Money aside, if that statement can be allowed to stand, African sides left the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup a disappointed lot as all four teams failed to make it past the group stages in the inaugural summer 32 team World Cup, a first of its kind.

All four African sides exited the FIFA Club World Cup at the completion of the group stages in a tough outing for teams from the continent, but they will go home a richer lot after collecting prize money that is worth USD 7.55 million per team.

The four sides that represented Africa at the competition are Al Ahly from Egypt, Wydad Casablanca from Morocco, Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa and Tunisian outfit Esperance.

Of the 12 games played by African sides, there were two wins, three draws and seven defeats, with 11 goals scored and 23 conceded.

Despite the failure by all teams to qualify for the final stages, there were positives to take and Mamelodi Sundowns in particular enhanced their reputation on the global stage. They were involved in arguably the game of the tournament, a 3-4 loss to German outfit Borussia Dortmund. They also drew 0-0 with Brazilian outfit Fluminense.

Sundowns chairman Tlhopie Motsepe reflected on the impact the tournament has had on his club.

"It's been a wonderful experience to be at the Club World Cup and to be an African club representing our continent on this stage, it's given us so much pride and really we have felt a lot of support from home. The competition has given us a global platform," he told AFP in an interview.

AL AHLY (EGYPT)

Coach: Jose Riveiro (Spain)

Finish: 4th in Group A

Record: P3 W0 D2 L1 GF4 GA6

Top scorer: Wessam Abou Ali – 3

Ahly, under new coach Jose Riveiro, had their chances in this pool. They were by far the better team in their 0-0 draw with Inter Miami in the tournament opener, where they missed a penalty and spurned several other golden chances.

They were well beaten 2-0 by Brazilian side Palmeiras in their second game, but led three times against FC Porto before settling for a 4-4 draw in one of the games of the group stages.

Had they finished off Inter and Porto as they should have, they would have topped the pool. Instead, they end bottom.

ESPERANCE (TUNISIA)

Coach: Maher Kanzari (Tunisia)

Finish: 3rd in Group D

Record: P3 W1 D0 L2 GF1 GA5

Top scorer: Mohamed Belaili – 1

Esperance did pick up a win in the pool when they beat Los Angeles FC in Nashville, but otherwise were well beaten in their other two fixtures and ended third in the pool.

They started with a 2-0 defeat to Flamengo from Brazil, before giving themselves hope with the victory over LA.

They needed a win in their final clash with Chelsea, and looked to have held their opponents at the break, but two goals in first half injury-time essentially ended the contest and they lost 3-0.

MAMELODI SUNDOWNS (SOUTH AFRICA)

Coach: Miguel Cardoso (Portugal)

Finish: 3rd in Group F

Record: P3 W1 D1 L1 GF4 GA4

Top scorer: Iqraam Rayners – 2

It was not to before Sundowns as they were held to a 0-0 draw in their final pool game by Brazilian side Fluminense, despite being the better team on the day.

They had their chances to claim the win that would have taken them through, but could not convert and leave before the knockout rounds.

But they were the best African team on show and won plenty of admirers for their attacking style of play and entertaining brand of football.

Iqraam Rayners scored the lone goal in a comfortable 1-0 win over south Korean side Ulsan, where he also had two more goals chalked off by the VAR.

They then took the lead against Borussia Dortmund through Lucas Ribeiro, but trailed 4-1. Rayners and Lebo Mothiba brought the game back to 4-3 to set up a grandstand finish, but it was not to be.

It meant they had to beat Fluminense but could not get the result they needed despite another strong performance.

WYDAD CASABLANCA (MOROCCO)

Coach: Amine Benhachem (Morocco)

Finish: 4th in Group G

Record: P3 W0 D0 L3 GF2 GA8

Top scorer: Thembinkosi Lorch, Casius Mailula – 1

Wydad lost all three games in a tough outing for the Moroccan side, with both of their goals in the competition being scored by South Africans.

They lost 2-0 to Manchester City in their opener, before a tough 4-1 defeat to Juventus in the second pool game.

Thembinkosi Lorch scored a goal with a superb finish to make the score 2-1 after 25 minutes, but they were well beaten in the end and were eliminated after two rounds.

Casius Mailula gave Wydad the lead in their final pool match against Al Ain from the UAE, but they could not hold on and lost 2-1.