Africa's hopes at the 2026 FIFA World Cup now rest with Morocco and Egypt after spirited performances by Cabo Verde and Ghana ended in heartbreaking Round of 32 defeats.
Cabo Verde produced one of the tournament's finest displays before falling 3-2 to defending champions Argentina after extra time in Miami.
Making their first-ever World Cup appearance, the Blue Sharks twice fought back against the South American giants, with Deroy Duarte and Sidny Cabral scoring to cancel out Argentina's leads before an own goal in extra time settled a thrilling contest.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni admitted his side had been pushed to the limit by the African debutants.
The victory, he said, left the world champions "bruised" after a physically demanding contest, while praising Cabo Verde's determination and quality.
An emotional Cabo Verde coach Bubista said his players had made history despite the defeat.
"The pride I feel in my players and what they did, they did it with dignity and courage," he said.
Bubista added: "We are sad because we got so close, but they must be proud of their performance.
"We did our best and we did it with bravery.
"We never failed to stay true to our identity."
A few hours later, Ghana's campaign also came to an end after a narrow 1-0 loss to Colombia in Kansas City.
The Black Stars battled throughout the match but struggled to create clear chances as Colombia's disciplined defence prevented them from registering a shot on target.
The South Americans advanced to the Round of 16 for the first time since 2018 with the victory.
Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz refused to blame his players' commitment, saying the difference was composure.
"It came down to a lack of maturity and staying calm under pressure," Queiroz said after the defeat.
Colombia coach Néstor Lorenzo praised his team's defensive discipline after securing the narrow win that set up a last-16 meeting with Switzerland.
With Cabo Verde and Ghana joining Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, South Africa, Algeria and Tunisia on the sidelines, Morocco and Egypt are now the continent's last remaining representatives.
Morocco, semifinalists four years ago, and Egypt, chasing their best-ever World Cup finish, now carry the hopes of African football as the tournament enters the Round of 16.
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