Senegal’s recent upset win over England is an indication of what could happen at the FIFA Club World Cup says one analyst.
Oliver Ochieng
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup kicks off on Saturday, June 14 in the United States, with four African teams among the 32 competitors chasing for glory come the final on July 13.
Egyptian giants Al Ahly, Espérance Sportive de Tunis of Tunisia, South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns and Morocco’s Wydad Athletic Club, popularly known as Wydad Casablanca are the teams chasing Africa’s dream of winning the title for the first time.
Until 2023, the tournament was held annually with continental champions getting a nod to grace the championship.
FIFA then expanded the tournament to 32 teams giving Africa (CAF) 4 slots, Europe (UEFA) 12, Asia (AFC) 4, South America (CONMEBOL) 6, North, Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF) 4 and Oceania 1 representation.
The championship will now be held every four years, similar to the fashion employed in the FIFA World Cup tournament.
African teams have reached the final on only two occasions in the tournament’s 20-year history.
DRC’s TP Mazembe were beaten 0-3 by Italy’s Inter Milan during the 2010 final, before Morocco’s Raja Casablanca went down 0-2 against Bayern Munich in the 2013 final.
This year, European teams are considered favourites, but some experts like popular sports show radio presenter and analyst Lucky Herriano, maintain that Africa’s four representatives have what it takes to bring something unexpected to the tournament.
“The four teams are going to the US as underdogs,” Lucky said, “But they can use that tag to upset the odds,” he added.
Quoting a recent example where Senegal beat England 3-1 in a friendly match, Lucky said the four African teams, like the rest, have a chance.
He urged all Africans to rally behind the teams, as they seek to create history in the FIFA Club World Cup.
This year, Al Ahly are in group A, alongside Palmeiras (Brazil), Porto (Portugal) and Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami (US), while Esperance form part and parcel of group D, alongside Flamengo (Brazil), UEFA Conference League champions Chelsea (England) and US’s Los Angeles Football Club.
Mamelodi Sundowns will meet Fluminense (Brazil), Borussia Dortmund (Germany) and Ulsan HD FC (South Korea) in group F, while Wydad will hope to go past group G, which comprise defending Champions Manchester City (England), Al Ain (UAE) and Juventus (Italy).
According to Esperance coach Maher Kanzari, they have a huge responsibility on their shoulders, pledging to ensure his players give all their best.
“Representing Esperance, Tunisia and the African continent is a huge responsibility. We know that the eyes of the fans will be on us, and we will give our utmost to demonstrate a level befitting African football,” he told BBC.
On monetary grounds, all the four African sides will receive a participation fee of US$9.55m, similar to representatives from Asia and the North and Central American and Caribbean region.
That money is far more than the US$4m prize money handed to this year’s African Champions League winners, Pyramids. The Egyptians beat Mamelodi Sundowns in the final.
In addition to the participation fee, each group win will attract an additional US$2m, while a draw will see the teams’ pocket US$1m.
Thanks to substantially ramped-up sponsorship this year, the overall champions on 13 July will pocket US$40m. Argentina took home US$42 million in prize money after winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup, while Manchester City, upon winning the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup title, took a walk with just US$5 million.
