“Is African Football Falling Behind in the Global Game?”

The ongoing FIFA Club World Cup in the United States has delivered thrilling performances, particularly from underdog clubs across different continents. However, the same cannot be said for Africa’s representatives.

Africa had four clubs at this year’s tournament: Al Ahly (Egypt), Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), and Wydad Casablanca (Morocco).

These sides are widely regarded as the cream of African club football. Yet, despite flashes of brilliance—especially from Al Ahly and Mamelodi Sundowns—all four teams exited at the group stage.

Al Ahly, the continent’s most decorated club and recent CAF Champions League powerhouse, showed promise.

A standout moment came when Wessam Abou Ali scored a hat-trick against FC Porto.

But defensive lapses cost them dearly, conceding four in that very match and ultimately finishing with a negative goal difference.

Mamelodi Sundowns also impressed in phases, balancing four goals scored with four conceded. Their near-miraculous comeback attempt against Borussia Dortmund was one of the tournament’s highlights—yet still not enough to progress.

In contrast, Wydad Casablanca and Espérance faced defensive meltdowns. Wydad conceded eight goals across three games despite scoring twice, while Espérance managed just one goal in the tournament—a slim win over Los Angeles FC—and were shut out in the other two fixtures.

These results underscore the glaring disparity between Africa’s top clubs and their South American counterparts. Brazilian clubs, in particular, demonstrated a potent blend of attacking flair and defensive solidity, advancing with high-scoring wins and controlled displays.

Of the 12 games played by African sides, there were two wins, three draws and seven defeats, with 11 goals scored and 23 conceded.

The question remains: Is African club football struggling to compete on the world stage due to quality gaps, tactical limitations, or structural issues?

Whatever the cause, the evidence from this tournament is clear—African clubs must evolve to match the growing global standard.

Can the continent’s giants regroup and rise to the occasion next time?