U. S. President Donald Trump made life difficult for African teams and their fans, implementing challenges with outright blockage and exorbitant taxes and fees on entry. Many African fans were denied entry into the U. S. or refused to come under the restraints imposed on them by the Trump administration.
Members of the DR Congo’ s national team were required to undergo a 21-day quarantine before they could enter this country because of an Ebola outbreak in that region of Africa. Isolated in Belgium for three weeks, they trained in a secluded location there before gaining admission to the U. S.
Still, the African teams persevered.
DR Congo responded with excellence on the pitch. The Leopards – who arrived at the airport dressed in black suits and leopard print shawls – knocked off Uzbekistan 3-1 and earned a trip to the Round of 32 where they nearly dropped England, which eventually finished third place.“ We’ re going to savor this moment because it’ s been tough,” DR Congo forward Fiston Mayele said after his team’ s victory over Uzbekistan.
Dr. Chukwuka Onwumechili, a communications professor at Howard University, noted that Africa’ s involvement in the World Cup has consistently faced challenges. He said, in the1960s, African teams were forced to boycott the World Cup in order for the CAF to get an automatic bid to the tournament.“ If we have so many countries playing during the qualification stage, there is no reason why we shouldn’ t have an automatic place in the 16 teams,” Onwumechili said the CAF argued.“ Europe had, I believe, about 10 or a little slightly more than 10 teams qualify automatically. But Africa had none.”
FIFA finally listened to that argument. One automatic bid eventually turned into five in 2010 – six when you count host country South Africa.“ So, getting 10 spaces( this year) is really a big deal,” he said.
Africa did more than earn its place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It changed the conversation. The continent arrived determined to compete and departed having transformed perceptions of its football. Africa may not have won the World Cup, but it won something nearly as valuable— the world’ s respect. And if this tournament is any indication, lifting football’ s greatest prize no longer seems a matter of if, but when. n
Edward G. Robinson III, a professor of practice, is director of the Center for the Study of Race & Culture in Sports at Morgan State University.
Photos by Jalen Irving, courtesy of Morgan State University
Ghanaian supporters welcome their national team amidst singing and dancing
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