* Africa’s new gap: From technical quality to 90-minute game management
* We can match Europe and South America, now we must finish like them
By Duncan Mlanjira
The last set of the FIFA World Cup™ results has exposed a painful truth about African football; the gap is no longer technical — it’s psychological and managerial, contends an African football fan, Dennis Esikuri on his LinkedIn social media account.
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This follows heartbreaking results of four FIFA World Cup™ 2026 Round of 32 knockout matches that first saw South Africa getting beaten 1-0 by Canada through a dramatic stoppage-time strike from Stephen Eustaquio.
Then came the turn of Côte d’Ivoire, who equalised in 74th minute canceling out Norway’s 39th-minute opener only for Erling Haaland to shatter the Elephants’ FIFA World Cup™ 2026 hopes, when he netted an 86th-minute winner to go through at 2-1.
Next were DR Congo, who frustrated hot favourites England when they took the lead in the 7th minute and stood on the brink of achieving one of the greatest results in their football history by hanging on to 1-0 advantage for 75 minutes DR Congo.
Only for Harry Kane’s late double turned the match around in the 76th and 84th, handing the Three Lions a hard-fought 2-1 victory.
Senegal suffer cruel exit after Belgium produced a remarkable late comeback to beat the Lions of Teranga 3-2 after extra time.
The Lions of Teranga looked on course for a famous round-of-32 victory after goals from Habib Diarra and Ismaïla Sarr gave them a 2-0 lead by the 51st minute.
With only five minutes of normal time remaining, Belgium, who appeared to be heading out of the tournament, found a way back through Romelu Lukaku in the 86th minute before Youri Tielemans equalised three minutes later.
Thus Dennis Esikuri maintains that “Africa’s gap at FIFA World Cup™ is now psychological, not technical”, adding that Africa’s new gap has transformed from “technical quality to 90-minute game management”.
“We can match Europe and South America, now we must finish like them. The Evidence: DR Congo stood toe-toe with England — excellent organisation for 85 minutes; [but] one lapse of concentration erased all of it.
“The Lions of Teranga matched Belgium physically and tactically, built a lead, and looked destined for the last 16. Elite Africa is no longer being outclassed — we’re being undone in the margins.
“DRC lost focus vs England; Senegal lost control vs Belgium; Côte d’Ivoire lacked management vs Norway — same story: 85 good minutes equals 5 costly minutes.”
Out of the nine African teams that qualified for the Round of 32, only Morocco, who made history by being the first African nation to reach the semifinals at the Qatar 2022 edition, held The Netherlands to 1-1 draw all the way through extra-time before winning 3-2 in post match penalties.
The Atlas Lions will meet Canada in the Round of 16 on Saturday while the other four African representatives in the Round of 32 will play on Friday night — starting with Algeria against Switzerland (17h00); Egypt v Australia (20h00); Cape Verde v Argentina (00h00); and Ghana v Colombia (03h30).
Esikuri analyses that, against Argentina, Cape Verde must work out on their consistent discipline for 90 minutes; Ghana must control their game tempo against Columbia; Egypt to kill the game at 1-0 against Australia and Algeria adjust under pressure vs Switzerland.
“I believe Morocco leads because of European core, elite mentality, and they actually manage games for 90+ minutes,” says Esikuri. “Trophies won’t come from talent alone anymore — it’s game management; it’s mentality.
“Do you agree Africa’s gap is now psychological, not technical?” challenges Esikuri.
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