Introduction: African dryland restoration continues to show low success rates despite major pledges, due to persistent water scarcity, ecological complexity, and limited use of trait-based restoration (TBR). Functional trait-based approaches, which match species selection to adaptive traits, could strengthen ecosystem recovery under arid conditions, yet adoption in Africa remains rare. Objectives: This opinion article examines why TBR remains underutilized in African drylands and argues for its systematic integration into restoration planning and policy. Methods: A narrative synthesis of recent research and practitioner reports was used to assess the scope of TBR and identify institutional, scientific, and socio-economic barriers limiting adoption. Results: Restoration projects across Africa often emphasize socio-economic outcomes over ecological function. Only a few African studies explicitly link plant functional traits to dryland restoration. Key barriers include scarce trait data for native species, limited long-term trials, weak integration of Indigenous Ecological Knowledge, and short donor-driven project cycles. Conclusion: Functional TBR offers a practical framework for improving ecosystem resilience in African drylands but requires region-specific research, inclusive co-design, and policy alignment. Keywords: African drylands, dryland restoration, functional traits, trait-based restoration, water-use efficiency.