By Kunle Solaja, New York

This is a familiar World Cup tragedy that refuses to go away. Why does it always happen?

Why does Africa repeatedly arrive at the doorstep of greatness only to stumble at the threshold?

At every FIFA World Cup, the continent produces moments of brilliance that electrify the global stage. African teams dazzle with skill, athleticism, courage and flair. Yet, when the decisive moments arrive, the story often ends in heartbreak. Not because the opponents are vastly superior, but because familiar mistakes return with alarming regularity.

The most painful part is not the defeat itself. It is the predictability of it.

History keeps teaching the same lesson. Africa keeps failing the examination.

The recurring pattern of late collapses, poor game management, costly lapses in concentration and missed defining moments has become one of the most frustrating narratives in World Cup history. The consistency of these failures suggests that lessons from previous generations have not been adequately learned.

Forty years ago in Mexico, Morocco made history by becoming the first African nation to top a World Cup group. The Atlas Lions stood on the brink of another historic achievement in their Round of 16 clash with West Germany. For 88 minutes they frustrated the Europeans and seemed destined for extra time.

Then came a free-kick from Lothar Matthäus in the closing minutes.

One goal. One lapse. One dream shattered.

The clock has moved forward four decades, but the script remains remarkably unchanged.

At Italia ’90, Cameroon captured the imagination of the football world. The Indomitable Lions had already humbled defending champions Argentina and reached the quarter-finals. Against England, they led 2-1 and looked set for an unprecedented African semi-final appearance.

Yet instead of protecting their advantage, they continued to attack with abandon. Defensive discipline gave way to adventure. England capitalised. Gary Lineker converted an 83rd-minute penalty before scoring again in extra time to secure a 3-2 victory.

Cameroon had conquered giants but failed to conquer the clock.

Twelve years later, another African fairy tale unfolded.

Making their World Cup debut in Korea/Japan 2002, Senegal stunned defending champions France in the opening match and captivated the world with fearless, vibrant football. The Lions of Teranga reached the quarter-finals at the first attempt, matching Cameroon’s achievement.

Against Turkey in Osaka, history beckoned once again.

But after a tournament built on energy and adventure, Senegal appeared to run out of ideas at the decisive moment. The match drifted into extra time before İlhan Mansız struck the golden goal that handed Turkey a 1-0 victory.

The defeat was not as dramatic as some of Africa’s other collapses, but it exposed another recurring weakness — the inability to find solutions when matches entered unfamiliar territory. Senegal had carried Africa’s hopes magnificently, only to discover that the final step towards greatness required a different level of tactical maturity.

Then came perhaps the most agonising moment in African football history.

At South Africa 2010, Ghana stood one kick away from becoming the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final.

In the dying seconds of extra time against Uruguay, Luis Suárez deliberately handled a goal-bound effort on the line. The referee awarded a penalty. The entire continent held its breath.

Score, and Africa would finally have its long-awaited semi-finalist.

But Asamoah Gyan’s penalty crashed against the crossbar.

The match proceeded to a penalty shootout, and Uruguay advanced.

Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan reacts after missing a last-gasp penalty against Uruguay during the 2010 FIFA World Cup quarter-final in Johannesburg. The miss denied Africa a historic first World Cup semi-final appearance and remains one of the continent’s most painful football memories

For many, the incident is remembered simply as bad luck. Yet it also highlighted another aspect of Africa’s recurring World Cup story — the inability to seize defining moments when destiny presents itself. Great teams are often remembered for what they do under extreme pressure. Ghana had history in its hands and could not hold on to it.

The image of Gyan collapsing in despair became the image of an entire continent watching another golden opportunity disappear into the Johannesburg night.

Nigeria’s story is no less painful.

At USA ’94, the Super Eagles were just 90 seconds away from eliminating Italy and reaching the quarter-finals. Italy were down to 10 men. Nigeria had the lead. The clock was almost exhausted.

Then came one of the most devastating moments in African football history.

A lapse in concentration allowed Roberto Baggio to equalise. The Italians gained momentum, Nigeria lost composure, and the eventual finalists completed the turnaround in extra time.

The opportunity was gone forever.

Twenty-four years later, another lesson went unlearned.

At Russia 2018, Nigeria needed only a draw against Argentina to qualify for the knockout phase. With the score at 1-1 and time running out, the tactical requirement was obvious: protect the point.

Instead, poor game management and inadequate defensive organisation allowed Marcos Rojo to score six minutes from time. Once again, qualification slipped through Nigeria’s fingers at the decisive moment.

Senegal suffered a different but equally painful fate at the same tournament.

After finishing level with Japan on points, goal difference and goals scored, the Teranga Lions became the first team in World Cup history to be eliminated on the fair-play rule. Six yellow cards condemned them, while Japan advanced with only four.

It was a reminder that modern football punishes every detail. Discipline is no longer a secondary consideration; it can determine survival.

And now, in 2026, the ghosts have returned.

The Democratic Republic of Congo led England 1-0 until the 75th minute of their Round of 32 encounter. The Africans had frustrated one of Europe’s elite teams for long periods. Then concentration waned. England equalised and struck again four minutes before regulation time.

Another African dream dissolved within minutes of fulfilment.

The collapse of Senegal against Belgium may be even harder to explain.

The Lions of Teranga, arguably among Africa’s strongest representatives at the tournament, held a commanding two-goal advantage with only minutes remaining. The Belgian side appeared sluggish and vulnerable.

Yet instead of controlling possession, slowing the tempo and managing the final stages, Senegal lost control. Belgium scored three times and escaped with an improbable 3-2 victory.

At that point, the defeat transcended football.

It became a case study in self-destruction.

These recurring failures raise uncomfortable questions.

Why do African teams continue to lose control of matches they should be winning?

Why do players and coaches repeatedly fail to manage crucial moments?

Why do tactical discipline and emotional intelligence disappear when they are needed most?

The answers are neither simple nor pleasant.

First, many African teams still approach major tournaments with an emphasis on physical strength, technical ability and individual brilliance, while paying insufficient attention to game management.

Football at the highest level is not merely about scoring goals. It is about controlling situations.

The world’s most successful teams understand when to attack, when to defend, when to waste time legally, when to slow the tempo, when to retain possession and when to frustrate opponents.

These are skills. They are taught. They are rehearsed. They are mastered.

Second, emotional decision-making often overrides tactical discipline.

When leading, some African teams continue to play as though they are chasing the game. Defensive shape becomes stretched. Midfield protection disappears. Concentration weakens. Opponents sense vulnerability and exploit it ruthlessly.

Third, there remains a shortage of specialised match-analysis structures within many football programmes on the continent.

Elite nations invest heavily in sports psychology, game-state analysis and scenario-based preparation. Players are repeatedly trained to handle the final five, ten and fifteen minutes of matches under pressure.

African football must embrace these modern realities.

Talent alone is no longer enough.

The fourth challenge is administrative instability.

Frequent coaching changes, inadequate preparation periods and inconsistent football development policies often leave teams without a clear long-term identity. Success at the World Cup is rarely accidental. It is usually the product of years of planning and continuity.

So how can Africa break the cycle?

The continent must make match management a core component of football education from youth level upwards.

Players should be trained not only to win matches but also to protect victories.

Sports psychology must become a standard feature of national-team preparation.

Coaches should dedicate significant training time to late-game scenarios, including defending leads, protecting draws and managing momentum shifts.

Data analysis and tactical intelligence must be prioritised alongside physical preparation.

Most importantly, African teams must learn to respect the value of pragmatism.

There is no shame in defending a lead.

There is no disgrace in slowing a game down when qualification is within reach.

The objective of tournament football is not entertainment. It is advancement.

Africa has already demonstrated that it possesses the talent to compete with the world’s best. The historic run of Morocco to the semi-finals at the 2022 World Cup proved that beyond doubt.

What remains is mastering the details that separate contenders from champions.

Until then, the continent risks reliving the same painful story every four years.

The names change. The jerseys change. The stadiums change.

But the ending remains heartbreakingly familiar.

And so the cry continues.

Cry for Africa, my beloved continent.

Not because the talent is absent.

But because the lessons are still waiting to be learned.

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Two of Europe’s most accomplished football nations will meet on the FIFA World Cup stage for the first time when Portugal and Croatia clash in a Round-of-32 encounter at Toronto Stadium on Thursday.

The match brings together a Portugal side seeking another deep run in the tournament and a Croatia team that has become one of the most consistent performers in World Cup knockout football over the past decade.

Portugal advanced from Group K unbeaten. Roberto Martínez’s men opened with a draw before overwhelming tournament debutants Uzbekistan 5-0 and then securing qualification with a goalless draw against Colombia in Miami.

That match was particularly significant for captain Cristiano Ronaldo, whose 25th World Cup appearance moved him level with German legend Lothar Matthäus in second place on the all-time appearances list. Only Argentina’s Lionel Messi, with 29 appearances, has played more World Cup matches.

Croatia secured second place in Group L after recovering from a 4-2 opening defeat to England. Zlatko Dalić’s side responded impressively, defeating Panama 1-0 before overcoming Ghana 2-1 in Philadelphia, where Nikola Vlašić scored the decisive goal after Petar Sučić had given the Vatreni an early lead.

First World Cup Meeting

Although Portugal and Croatia have faced each other ten times in international football, this will be their first-ever meeting at the FIFA World Cup.

Portugal hold a commanding advantage in the overall head-to-head record, winning seven of the ten encounters, with two draws and just one Croatian victory.

Their most recent meeting ended in a 1-1 draw in the UEFA Nations League in Split in November 2024.

The only previous knockout encounter between the nations at a major tournament came at UEFA EURO 2016, where Portugal prevailed 1-0 after extra time before going on to lift the trophy.

Key Facts

• This is the first FIFA World Cup meeting between Portugal and Croatia.
• Portugal have reached the knockout phase in five of their last six World Cup appearances.
• The Seleção have lost only three of their last 14 World Cup matches.
• Portugal’s last knockout victory over European opposition at the World Cup was a memorable 6-1 win over Switzerland in the Round of 16 at Qatar 2022.
• Bruno Fernandes could become only the eighth Portuguese player to make ten World Cup appearances.
• Cristiano Ronaldo’s next appearance will move him closer to the all-time World Cup appearance record currently held by Lionel Messi.

Croatia’s Knockout Pedigree

Croatia enter the match carrying one of the strongest knockout-stage records in modern World Cup history.

The 2018 runners-up and third-place finishers at Qatar 2022 have reached the knockout rounds for the third consecutive tournament and have won nine of their 12 World Cup knockout matches overall.

Against European opposition specifically, Croatia have won six of eight World Cup knockout ties.

The Vatreni have also demonstrated a remarkable ability to finish games strongly. They have won all eight World Cup matches in which they led at half-time and have opened the scoring in three of their last four tournament fixtures.

Croatia are also on the verge of a milestone, needing two goals to reach 50 goals scored in FIFA World Cup history.

Modrić and Ronaldo: A Reunion of Legends

Thursday’s clash will also reunite two of football’s greatest modern icons.

Croatia captain Luka Modrić is set to make his 23rd World Cup appearance, which would move him level with Paolo Maldini and Manuel Neuer in joint fifth place on the all-time appearance list.

Modrić and Ronaldo were teammates at Real Madrid between 2012 and 2018, winning four UEFA Champions League titles together during one of the club’s most successful eras.

The fixture is also rich in club connections. Portugal’s Rúben Dias and Matheus Nunes are teammates of Croatia’s Joško Gvardiol and Mateo Kovačić at Manchester City, while Rafael Leão and Modrić currently share a dressing room at AC Milan.

What’s at Stake?

With Portugal’s attacking quality and Croatia’s renowned resilience in knockout football, Thursday’s encounter promises to be one of the most evenly balanced ties of the Round of 32.

Portugal will seek to extend their unbeaten run and continue Ronaldo’s remarkable World Cup journey, while Croatia will look to draw on their proven tournament experience as they chase another memorable knockout-stage victory.

For both nations, the prize is a place in the Round of 16 and another step towards football’s greatest prize.

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Portugal, Croatia Renew European Rivalry

BY KUNLE SOLAJA

Portugal and Croatia will renew their European rivalry on Thursday when they meet in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32, with both nations eyeing a place among the tournament’s final 16.

Portugal enter the contest carrying memories of one of their most emphatic World Cup knockout victories. Their most recent knockout-stage meeting with European opposition ended in a stunning 6-1 demolition of Switzerland in the Round of 16 at Qatar 2022, a result that underlined the Seleção’s attacking prowess on the biggest stage.

Croatia, however, have built a reputation as one of international football’s toughest knockout opponents. The 2018 World Cup runners-up have won nine of their 12 World Cup knockout matches, a remarkable record that reflects their resilience and ability to thrive under pressure.

The Croatians have often excelled when matches become tense and finely balanced, while Portugal possess a squad capable of deciding games through moments of individual brilliance.

With a place in the Round of 16 on the line, Thursday’s clash promises to be one of the most intriguing all-European encounters of the knockout phase.

Portugal will hope their attacking firepower can unlock the Croatian defence, while Croatia will rely on the tournament know-how that has made them one of football’s most formidable knockout-stage performers.

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