The Rise of African Football, From Milla to Salah

The Rise of African Football, From Milla to Salah

On June 8, 1990, at the San Siro in Milan, the World Cup opener saw Cameroon beat defending champions Argentina 1-0. In the 67th minute Cameroon midfielder Francois Omam-Biyik scored with a header, and the San Siro was stunned. It was the first time at a World Cup an African side had beaten the reigning champions and the moment African football truly entered the global stage. From that day, African football began a 30-year rise.

Before 1990 African football had almost no international presence. FIFA allotted only two World Cup slots to Africa, and European clubs rarely signed African players. By 2025, however, Africa has 9 to 10 World Cup slots, more than 300 African players are in Europe's top leagues, and Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Riyad Mahrez are Ballon d'Or contenders. How did this happen?

African Football Before 1990

The inaugural Africa Cup of Nations was held in Khartoum, Sudan, in 1957 with only three teams. It was the real start of organized African football. Over the next 30 years, progress was slow — most African nations were focused on independence movements and civil wars, and football was secondary. Morocco was the first African team at a World Cup in 1970 but did not advance. Zaire played in 1974 and lost heavily in the group stage. Tunisia won an African team's first ever World Cup match in 1978, but still did not advance.

The 1982 World Cup was a turning point. Cameroon, representing Africa, drew all three matches, scoring once and conceding once — unbeaten, eliminated only on goal difference. The stability of those group performances earned African football its first real global attention. In 1986 both Algeria and Morocco played at the World Cup, and Morocco became the first African team to escape a group, before losing 0-1 to Germany in the round of 16.

Cameroon's 1990 Breakout

At the 1990 Italy World Cup, Cameroon, coached by Russian Valery Nepomnyashchy, beat reigning champions Argentina in the opener. They then beat Romania and the Soviet Union to top their group. In the round of 16 they beat Colombia 2-1 in extra time, thanks to two Roger Milla goals. They lost 2-3 to England in the quarterfinal in extra time — the best World Cup performance by any African team to that point.

Roger Milla was the tournament's biggest star. At 38 he had been semi-retired, recalled personally by the national president. Each of his goals was followed by a dance at the corner flag, copied by fans worldwide. The cultural moment pushed African football into global pop culture. From 1990 onward FIFA expanded Africa's World Cup quota from two to three slots — a structural breakthrough.

A Steady Expansion of Slots

At the 1994 USA World Cup the African allocation rose to 3, with Nigeria, Cameroon, and Morocco. Nigeria became the new hope of African football. They topped their group at that World Cup before losing 1-2 to Italy in extra time in the round of 16. The attacking firepower they displayed dazzled global audiences.

At the 1998 France World Cup the African allocation rose again to 5. The expansion truly established Africa's permanent place at the World Cup. From 1998 to today — 28 years — African sides have never been absent from a World Cup. South Africa 2010 lifted the African allocation to 6, and the 2026 North American World Cup brings it to 9.5. Further expansion is widely expected.

African Players Land in Europe

In the 1990s European football began signing African players at scale. George Weah became the first truly global African superstar. The Liberian forward played for AC Milan and in 1995 became the first African Ballon d'Or winner. Weah's success made European clubs realize the value of African players, and from then on the giants began stationing scouts long-term in Africa.

The 2000s brought an explosion of African talent. Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o played for Barcelona and Inter, winning two Champions Leagues. Ivory Coast's Drogba was a Premier League top scorer at Chelsea for several seasons. Ghana's Michael Essien played for Chelsea; Nigeria's Kanu played for Arsenal. These players showed that African football had reached Europe's top tier in overall quality.

The Modern Impact of Salah and Mane

In the 2010s a new generation of African players entered Ballon d'Or contention. Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah moved from Roma to Liverpool and became Premier League Golden Boot winner for several seasons, finishing in the top 10 of the Ballon d'Or in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Senegalese forward Sadio Mane was another Liverpool pillar and helped the club win the 2019 Champions League.

The rise of Salah and Mane mattered enormously for African football. They were the first generation of African players to operate as core stars at top Premier League clubs. Their success gave young Africans concrete role models. Today applications to youth academies in Egypt and Senegal are five times higher than a decade ago. That role-model effect is Salah and Mane's most important contribution, going far beyond personal accolades.

The Modernization of African Youth Development

Over the last 20 years African football's youth pipelines have begun genuinely modernizing. In the 2000s European clubs started building affiliated academies in Africa: Chelsea in Ghana, Arsenal in Nigeria, Barcelona in Morocco. The academies use European-standard methods, giving African youth systematic training from an early age.

More importantly, African nations have begun investing in their own development. Morocco founded the Mohammed VI Football Academy in 2012, with facilities at European top-flight standards. Senegal expanded several youth centers from 2017. Egypt's Al Ahly academy produced players like Salah. Local academy capability has greatly improved the sustainability of African football, no longer wholly dependent on European pipelines.

The Morocco Miracle at the 2022 World Cup

At the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Morocco became the first African team to reach a World Cup semifinal. In the group stage Morocco beat Belgium and Canada and drew with Croatia to advance. In the round of 16 they beat Spain 1-0; in the quarterfinal they beat Portugal 1-0. They lost 0-2 to France in the semifinal and 1-2 to Croatia in the third-place playoff, finishing fourth.

It was the apex of African football. Morocco's level was clearly at par with Europe's top sides; they used a disciplined defense and fast counters to dispatch several European traditional powers. The tournament finally cemented worldwide recognition of African football as a top competitive force. An African team reaching the World Cup final in the next 10 years is widely expected — only a matter of time.

The Next Decade for African Football

African football will keep rising over the next 10 years. The expanded 2026 World Cup gives Africa 9.5 slots, meaning nearly 10 African teams will play. The scale will force the world to reassess African football. Many commentators expect an African team to reach a World Cup final by 2030, with a possible title by 2034.

An even deeper shift is that African football is beginning to export culture and ideas. Many African players' unique styles and rhythms are starting to influence European football. From Roger Milla's corner-flag dance to Drogba's kneeling appeal for peace to Salah's stamina management, each generation of African players has added unique cultural DNA to global football. That shift — from receiver to exporter — is the true marker of African football's maturity.

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