Henri Camara Backs Senegal to Be First African Nation to Win FIFA World Cup Despite 2026 Group Stage Struggles

Henri Camara, the former Senegal international and ex-West Ham United forward, has stated his conviction that Senegal will eventually become the first African nation to win the FIFA World Cup — though he acknowledged uncertainty over whether this tournament will be the occasion.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Parimatch, Camara referenced the well-known prediction made by Brazilian football legend Pelé that an African nation would one day claim the sport’s ultimate prize. Camara’s remarks come despite Senegal enduring a difficult start to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, having lost both of their opening Group I fixtures.

The Lions of Teranga were beaten 3-1 by France before suffering a 3-2 defeat to Norway, leaving them in a precarious position in the group standings. Despite those results, Senegal retain a mathematical chance of advancing to the Round of 32 as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams. Their final group-stage game is scheduled against Iraq on June 26 at Toronto Stadium in Canada, a fixture that carries significant weight for their continued participation.

“We’d love to be first, and I think we will be one day. I don’t know if it will be this year, but I’d like us to finish in the last four and reach the semi-finals,” Camara said. “With the players we have, I think Senegal can go far. That said, what Morocco showed against Brazil was very strong. I think Morocco will also be there in the later stages.”

Camara did not limit his assessment to Senegal alone. The Atlas Lions, who made history at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar by becoming the first African and Arab nation to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup, were singled out by the former striker as another side capable of advancing deep into the latter stages of the 2026 edition.

No African country has ever reached a FIFA World Cup final, making Morocco’s 2022 semi-final run in Qatar the high-water mark for the continent’s representation at the tournament. Camara’s comments reflect a broader belief within African football circles that the gap between African sides and the world’s traditional powerhouses has narrowed considerably in recent years.

“We’ll see which teams reach the final, but I’d like to see an African team get there this year,” he added, reinforcing his optimism about the continent’s prospects at the tournament.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, features an expanded 48-team format for the first time, offering more opportunities for nations to progress beyond the group stage. For Senegal, the immediate priority remains securing a positive result against Iraq to keep alive any hope of extending their campaign beyond the group phase.