All four African clubs—Al Ahly, Wydad AC, Espérance de Tunis, and Mamelodi Sundowns—have indeed been eliminated during the group stage of the expanded 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Here’s how it unfolded:
🚫 Knocked Out in Group Stage
- Al Ahly (Egypt, Group A): Despite an impressive 4–4 draw with FC Porto, they failed to win any of their three games and bowed out in Group A
- Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia, Group D): Lost 0–3 to Chelsea, sealing their exit .
- Wydad AC (Morocco, Group G): Beaten 2–0 by Manchester City and then 4–1 by Juventus — officially eliminated
- Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa, Group F): After a notable 1–0 win over Ulsan HD, they drew 0–0 with Fluminense and finished third, missing out on qualification
📈 Broader Implications for African Football
FIFPRO Africa Secretary Kgosana Masaseng says these early exits expose deeper issues: strained player schedules, inferior facilities, underfunded leagues, and talent drain. He urges African football to invest in infrastructure, governance, and professionalism to compete globally
🧭 Tournament Landscape & Next Steps
- The 2025 Club World Cup features 32 teams in eight groups; the top two from each group advance to the Round of 16
- African representation is officially over, and focus shifts entirely to knockout clashes among remaining teams.
