Morocco and Senegal Best Placed to Make World Cup 2026 Impact, Says Former Super Eagles Goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi has named Morocco and Senegal as the two African nations most capable of making a significant impression at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Speaking in an interview with SportsBoom.co.za, Akpeyi pointed to both nations’ European-based playing talent and recent international pedigree as key factors in their favour. “I see Morocco and Senegal doing very well. They have the quality and experience, as shown in recent years,” the former goalkeeper said.

Morocco’s benchmark performance remains their historic semi-final appearance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar — the deepest run ever achieved by an African nation at a World Cup. Akpeyi acknowledged that replicating or surpassing that achievement would be a significant challenge for any African side. “It will be difficult for African countries to make the top four again or surpass what Morocco achieved in Qatar, but in football, there is always a chance,” he explained.

Beyond Morocco and Senegal, Akpeyi also flagged South Africa and DR Congo as potential dark horses. He described Bafana Bafana as a team capable of overperforming relative to expectations, while highlighting DR Congo’s qualification campaign as a demonstration of resilience. “Bafana Bafana could also be a surprise package, while DR Congo qualifying against the odds makes their participation especially exciting,” he said. “We could see a competition among the African countries over who stays the longest at the tournament. We have every reason as Africans to be excited ahead of the World Cup.”

The former Kaizer Chiefs shot-stopper also welcomed the structural change that will see Africa send a record 10 teams to the 2026 edition — a direct consequence of FIFA’s decision to expand the tournament from 32 to 48 participating nations. Akpeyi views the increased allocation as a genuine opportunity for the continent to advance further into the knockout rounds. “It is a wonderful opportunity for the continent. With more teams, Africa has a real chance to reach the knockout stages and even the quarter-finals,” he stated.

Akpeyi further underscored the growing maturity of African football at the elite club level, noting that many players from the continent’s national teams compete regularly for top European clubs. “Our players are playing week in and week out in Europe for some of the world’s biggest teams. We also have a sizeable number of players who have already competed at the World Cup, and now it’s up to us to seize this chance,” he added.

The rivalry between Morocco and Senegal carries additional weight heading into the tournament. The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final between the two sides ended in controversy, with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) declaring Morocco champions despite Senegal’s apparent victory at the end of regular time. Both nations will be looking to channel their continental rivalry into a strong showing on the world stage when the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off across North America.