Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Dr. Patrice Motsepe has said the confederation’s “objective of an African nation winning the FIFA World Cup is alive and within reach.”
Motsepe has said the five African representatives at the just-ended 2022 Qatar World Cup performed well and showed the world that Africa is not far from winning the global football showpiece.
“The 54 African countries who are members of CAF are extremely proud and inspired by the victories and successes of the five African Nations that represented CAF at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022,” he said. ” We are also particularly proud of Morocco’s historic qualification to the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.”
He has hailed Morocco for reaching the semifinals at the tournament and further stated that CAF will continue working to ensure an African country wins the World Cup.
“It is the first time in the history of the FIFA World Cup that an African Nation has qualified for the semi-finals. I would like to express our deep gratitude to the players (Les Lions de l’Atlas), the technical team, the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football under the outstanding leadership of President Fouzi Lekjaa, the people of Morocco and His Royal Highness King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him. Our objective of ensuring that an African Nation wins the FIFA World Cup is alive and within reach.”
Only two African teams—Senegal and Morocco—made it to the round of 16, with the Atlas Lions finishing fourth for the first time in the competition’s history.
The other African nations who competed in Qatar were Cameroon, Tunisia, and Ghana, all of which recorded victories each, but none of which managed to advance past the group stage.
At the next World Cup in 2026, which will feature 48 teams to be co-hosted by Canada, USA, and Mexico, Africa will be represented by nine countries and two additional berths will be decided by an intercontinental play-off.
