World Cup: AU Chairperson wishes African Teams Success Ahead of Official Kick-off at Estadio Azteca
The fifth substantive Chairperson of the African Union (AU), Djiboutian Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, has wished African teams success at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup commences on Thursday, in which, for the first time, 48 countries across the globe will compete.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) for the first time provided ten countries from the football federation to compete, making history as forty-nine times teams have qualified for the Mundial.
The ten qualified countries from the African continent after ten rounds of qualifier games are the Desert Warriors of Algeria, the Pharaohs of Egypt, the Atlas Lions of Morocco, the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia, the Elephants of Ivory Coast, the Teranga Lions of Senegal, the Leopards of DR Congo, the Bafana Bafana of South Africa, the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde and the Black Stars of Ghana.
The Blue Sharks of Cape Verde’s qualification for the prestigious football festival has been a historical milestone for the football federation; they are one of only four (4) nations to have achieved debut qualification.
His Excellency Ali Youssouf, Djibouti’s longest-serving foreign minister and the sixth person to hold the position since the African Union’s inception, wishes the ten African nations representing the continent the best of luck and strong support.
“This record level of African participation reflects the continued rise of African football and the talent, resilience, and determination of its players. It is a moment of continental pride, uniting Africans across all regions in shared hope and celebration,” H.E. Youssouf stated.
In the second appearance of an opening game of the World Cup at the Estadio Azteca in Coyoacán, Mexico City, the journey of the African countries at the World Cup begins with the Bafana Bafana of South Africa; they take on the Tricolour of Mexico.
As the competition gets underway, the AU Chairperson reiterates the organisation’s unwavering support for Africa’s representatives and looks forward to performances that uplift the continent, foster international camaraderie, and improve Africa’s reputation in international football.
