Online Reporter
AFRICA football boss Patrice Motsepe said on Sunday that hard work and investment in youth, coaching and infrastructure had paid off at the FIFA 2026 World Cup.
Nine of the 10 African qualifiers for the expanded 48-team tournament in the US, Canada and Mexico reached the knock-out phase.
Algeria, Cape Verde, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Cote d’lvoire Morocco, Senegal and South Africa will feature in the round of 32. Only Tunisia missed out, losing all three matches.
“Hard work and investments in youth football, coaching, professional leagues and infrastructure in each of the 54 CAF member associations is bearing fruit,” said CAF president Motsepe.
“I congratulate the nine CAF member association presidents and their executive committees and thank the African governments for their co-operation and support.
“The governance, transparency, financial and auditing best practices that have been introduced attracted new sponsors and partners and (helped) develop and grow African football.
“CAF wishes the nine national teams everything of the best and we are confident they will continue to make their countries and Africa extremely proud.”
Africa achieved 90 percent success in qualifying for the second round — the highest figure among the six FIFA continental regions. South America (83.33 per cent) was second and Europe (81.25 per cent) third.
In 2022, Morocco became the first World Cup semi-finalists from Africa. The Atlas Lions overcame Belgium, Spain and Portugal en route to the penultimate stage before losing to France.
Former Portuguese colony Cape Verde is a sparsely populated, 10-island archipelago off the west coast of Africa and the second smallest country by size to compete at the global show-piece. — AFP Sport.
