• Portugal edge Ghana 3-2

All five African teams failed to win their first-round matches at the ongoing Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup as the continental flagbearers bar Ghana fired blank against their opponents.

Morocco and Tunisia drew their games, as both Senegal and Cameroon were beaten even as Black Stars of Ghana were also edged 3-2 yesterday by former European champion Portugal.

In fact, African Champions Senegal were the first team to taste defeat in the absence of their talisman Sadio Mane as the West African side were beaten with late two goals by Holland.

But the two North African teams – Tunisia and Morocco put up a decent performance against Denmark and Croatia respectively to settle for a draw in Qatar.

Meanwhile, former African champions Cameroon continued their losing streak at the World Cup after they were beaten 1-0 by Switzerland.

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The Indomitable Lions’ last win at the World Cup was in 2002 when they beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 at the Saitama Stadium in Japan. At South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014, Cameroon lost all their six matches as well as their last match at the 2002 edition.

But it was their own that wrecked them yesterday as Yaounde-born Breel Embolo scored the only goal for Switzerland.

Overall, African teams have conceded six goals with Ghana netting two goals in their 3-2 loss to Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal.

Four years ago, the quartet of Nigeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, and Senegal crashed out in the group stage, while Teranga Lions were edged out of the round of 16 by Japan on disciplinary records after accumulating more yellow cards than the Blue Samurai.

No African teams have made it to the semi-final at the World Cup, while only Cameroon, Ghana, and Senegal have managed to make it to the quarterfinal stage at the Mundial.

At Italia 90, a Roger Miller-inspired team stunned the world with their display while Senegal at Korea/ Japan 2002 put the continent on the world map with their performance.

Ghana was knocking at the doors of the semifinal before being edged controversially by Uruguay in the quarterfinal at the first FIFA World Cup held in Africa and hosted by South Africa in 2010.