FIFA’s Technical Study Group has identified four areas African teams need to improve to compete better against the world’s top teams after the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The areas include creating more chances inside the penalty area, pressing higher up the pitch, avoiding late goals and managing matches better.
One key area is the need for African teams to create more scoring chances inside the box instead of depending too much on long-range shots.
Better movement, decision-making and teamwork in attack could help teams create more clear chances and score more goals.
FIFA has also stressed the need for African teams to win the ball higher up the pitch by pressing their opponents more effectively.
Teams have been encouraged to win possession in attacking areas and move quickly forward. They must also improve their passing to make better use of these chances.
Another concern is the number of goals African teams concede late in matches. FIFA’s analysis suggests that this is not always caused by poor fitness.
Teams also need to manage matches better, keep possession and make good decisions under pressure. They must remain focused and protect their leads until the final whistle.
Despite these areas for improvement, African teams have been encouraged to maintain their strengths, including good defending, set-piece effectiveness and mental strength.
FIFA believes that combining these strengths with better attacking play and match management could help African nations compete more strongly against the world's top teams in future tournaments.
By: Pascal Amoah
