The Confederation of African Football (CAF) says Algeria, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, DR Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia will carry the continent's hopes at the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup, which Canada, Mexico and the United States will host. In a statement, CAF says the 2026 World Cup is not just about Africa's record representation, but about whether the continent's teams can translate that opportunity into their best-ever performance on football's biggest stage. The opening match is between co-hosts Mexico and South Africa, with kick-off scheduled for 10:00 PM Central Africa Time (CAT). Lulu Gaboo spoke to Nuhu Adams, a freelance sports consultant and journalist.