 2002, Senegal beat France, the reigning world champion, in the opening match (1-0) and only lost, like all African teams reaching the quarter-finals, in extra time. in the golden goal against Turkey (1-0 beo).

And in 2018, the Lions had only been overtaken by Japan in the number of yellow cards (6 against 4 to the Samurai).

It's been a long road since 1930 and the first World Cup.

Africa has only participated in the first eight editions once, with Egypt, beaten in the first round by Hungary (4-2) in 1934.

She had one place in 1970, two from 1982, three in 1994 and five since 1998.

"The objective now is to reach one or two countries in the semi-finals", wishes Giresse.

© 2022 AFP