With the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening on June 11, the former Super Eagles number one says the continent has never had a better chance to produce multiple deep runs, and that the atmosphere in African football circles has not felt this optimistic in years.
Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi has backed Morocco and Senegal to be the standout African sides at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, describing both nations as having the quality, experience, and depth needed to make a real impression when the tournament begins in North America this week, FootballInNigeria.com.ng reports. “I see Morocco and Senegal doing very well,” Akpeyi said in a recent interview. “They have the quality and experience, as shown in recent years.”
Akpeyi, who retired as a player in 2025 after a long career that took him from Heartland FC and Warri Wolves in Nigeria to Chippa United and Kaizer Chiefs in South Africa, is now working as goalkeeper coach at Gauteng Development League side Future of Africa. The 39 year old, who earned 18 senior caps for the Super Eagles and was part of the 2019 AFCON bronze winning squad, spoke with the measured confidence of someone who has been close to the game at the top level and knows what separates contenders from participants.
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Morocco: History, Controversy, and a New Coach
Morocco arrive in North America carrying the weight of a historic 2022 run the Atlas Lions remain the only African and Arab side ever to reach a World Cup semi-final, having eliminated Spain and Portugal before falling to France in Qatar. This time, however, the build-up has been far less smooth. Coach Walid Regragui, who masterminded that 2022 campaign, parted ways with the team in March 2026, reportedly as a consequence of both the manner of Morocco’s controversial AFCON title awarded after Senegal walked off the pitch in protest during the final in Rabat and tensions with the federation over the team’s direction. His replacement, Mohamed Ouahbi, brings youth pedigree having led Morocco’s under-20s to the U20 World Cup title, but this is his first senior head-coaching appointment.
Morocco are placed in Group C. Their squad is still formidable, built around players competing at the top level in Europe’s elite leagues. Brahim Diaz, who has been one of the best midfielders in La Liga over the past two seasons, is expected to be central to everything. Despite the off field turbulence, the playing group’s quality is not in dispute, and Akpeyi’s confidence in them appears well placed.
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Senegal: Mane’s Last Dance and an Unbeaten Qualifying Record
Senegal head to the tournament as arguably Africa’s strongest side on current form. They came through qualifying unbeaten and announced themselves on the world stage once again when they beat England 3-1 at Wembley in a pre-tournament friendly, becoming the first African side to defeat the Three Lions in their own ground. Coach Pape Thiaw has assembled a squad with both experience and youth, and Sadio Mane at 34 and playing in what he has confirmed will be his final World Cup before retiring from international football gives the team a captain whose desire to end on the highest note possible is unmistakable.
The lingering tension with Morocco from the AFCON final may add an extra edge to their World Cup preparations, but on the pitch Senegal’s talent is considerable. Their squad is packed with players from the Premier League, Serie A, and Ligue 1, and they have a physical and technical profile that travels well across playing styles.
Bafana and Congo: The Dark Horses
Akpeyi was not content to limit his predictions to just two sides. He also offered praise for the broader picture. “Bafana Bafana could also be a surprise package,” he said, pointing to the South African side’s hosting of the opening match as an opportunity to ignite the country’s World Cup campaign in front of a home continent crowd, even if the games themselves are in North America.
He also singled out DR Congo’s presence as a source of particular excitement. The Congolese qualified against the odds through the Africa intercontinental playoff, beating Jamaica 1-0 in the final in Mexico to seal their first World Cup appearance since 1974. “DR Congo qualifying against the odds makes their participation especially exciting,” Akpeyi said. “We could see a competition among the African countries over who stays the longest at the tournament.”
Africa has 10 teams at the 2026 World Cup — Algeria, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia making it the continent’s largest ever representation at any global tournament. The expanded 48-team format has given African football room it has never had before, and Akpeyi was clear eyed about what that means. “With more teams, Africa has a real chance to reach the knockout stages and even the quarter-finals,” he said. “Our players are playing week in and week out in Europe for some of the world’s biggest teams.” Readers following the entire African World Cup campaign can stay updated and find current tournament odds at FootballInNigeria’s Bet9ja promo page.
📌 Did You Know?
- Morocco’s new World Cup coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, was appointed after Walid Regragui’s departure in March 2026. Ouahbi had no senior head-coaching experience before this appointment, having previously worked in youth setups at Anderlecht and with Morocco’s under-20 team, whom he led to the U20 World Cup title.
- Senegal’s 3-1 win over England at Wembley in their pre-World Cup friendly made them the first African national team to beat England at Wembley Stadium in a full international. They achieved it just weeks before the tournament began.
- Sadio Mane, 34, has publicly confirmed that the 2026 World Cup will be his final tournament with Senegal before he retires from international football. He became Senegal’s all-time leading scorer and helped them win their first AFCON title in 2022.
- DR Congo’s qualification through the intercontinental playoff is their first World Cup appearance since the 1974 tournament in West Germany, a gap of 52 years. They qualified by beating Jamaica 1-0 in the final held in Mexico.
- Daniel Akpeyi, now 39, retired from playing in 2025 after being released by Marumo Gallants, then joined Gauteng Development League side Future of Africa as goalkeeper coach in November 2025. He holds a CAF D Coaching Licence and has expressed ambitions to upgrade it.
- The 2026 FIFA World Cup opens on June 11, with South Africa playing the opening match. The tournament is co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico the first World Cup to be hosted across three countries simultaneously.
- Africa’s record of 10 teams at the 2026 World Cup compares to five teams at recent editions. The increase came as FIFA expanded the tournament from 32 to 48 teams, with Africa receiving nine direct slots plus a potential tenth through the intercontinental playoff, which DR Congo claimed.
