We are more than halfway through the group stage, and Morocco and Egypt have already been eliminated from the World Cup with a game left, while Nigeria and Tunisia's chances of progression are on thin ice. Senegal are the only African teams who have a realistic chance of qualifying. But why is it that squads from the continent struggle to reach the business end of the tournament? Is it a mental block or simply a case of coming up against a better team on the day? CGTN's Sias du Plessis takes a look.

The first African causalities of the 2018 FIFA World Cup have been Egypt and Morocco, both very good teams on paper with quality players like Liverpool's Mo Salah the headline act for the Pharaohs, while the Medhi Benatia of Juventus, the star of the Atlas Lions. But despite their influential players, both teams have failed to progress from their respective groups.

JONTY MARK CITIZEN NEWSPAPER FOOTBALL EDITOR "I think it is two different stories with those two sides, Egypt they did come into the tournament really without their best player, Mohamed Salah, and he sort of a talisman for them, Morocco were almost a top top team that could probably got to the last 16 and further if they had someone like that, because they really did play some lovely stuff, and were a bit unfortunate."

Africa's best chance still rests with Senegal. The Lions of Teranga have the physicality and pace to upset anyone on their day, and will rely heavily on forward Saido Mane to get them into the knockout stages.

MAHLATSE MPHAHLELE TIMES MEDIA FOOTBALL WRITER "They have a coach who has been with the team for a while they players are also a youngish team they have been together for a while and clearly let's hope that hopefully nothing happens to their star player."

All eyes will be on Senegal, who face Japan on Sunday to secure a place in the next round, and will be hoping not to fall into the same trap as their fellow Africans, Egypt and Morocco.

JONTY MARK CITIZEN NEWSPAPER FOOTBALL EDITOR "There has been a lot of bad defending from African teams at set pieces at this World Cup. Morocco and Egypt were guilty of that. Senegal, I don't think have that problem because of the size of the players for one thing, with Sane there, Koulibaly, who is a giant, Niang who is also not small, you know they have got the size to be able to defend."

The reason why an African team has not won the football showpiece remains with some claiming that it is a psychological reason and not due to a lack of skill.

MAHLATSE MPHAHLELE TIMES MEDIA FOOTBALL WRITER "We have a situation where by African teams have been going to a World Cup for many, many years, and just couldn't get it right. Maybe if we have got professors and scientists who can help us with this one with these players, do they really believe that they can go to the semi-finals? Do African players really believe that they have got what it takes to go to the World Cup and win a World Cup?"

SIAS DU PLESSIS JOHANNESBURG "The fact that an African team hasn't reached the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup does in fact beg the question that there is maybe something to the theory that African teams have a mental block at the World Cup, they certainly don't lack ambition or talent with some of the players playing in the best leagues in the world, but maybe at the end of the day it is a question of luck, and that the teams they come up against haven't been better, but they've had the rub of the green in Russia, Sias du Plessis, CGTN, Johannesburg."