The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has praised the performances of African teams at the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup, commending their resilience and expressing hope for further success in the tournament.
In a post on her verified X account on Sunday, Okonjo-Iweala singled out Morocco and Egypt for advancing to the next stage, while describing Cape Verde as the tournament’s standout African side.
“So proud of the performance of the African teams at the World Cup! Morocco and Egypt have made it through so far, but Cape Verde was a standout,” she wrote.
She also applauded the efforts of DR Congo, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana despite their exits, saying they fought bravely throughout the competition.
“DRC, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana also battled. Thanks to all for making us proud. Keeping fingers crossed on further progress!” she added.
Okonjo-Iweala also expressed optimism that Nigeria would qualify for the next FIFA World Cup, saying it would be exciting to see the Super Eagles return to football’s biggest stage.
“Would be exciting if Nigeria makes it through to the next World Cup,” she wrote.
Olugbenga Ige is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over nine years of professional reporting experience. He is known for his sharp eye for compelling stories and a strong instinct for identifying newsworthy developments. Over the years, Olugbenga has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience, editorial judgment, and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
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