African countries with the most participations in the World Cup

Senegal - 4
In an excellent dynamic in recent years, Senegalese football is flourishing and continues to rule the continent. At the world level, the Lions have a recent history with the World Cup but are becoming more and more regular in the competition.

After a first participation only in 2002, Senegal will be at its 4th World Cup this summer. This is the third consecutive year after 2018 and 2022, indicating impressive consistency. The goal of Kalidou Koulibaly and his teammates is to do better than the quarter-finals, which remains Senegal’s best performance in the World Cup so far.

South Africa - 4

The only African country to have staged a World Cup so far, South Africa is one of the continent’s most respected nations. This 2026 edition will be the fourth participation in the Bafana Bafana World Cup after 1998, 2002 and 2010. South Africa never went past the first round.

Egypt - 4

The first African country to compete in a World Cup in 1934, Egypt then had a complicated history with the competition. The Pharaohs had to wait until 1990 before participating again in the World Cup. Then 2018 in Russia before their fourth appearance this year with the ambition to finally do better than the first round.

Côte d'Ivoire - 4

Despite the great players they have always produced, Côte d'Ivoire only played their first World Cup in 2006 in Germany with the Drogba generation. Since then, the Elephants have participated in the competition three times, with South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014. After two missed editions, the Elephants are making a comeback for the 2026 World Cup, which is their fourth edition. The goal for Emerse Faé and his men is to become the generation that will finally qualify the triple champion of Africa for its first direct elimination phase.

Ghana - 5

Ghana is one of the most consistent African countries at the World Cup. And yet, it is only from 2006 that the Elephants have registered their name on the list of participants for the first time in their history. Then there was 2010, the year of their best performance with a quarter-final, 2014, 2022 and 2026.

Algeria - 5

With the 2026 World Cup, the Fennecs will be at their fifth participation after 1982, 1986, 2010 and 2014. It is a great return for Riyad Mahrez and his teammates who will look to do better than the round of 16 in 2014.

Nigeria - 6

Nigeria remains nevertheless one of the African countries with the most participations in the World Cup. The Super Eagles have six, in 1994, 1998, 2002, 2010, 2014 and 2018 respectively. Nigeria has reached the last 16 of the World Cup three times, in 1994, 1998 and 2014.

Tunisia - 7

It does not have the most romantic playing style on the continent, but Tunisia has often been present at major competitions. In the World Cup, the Carthage Eagles have seven (7) participations, respectively in 1978, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2018, 2022 and 2026.

Morocco - 7

If it has often been disappointing in the African Cup of Nations, Morocco is one of the most successful African countries in the World Cup. Global tournament that the Atlas Lions have played seven (7) times, notably in 1970, 1986, 1994, 1998, 2018, 2022 and this 2026 edition. Morocco is the only African country to have reached the semi-finals of a World Cup (2022).

Cameroon - 8

Cameroon is the African country with the most participations in the World Cup. The Indomitable Lions have eight (8) participations, respectively in 1982, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2010, 2014 and 2022. Cameroon’s best performance in the World Cup is the quarter-final reached in 1990 in Italy, with a great Roger Milla.