Africa's world cup history no one ever told you

 African countries' participation in the FIFA World Cup.

We look at African teams' rich history in the FIFA World Cup through notable moments, trivia, and numbers.

Thirteen African countries competed in the FIFA World Cup,

 and we look back on their best moments and celebrations.

 Look at the statistics and trivia.

                                     Bafana Bafana midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala scored the first FIFA World Cup goal on African soil.     

Participation

Qatar 2022 is included.

Côte d'Ivoire (3)

Egypt (3)

Senegal (3)

South Africa (3)

Angola (1)

Congo DR (1)

Togo (1)

Cameroon (8)

Morocco (6)

Nigeria (6)

Tunisia (5)

Algeria (4)

Ghana (4)

Moments to remember

Africa's first victory

No one really gave Tunisia, who failed to qualify for the 1976 AFCON, a chance to take Africa's lone spot in Argentina in 1978. When the Eagles of Carthage beat Morocco, Algeria, Nigeria, and Egypt to the top slot, they were determined to make the most of their opportunity. After falling behind to Mexico in their opener, Tunisia won 3-1 thanks to goals from surprising sources, including centre-back Ali Kaabi, defensive midfielder Nejib Ghommidh, and right-back Mokhtar Dhouieb.

Gijon has a beautiful day.

"We'll devote our seventh goal to our wives and our eighth to our dogs," one West German player declared ahead of their Group 2 opening against Spain in 1982. In an Algerian fairy tale, such WAGs and Dobermanns had no place. Les Verts' lethal one-touch football enslaved Paul Breitner, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, and the rest of the team from the start, and goals from Lakhdar Belloumi and Rabah Madjer completed a 2-1 upset.

The spectacular entrance of the Super Eagles

"It was like witnessing one of the great Brazilian teams," John Fashanu stated after Nigeria's World Cup debut, a 3-0 victory over Bulgaria. Despite the fact that the former England striker was biassed due to his Nigerian ancestry, his 90-minute performance at the Cotton Bowl stunned the world. Finidi George, Emmanuel Amunike, Daniel Amokachi, and Rashidi Yekini combined individual brilliance with unfathomable teamwork to demolish an iconic, Hristo Stoichkov-led team that advanced to the USA 1994 semi-finals. The Super Eagles were ousted in the Round of 16 by Italy in extra time, but their amazing journey will be remembered.

Senegal jolts Seoul

France arrived in the Far East as a refined version of the team that won the title in 1998, with Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry, and David Trezeguet developing into some of the best players in the world in their respective positions. However, they were rocked 16-1 in the opening match of the Korea/Japan 2002 tournament by Senegal, whose lineup included players from the French lower divisions and Africa. El Hadji Diouf terrorized Les Bleus throughout, and Papa Bouba Diop scored the only goal as the Lions of Teranga prevailed 1-0 in what was likely the biggest World Cup opening-match upset in history. Bruno Metsu's men advanced to the quarter-finals, becoming the second African team to do so.

It is now time for Africa.

South Africa, as hosts, was accorded Pot 1 status and headed into the final draw for the 2010 championships hoping to make a nation proud. When Mexico, Uruguay, and France were assigned to Group A, it was widely assumed that they would be the whipping boys. Siphiwe Tshabalala struck a spectacular strike to create hysteric scenes at Soccer City after a thrilling but goalless first half against El Tri in their opening.

African Football facts

• In 1934, Egypt became the first African country to compete in the World Cup. It took another 36 years for the continent to be represented in the competition again, this time by Morocco in Mexico.
• Cameroon is the first World Cup team to win a group with a negative goal difference. In the USA in 1990, one-goal victories over Argentina and Romania were followed by a 4-0 defeat to the Soviet Union.
• Gigi Buffon was a 12-year-old aspiring midfielder until a chance encounter with Cameroonian Thomas N'Kono at the 1990 World Cup inspired him to pursue a career as a goalkeeper. In honor of his idol, the Italy superstar named his first kid Louis Thomas.
• In the USA in 1994, the age difference between Rigobert Song, 17, and Roger Milla, 42, was more than 24 years, the largest in tournament history.
• Tunisia fired their coach during the 1998 World Cup. After losing to England and Colombia, Henryk Kasperczak was replaced by Ali Selmi, who guided them to a 1-1 tie with Romania.
• Senegal was ranked 79th on the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking when African qualification for Korea/Japan 2002 began, trailing Thailand, Cuba, and Haiti. Terenga's Lions went on to reach the World Cup's last eight.
• When they met in the 2002 finals, four England team players – David Seaman, Teddy Sheringham, Martin Keown, and Nigel Martyn – were older than Nigerians Femi Opabunmi and Bartholomew Ogbeche, both 17.
• Bakary Kone of Côte d'Ivoire and Serbia and Montenegro giant Nikola Zigic had a 39cm (1ft 3ins) height differential in their Group C encounter in Germany in 2006.
• Angola's 23-man roster had scored 40 fewer international goals than opponent Ali Daei when they faced IR Iran in the 2006 championships.
• Kevin-Prince Boateng of Ghana and Jerome Boateng of Germany became the first brothers to compete against each other in South Africa in 2010.
• Jacques Songo'o, Rigobert Song, and Samuel Eto'o of Cameroon are the only Africans to have appeared in four World Cups. Song and Eto'o are among just nine men to have played in four World Cups, joining Antonio Carbajal (Mexico), Elias Figueroa (Chile), Hugo Sanchez (Mexico), Beppe Bergomi (Italy), Lothar Matthaus (West Germany/Germany), Faryd Mondragon (Colombia), and Rafael Marquez (Mexico).