The FIFA Club World Cup started on June 14 and is entering the second round, the round of 16. With the expansion of African teams from one to four – Al Ahly (Egypt), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), Wydad AC (Morocco), and Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia) – there were high expectations they would go do into the competition. This is how they have performed.
Al Ahly SC (Egypt)
Group A: Al Ahly, Inter Miami, FC Porto
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Al Ahly have Club World Cup experience and were buoyant going into the event. Their first match against Inter Miami ended in a 0-0 draw. In the second game, they played to a 4-4 draw against FC Porto with Abou Ali scoring a hat-trick. Unfortunately, they were eliminated on goal difference. Even though they were eliminated, Al Ahly’s capability to go toe-to-toe with elite European and American clubs was evident.
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Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia)
Group D: Espérance, Chelsea, Flamengo, Club León
Esperance’s group was one of the most difficult. They started their campaign with a 3-0 defeat against Chelsea and lost the second game to Flamengo, bringing their campaign to an end. Espérance’s early exit was a reflection of the massive gulf in squad depth and match experience compared to their group opponents. However, their presence on this stage provided invaluable exposure and lessons for the future.
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Wydad AC (Morocco)
Group G: Wydad, Manchester City, Juventus, Al Ain
Wydad faced a daunting task, starting their FIFA Club World Cup game against Manchester City. They lost the game and could not recover against Juventus and Al Ain. The Moroccan giants finished at the bottom of their group. Their performance served as a reminder of the difficulty African clubs still face in bridging the global performance gap.
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Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
Group F: Sundowns, Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan HD
Mamelodi Sundowns offered the brightest spark for Africa in this year’s competition. They began their campaign with a 1–0 victory over Ulsan HD (South Korea), becoming the only African side to win a group stage match at the tournament.
Still in contention for a knockout spot at the time of writing, Sundowns’ organized defense, clever pressing, and tactical maturity stood out. Matches against Borussia Dortmund and Fluminense were poised to determine their fate, and optimism among African fans remained high.
Closing Thoughts
Despite the early exit of three African teams, the expanded format allowed for greater experience and exposure. The significant financial rewards (each team earned at least $9.55 million) will support infrastructure development and long-term planning back home.
The standout performer, Mamelodi Sundowns, carries the hopes of a continent and reminds global audiences that African club football is developing tactically and technically. Their performance may open doors for more scouting interest and partnerships with clubs abroad.
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