World Cup 2018: Africa suffers worst tournament since 1982
Last updated on .From the section World Cup
African football has suffered a "big step back" after Senegal's exit sealed the continent's worst World Cup showing for 36 years, says Didier Drogba.
Senegal became the first team in World Cup history to go out on the fair play rule after losing to Colombia.
Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria and Tunisia had already fallen at the group stage.
"Africa is going to be successful one day but we need to think again how we approach these big competitions," said former Ivory Coast striker Drogba.
No team from Africa has advanced beyond the quarter-finals at a World Cup.
However, since 1982 - when Algeria and Cameroon went out at the group stage - at least one country from the continent has made it to the knockout stage. Until now.
In Russia, African teams have managed just three wins and lost 10 in 15 attempts.
"It's a big step back," added Drogba, who scored 65 times in 104 appearances for Ivory Coast, on Match of the Day.
"I also think it is a chance for all the African teams and for the African Confederation maybe to reconsider the strategy and how we want to go forward.
"What do we want to do in the next World Cup? We have the potential, we have the money to develop, but we need more than that.
"We need to have the consistency and the structure of the European teams and the South American teams.
"We are going to be successful one day but we need to think again how we approach these big competitions."
Egypt lost all three Group A games in Russia, while Morocco managed just one point - against Spain - in Group B.
Tunisia lost their opening two Group G matches before beating Panama when both sides had already been eliminated and, although Nigeria beat Iceland, they have also exited the tournament after finishing third in Group D.
Senegal, making their first appearance at the World Cup since reaching the quarter-finalists in 2002, had taken four points from their first two Group H games after beating Poland and drawing with Japan.
The Teranga Lions would have progressed with a draw against Colombia, and defender Kalidou Koulibaly said on the eve of the match in Samara that the "whole of Africa" was behind Senegal.
However, Yerry Mina's second-half header sent Colombia through.

'We didn't deserve to qualify'
"We have not qualified because we did not deserve to qualify," said Senegal boss Aliou Cisse, the former Birmingham City and Portsmouth player.
"Fair play points are one of the rules and these rules have been established in the tournament regulations. We have to respect that.
"We would have preferred to be eliminated in another way but that's the way it works and we knew that those were the regulations.
"I'm just disappointed for my team, for this generation and for these players who fight every single day for our country."
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I do not agree that African football has regressed. It is roughly at the same stage that it has been at for thirty years. The teams compete well without being any threat in terms of winning the competition.
I agree, why is the BBC obsessed with African football? They're not the only continent to not have a World Cup winner, so will we see pieces on the state of Asian and CONCACAF football?
Now there's Salah, but not many others. The Nigeria team of 1994 for example, was far more talented than 2018's vintage
PC
Why do we have to have positive discrimination and it seen as a disaster and step backwards for football if the Africans who still play for their own african national teams don't qualify for knockout stages?
The best world cups I can remember didn't have too many African teams in knockout stages. If all African teams got through and no European teams I guess that would be gr8
Asia and Concacaf have a better record but have 4 and 3 qualifiers respectively. I know Africa were given 5 due to Blatter and his legacy but he;s gone now
In South Africa WC, when SA scored, ITV commentator: "a goal for all of Africa". What? Would (eg) Germany be "all of Europe"? Patronising.
There are a few good individuals but not solid teams.
Why?
Poor domestic leagues? Africa Cup of Nations too often (every two years)?
CAF?
Blow too hot and cold in my opinion