Five times African sides tore it up in the World Cup group stage

Picking out five nations from the continent that flourished at the start of the global showpiece.

While Morocco became the first African side to make it out of a group in 1986, that honour ought to have gone to the Fennecs four years earlier.

Not only were Algeria the continent’s foremost team to win two group matches, their four points after three games in the first group stage (teams were still awarded two points for a win at the time) was outdone by only three sides—Brazil (six), England (six) and Belgium (five).

The North Africans finished level with West Germany — whom they stunned 2-1 in their tournament opener — and Austria on four points, but the Austrians advanced with a superior goal difference.

The final game between Germany and Austria — in which both sides knew the outcome of the African side’s final game (a 3-2 win over Chile) — has been dubbed the “Disgrace of Gijon” due to the perceived relaxed nature of the game after the West Germans scored early, with the 1-0 result enough to take both European nations through.

Algeria’s tally of four points would have seen them progress from four of the other five groups, further rankling for a side that flourished at the finals in Spain.

Morocco ended top of their group in ’86 runs Cameroon close, but the Indomitable Lions winning two games sees them pip the Atlas Lions’ feat from Mexico ’86.

The Central African nation defeated reigning champions Argentina 1-0, despite being reduced to nine men and finished as group winners, with Roger Milla inspiring their 2-1 success over Romania.

That Cameroon side advanced to the quarter-finals before suffering a painful 3-2 extra-time defeat against England.

Tournament debutants Nigeria finished top of a group comprising one of the tournament favourites Argentina, Bulgaria and Greece, ending with six points from three games.

Their 3-0 success over the Bulgarians remains the biggest victory by an African nation to date, with no side from the continent matching the Super Eagles in nearly a generation.

The then-African champions reached the last 16.

It would be harder finding a sweeter story than Senegal’s debut appearance at the 2002 finals.

The Lions of Teranga stunned the reigning world and European champions France 1-0 in the tournament opener, before playing out to a pair of draws against Denmark and Uruguay, the latter prevented them from matching Nigeria’s feat against Bulgaria in 1994 as they lost a 3-0 lead against the South Americans.

They ended second owing to that 3-3 draw, but it should not put a downer on an incredible debut appearance in which they reached the quarter-finals.

While Ghana in South Africa 2010 came so close to a semi-final berth, the Black Stars’ group stage performance four years earlier undoubtedly bettered their showing on African soil.

The likes of Stephen Appiah, Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari and Asamoah Gyan starred in 2006 as the West African nation recovered from an opening 2-0 loss at the hands of eventual winners Italy, to defeat the Czech Republic and the United States of America 2-0 and 2-1 respectively.

That side finished second behind the Azzurri, reaching the last 16 in Germany.