Former Ivory Coast forward Salomon Kalou believes African football has taken important steps forward at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite the continent’s failure to produce a semi-finalist as it did at the previous tournament in Qatar.
The former Chelsea and Hertha Berlin winger said there were plenty of positives to take from the performances of Africa’s representatives, insisting the gap between the continent and the world’s traditional football powers is gradually closing.
Africa was represented by a record 10 nations at the expanded 2026 World Cup, with several teams progressing beyond the group stage before exiting in the knockout rounds.
“There has definitely been progress. Even though we didn’t reach the semi-finals this time, African football continues to move in the right direction,” Kalou said.
The former Ivorian international acknowledged that some teams fell short in crucial moments but stressed that those experiences should serve as valuable lessons for future tournaments.
Kalou singled out Morocco as the benchmark for African football, praising the Atlas Lions for maintaining the high standards that saw them become the first African nation to reach a FIFA World Cup semi-final in Qatar 2022.
“The future is bright for African football, but now is the time to take the next step. We have the quality—we just need to keep improving and building on what we’ve achieved,” he added.
Kalou enjoyed a distinguished international career with Ivory Coast, representing the Elephants at two FIFA World Cups and helping the country win the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, while also enjoying success at club level with Chelsea, where he won the UEFA Champions League, Premier League and several domestic trophies.
His comments come as African football continues to reflect on its performances at the World Cup, with attention gradually turning towards the next continental and international competitions.
