Ten African teams. The most ever at a World Cup. So why aren't the people who actually know the game convinced?

Former Premier League striker and Nigerian Super Eagle, EFAN EKOKU and ex-DRC international ,GABRIEL ZAKUAN join me to break down Africa's prospects at the 2026 World Cup — from DRC's first appearance in 52 years, to why Nigeria keeps missing out, to the tiny island nation that recruited their squad on LinkedIn.

This is an Africa Here & Now Special. We examine the prospects of South Africa, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco, DRC, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Cape Verde and Senegal in the tournament. And we nod in the direction of the diaspora: Haiti, Brazil and Curacao.

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CHAPTERS

00:00 Africa's best-ever chance?

03:36 Who goes far? — Efan & Gabriel's picks

04:34 Cape Verde, recruited on LinkedIn

05:06 The hurdles: visas, Ebola, and DRC's quarantine

08:26 DRC's historic return after 52 years

10:35 What's wrong with Nigeria's Super Eagles?

12:20 1974 and the ghost of Zaire

14:58 Group-by-group breakdown

33:27 Is the French team really African?

53:46 Ones to watch

56:25 Final predictions

Find out about the 1993 Tragedy in which ZAMBIA'S ENTIRE National Football Squad died. They were considered the country's best ever team; many say Zambian football has never recovered.

https://youtu.be/1N70VyekfTo?si=p1O6H2zGHfTF-O8l