Chipolopolo coach Avram Grant has proposed a series of reforms at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) that he believes could transform African football and increase the chances of African teams reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup.
Only Morocco has reached the semi-finals, achieving the feat at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, highlighting the need for broader progress across the continent.
Grant, speaking after Zambia’s 1–0 win over Tanzania in the World Cup qualifiers on Wednesday, said Africa has a “very good base of players” but still needs better organization and tactics both on and off the pitch.
“There are many good things in Africa, many good things, there is a passion, there are good players, athletic players and everything, but we need to improve a few things,” he said. “We can learn from Europe about organization, about tactics, about things that can help African football because I love Africa, a lot of talents, passion for football, good people even around, but I think there is a gap to improve on the pitch and off the pitch because my vision… is that if they will do three, four things I can guarantee that every World Cup one African team to be in a semi-final.”
Grant said that the improvements he envisions extend beyond training and coaching, emphasizing the importance of structural and organizational reforms.
“They need to work on this and really improve things, especially off the pitch, and then it will affect what’s happening on the pitch about the knowledge about football and something like this. When you come from Europe you see the difference… but I think in Africa there is a very good base, a very good base of players and I would improve three, four things.”
The Zambian coach stated that he has even shared his recommendations directly with the CAF leadership.
“I say to the president of the CAF, I say to him, do one, two, three, I guarantee with you every World Cup an African team in a semi-final. It’s impossible that this continent, except Morocco last time, Morocco is North Africa, it’s impossible that Africa was not regularly…”
Grant believes that with targeted action, Africa could regularly compete at the very highest levels, matching the technical and tactical standards seen in Europe.
“There are many good things in Africa, there is passion, there are good players, athletic players and everything, but we need to improve a few things… I love Africa, a lot of talents, passion for football, good people even around, but I think there is a gap to improve on the pitch and off the pitch.”
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