The 2018 World Cupwelcomes 5 African teams—Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal, Morocco, and Nigeria—and all except Nigeria have waited a very, very long time to field a squad once again on the world's biggest football stage.

Tunisia has not participated since 2006, Senegal since 2002, Morocco since 1998, and Egypt since 1990!

It's a unique occasion for a continent that is unjustly afforded only 5 qualification spots despite having 55 countries. African nations were systematically denied inclusion for decades since the inception of the quadrennial tournament. Since Egypt's qualification in 1934, it took until 1970 for another North African team to register participation, when Morocco won a place at the World Cup in Mexico.

The World Cup unfortunately rarely does justice to the music of participating countries, and national anthems are hardly party tunes for the grand occassion.

So, along with the good folks at Habibi Funk Records, Radio Martiko, Hive Mind Records, and Palmwine Records, we've put together a mixtape featuring sounds from across the five proud countries representing the African continent in Russia.

This soundtrack to Africa's World Cup covers a majestic blend of Senegalese Mbalax, Nigerian Fuji, Moroccan Gnawa, Tunisian Disco, and Nubian sounds from Egypt.

Here's hoping an African team finally takes the trophy home!