With the 2026 FIFA World Cup set to begin on June 11 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Nigeria’s Super Eagles enter the tournament as notable absentees — yet they retain a significant piece of African football history. According to OptaJoe, African nations have recorded 37 wins in World Cup history, and Nigeria lead that tally with six victories, more than any other African country to have competed in the tournament.
Nigeria’s record at the World Cup stretches back to their debut in 1994, when the Super Eagles defeated Bulgaria and Greece in the group stage. The three-time African champions replicated that form at France 1998, recording wins over Spain and Bulgaria. However, subsequent tournaments proved more difficult: Nigeria managed only a single point at the 2002 World Cup, having been placed in a group with England, Argentina, and Spain, and again at the 2010 edition in South Africa.
Their fifth World Cup win came at Brazil 2014, where Nigeria beat Bosnia and Herzegovina in the group stage before being eliminated by France in the round of 16. Nigeria’s sixth and most recent World Cup win came at Russia 2018, a 2-0 victory over Iceland, though it was insufficient to advance to the knockout rounds. The Super Eagles have not added to that tally since, having failed to qualify for both the 2022 edition in Qatar and the upcoming 2026 tournament.
Nine African nations will represent the continent at the 2026 World Cup — a record number for Africa — and three of them are within two wins of matching Nigeria’s benchmark. Morocco, Senegal, and Ghana each have five World Cup victories in their respective histories, placing them in direct contention to surpass Nigeria’s record over the course of the summer.
Morocco are widely regarded as the most likely side to break the record. The Atlas Lions reached the semi-finals at Qatar 2022, becoming the first African nation to do so, and will enter the 2026 tournament with considerable momentum and experience at this level. A single win would draw them level with Nigeria; two would set a new African standard.
Senegal, the reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions, will also be aiming for a strong showing, though their path is complicated by a group draw that includes France, Iraq, and Norway. The Teranga Lions will need to navigate that challenge before any record-breaking ambitions can be realised.
Ghana face perhaps the most difficult route of the three, having been drawn against England, Croatia, and Panama in the group stage. The Black Stars will need to produce a significant performance to advance, let alone challenge Nigeria’s record tally.
Nigeria’s absence from the tournament follows their failure to qualify through the CAF qualifying rounds, a result that continues a difficult period for a nation that was once a dominant force in African football. The Super Eagles had previously missed the 2006 and 2022 World Cups as well, underlining the inconsistency that has characterised their recent qualifying campaigns.
With 37 days remaining until the tournament opener, Nigeria’s position at the top of Africa’s all-time World Cup wins chart remains intact — but for the first time in the competition’s history, multiple African nations are simultaneously positioned to overtake them.
