African football faced hard truths at the FIFA Club World Cup
- activateeditor
- Jul 24
- 3 min read
By Kabelo Mafiri
From June 14 to July 13, the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup tournament brought together the world's elite clubs across all competitions from all over the world in a month-long battle for global supremacy. As different clubs from six continents descended upon the United States to compete for the coveted title of 'Champions of the World,' one question loomed large: could Africa's representatives finally break through on sport's biggest stage and prove they belonged among the world's best?
For Africans, the world stage represents our most precious opportunity to showcase the continent's true potential beyond the limited narratives taught elsewhere. When four African clubs earned their place at the FIFA Club World Cup, they carried the hopes of an entire continent.
Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa, Al Ahly from Egypt, Wydad AC from Morocco, and Espérance de Tunis from Tunisia had earned their spots through recent CAF Champions League success. These weren't just clubs competing—they represented every barefoot child playing on dusty roads and every dreamer believing in African football's potential.
Despite their passion and determination to represent Africa victoriously, the tournament became a sobering wake-up call. The gap between African football and European or South American clubs was starkly exposed, particularly in tactical sophistication and technical execution.
The disparity was so evident that even Thembinkosi Lorch, a South African player representing Wydad AC, posted on Instagram after their 2-0 loss to Manchester City: "yha neh, the level is too high." His words captured what many African football fans were reluctantly acknowledging. Our representatives showed heart, but the numbers tell a difficult story:
Al Ahly managed 2 points from 9 possible
Mamelodi Sundowns secured 4 points from 9
Wydad AC earned 0 points from 9
Espérance de Tunis collected 3 points from 9
Despite their efforts, all four clubs exited before the knockout stages. The round of 16 became dominated mostly by European and South American clubs, with Chelsea FC ultimately claiming the title.
FIFA's decision to host this tournament proved to be an excellent initiative, offering valuable insights into the varying levels of football across different continents. The financial benefits were immediate and tangible—participating clubs received compensation for qualifying, match victories, and advancing through knockout stages, providing crucial revenue streams for teams that needed them most.
More importantly, the tournament served as an invaluable learning experience for African players, giving them the high-level competition exposure essential for their development ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Rather than viewing this as a setback, African football should embrace this tournament as a masterclass in what elite competition demands.
The path forward is clear: to compete with the world's best, you must face the world's best. African football is on the right trajectory, but realizing our potential requires strategic investment and development from our football administrators. Only through sustained commitment to infrastructure, coaching, and player development can we bridge the gap between aspiration and achievement on the global stage.
This tournament wasn't just about results—it was a mirror reflecting where African football currently stands. The investment and development infrastructure that European and South American clubs possess gave them a clear advantage. While our talent was evident, it highlighted that we still have significant ground to cover before matching the world's elite.
The question isn't whether African football can reach these heights, but how quickly we can bridge this gap through improved investment, infrastructure, and tactical development. Our barefoot dreamers deserve nothing less.
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