African nations face late‑goal defeats in World Cup 2026 round of 16

Four of the five African teams that reached the World Cup 2026 round of 16 were eliminated by goals scored in the final minutes. South Africa lost to Canada when a 92nd‑minute goal ended their match. Ivory Coast were knocked out by Norway after an 86th‑minute strike. The Democratic Republic of Congo fell to England when Harry Kane scored in the 86th minute. Senegal saw a dramatic comeback by Belgium, with goals in the 86th, 89th and a decisive 125th‑minute penalty that sent the Senegalese side home.

Only Morocco and Egypt remain in the tournament, both advancing after penalty‑shootout victories. The early exits underscore a painful pattern for African football, where teams competed strongly but could not preserve leads in the closing stages of their knockout games.