Did you know?
Egypt became the first African country to play in the World Cup in 1934. It was another 36 years before the continent was next represented in the competition, through Morocco in Mexico.
Cameroon remain the only side in history to top a World Cup group with a negative goal difference. At USA 1990, one-goal victories over Argentina and Romania preceded a 4-0 loss to Soviet Union.
Gigi Buffon was a 12-year-old aspiring midfielder until watching Cameroonian Thomas N’Kono at the 1990 World Cup made him dream of becoming a goalkeeper. The Italy legend named his first son Louis Thomas in honour of his idol.
There was over 24 years between 17-year-old Rigobert Song and Roger Milla, 42, at USA 1994 – the biggest age gap between two teammates in the tournament’s history.
Tunisia sacked their coach during France 1998. After Henryk Kasperczak oversaw losses to England and Colombia, he was replaced by Ali Selmi, who led them to a 1-1 draw with Romania.
When African qualifying for Korea/
Japan 2002 began, Senegal were 79th on the world tanking, beneath the likes of Thailand, Cuba and Haiti. The Lions of Terenga went on to reach the last eight of that World Cup.
Four England squad members – David Seaman, Teddy Sheringham, Martin Keown and Nigel Martyn – were older than the combined age of Nigerians Femi Opabunmi and Bartholomew Ogbeche, both 17, when they met at the 2002 finals.
In their Group C game at Germany
2006, a 39cm (1ft 3ins) height difference
existed between Côte d’Ivoire’s Bakary
Kone and Serbia and Montenegro giant Nikola Zigic.
When they played Iran at the 2006 finals, Angola’s 23 squad members had scored 40 fewer international goals between them than opponent Ali Daei.
At South Africa 2010, Ghana’s Kevin-Prince Boateng and Jerome Boateng of Germany became the first brothers to play against each other in the competition.
Cameroonians Jacques Songo’o,
Rigobert Song and Samuel Eto’o are the only Africans to go to four World Cups. Song and Eto’o made appearances in all four and are among only nine men to go to World Cups 16 years apart along with Antonio Carbajal (Mexico), Elias Figueroa (Chile), Hugo Sanchez (Mexico), Beppe Bergomi (Italy), Lothar Matthaus (West Germany/Germany), Faryd Mondragon (Colombia) and Rafael Marquez (Mexico).