Sadio Mane Patrice Motsepe Qatar France Belgium Spain Portugal Brazil Usa Mexico Canada South Africa Tunisia Cameroon Senegal Morocco Tunisia state Indiana Johannesburg soccer cup Sadio Mane Patrice Motsepe Qatar France Belgium Spain Portugal Brazil Usa Mexico Canada South Africa Tunisia Cameroon Senegal Morocco Tunisia state Indiana Johannesburg

African team can reach 2026 World Cup final - CAF boss Motsepe

news24.com

African football boss Patrice Motsepe told a press conference in Johannesburg on Wednesday he believes a team from the continent can reach the 2026 World Cup final."Morocco opened the door by reaching the semi-finals this month and I am confident an African nation will go further at the next World Cup," said the South African billionaire. "The main objective of CAF (Confederation of African Football) is for an African nation to win the World Cup and that goal is within reach." There will be nine or 10 African qualifiers for an expanded 48-team 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico -- up from five in Qatar.

Morocco made history in Qatar by becoming the first African representatives to reach the semi-finals. The Atlas Lions stunned Belgium in the group stage, then eliminated two more powerful European sides, Spain and Portugal, in the knockout stage before losing to France in the semi-finals."There are at least 10 African nations that can compete at the highest level and win the World Cup," added Motsepe.He also hailed Cameroon and Tunisia for shock group victories over five-time World Cup winners Brazil and twice champions France respectively. "We should be proud of what Cameroon and Tunisia achieved.

These and other African countries must learn from Morocco," said the CAF president. The shock victories were not enough to get Cameroon and Tunisia past the first round, but Senegal did make the last 16 before being eliminated after a heavy loss to England.Reigning African champions Senegal suffered a massive pre-tournament blow when star forward Sadio Mane was ruled out by injury.

Related News
(FILES) In this file photo taken on December 18, 2022 France’s coach Didier Deschamps displays his silver medal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup trophy ceremony after losing the football final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha. – Didier Deschamps extends stay as France coach until 2026, he announced at the French Football Federation’s general assembly in Paris on January 7, 2023. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
Didier Deschamps said on Saturday he will remain France coach until the 2026 World Cup after leading the team to the final of the last two editions.
Brazilian football superstar Pele, who has died at the age of 82, was "a unique inspiration to the African continent" who will "forever live in the hearts and minds of football lovers", the continent's football chief said on Friday.
It was a year where it felt like the sport truly got back up and running after multiple years of disruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and what better way to celebrate than by closing the year out with the sport's biggest tournament, the FIFA World Cup.
President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Patrice Motsepe. (Photo by Phill Magakoe / AFP)

Latest News

Change privacy settings
This page might use cookies if your analytics vendor requires them.