In a candid assessment shared with international media, Ousmane Sonko, leader of Pastef/Les Patriotes, dissected Africa’s underwhelming showing at the 2026 World Cup. Despite more African teams qualifying than ever before, he emphasized that this expansion was not a favor but a direct result of FIFA’s decision to broaden the tournament.

While acknowledging the expanded participation, he avoided dwelling on the tournament’s broader controversies. Instead, he focused on what he described as FIFA’s leniency toward certain critical issues that ultimately failed African football.

Key takeaways from the tournament

For Sonko, the most glaring lesson from this World Cup is Africa’s persistent struggles with football governance, team administration, and discipline. These systemic flaws, he argues, directly contributed to the disappointing exits of several African squads—including the Senegalese team, which entered the competition with high expectations.

« This World Cup has laid bare our ongoing weaknesses, » he stated, urging a fundamental reassessment of how African football is structured and managed. When asked about the quality of remaining teams in the tournament, he acknowledged that some victors may not have been inherently stronger than the eliminated African sides, though he conceded that sportsmanship ultimately favored the deserving teams.