🔥 Best attack in the world? Africa’s top XI heading to the World Cup

More African teams than ever will take part in the upcoming 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

Which made us wonder: How good would an African team actually be if it were assembled from all the nations that have already qualified for the World Cup or could still make it through the playoffs?

Goalkeeper

André Onana (Cameroon, MV: €20m): In the last World Cup qualifier, Onana’s team had to settle for a 0–0 against Angola, and in the group they currently sit second behind Cape Verde. Still, Cameroon’s keeper is clearly one of the strongest on the continent.

Defense

Ramy Bensebaini (Algeria, MV: €7m): After a 12-year hiatus, Ramy Bensebaini has once again managed to qualify for a World Cup finals with Algeria. Following last week’s 3–0 win over Somalia, qualification was in the bag for the Algerians.

📸 JOHN WESSELS

Achraf Hakimi (Morocco, MV: €80m): Ramy Bensebaini still plays for Borussia Dortmund; Achraf Hakimi once did. What they have in common: both have already secured their 2026 World Cup ticket. Morocco even as the first African team.

Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal, MV: €6m): As reigning African champions, Senegal are also showing as leaders of Group B where they intend to go. Koulibaly is part of it. Even at 34, the former Napoli defender is still playing at a top level. 

📸 SEYLLOU - AFP or licensors

Midfield

Bilal El Khannouss (Morocco, MV: €28m): Hit the ground running at his new club VfB Stuttgart, already qualified for next year’s World Cup with Morocco — things could be worse for Bilal El Khannouss.

Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal, MV: €32m): Debuted for the national team in 2021 at 18, but it seems Pape Matar Sarr of Tottenham Hotspur has only truly broken through during World Cup qualifying. He has scored four goals in 12 games so far.

📸 PATRICK MEINHARDT - AFP or licensors

Iliman Ndiaye (Senegal, MV: €22m): Ndiaye could also be good for a goal or two at the World Cup. He scores regularly in the Premier League for Everton. This season he has already netted three times in seven games.

Farès Chaïbi (Algeria, MV: €15m): The Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder is only 21, but he has proven his quality during the current World Cup qualifying campaign.

Attack

Mo Salah (Egypt, MV: €50m): With nine goals in World Cup qualifying for his team, there’s simply no way around the captain of the Egyptian national side.

📸 ABDEL MAJID BZIOUAT - AFP or licensors

Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon, MV: €55m): Since switching his association from France to Cameroon, the 26-year-old has really taken off. Ten goal contributions in 26 games is nothing to sneeze at.Victor Osimhen (Nigeria, MV: €75m): With his hat-trick against Benin yesterday, he not only kept Nigeria’s World Cup hopes alive but also proved he more than deserves his place in this XI.

Answer: Damn good. Above all, the attack is probably one of the best the world currently has to offer. 

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

📸 SIA KAMBOU - AFP or licensors