FIFA World Cup: Enthusiast Bede Aneke writes FIFA President for more African slots

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) currently has five automatic slots in the current 32-team format for the FIFA World Cup and this has not gone down well with football enthusiast and Executive Director, African Network For Peace And Good Governance (ANPG, Mr. Bede Aneke who wants more slots for Africa in the next World Cup.

Cameroon, Senegal, Morocco, Tunisia, and Ghana represented Africa (CAF) at the ongoing FIFA World Cup with Teranga Lions and Atlas Lions making it to the Round of 16.

Morocco holds Africa’s hope at Qatar 2022 ahead of its game with 2010 World Champions, Spain and in his open letter to the FIFA President, Aneke faulted the current 5 slots for African countries, describing it as discrimination.

“I write to state that the present five slots that FIFA has continued to allocate to Africa (CAF) in the recent editions of the World Cup is unsatisfactory and inequitable. Africa has the largest number with 54 member associations, followed by Europe (UEFA) that has 52 member associations.

“Asia (AFC) has 46 member associations; North, Central America and Caribbean (CONCAF) has 35 member associations; South America (CONMEBOL) has just 10 member associations while Oceania (OFC) has 11 member associations,” Aneke started.

He further stated that it was surprising that Africa has continued to be under-represented in FIFA World Cup in terms of unbefitting slots to participate in the four-year world tournament.

“Under the present arrangement, 32 teams participate in the World Cup and Europe has the highest number of representatives with 13 teams,” he continued.

“Then Africa (CAF) with the highest number of member associations in FIFA has just 5 slots while AFC (Asia), CONCACAF (North America) and CONMEBOL (South America) with far less number of member associations enjoy 5 and 4 slots.

“Many in Africa consider the slots given to Africa as unfair and part of the seemingly entrenched marginalisation of the football-loving continent. This is why I, like many other round leather game lovers in Africa, demand that the African continent be given at least four more slots in the four-year Mundial to make for a total of 9 slots for the continent, beginning from the next edition of the tournament in 2026.

“It is heart-warming to note that recently the ‘Bureau’ of the FIFA Council, comprising you- the FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, and the Presidents of six confederations that make up FIFA, met in Zurich and agreed on the expansion of the team participation in the World Cup from 32 to 48.

“Under the proposed expansion, UEFA gets three more slots, thereby taking Europe’s total slot to 16. CAF (Africa) will be given four more slots, making it up to 9 slots for the continent. Meanwhile, AFC gets a total of 8 slots; CONCACAF and CONMEBOL will enjoy 6 slots each.

“Sir, I encourage you to use your good office to ensure that the 9 slots proposed for Africa is realised and that Africa is not cheated when the Bureau presents its expansionist report to the ‘FIFA Council’ for ratification in May 2023.

“This is necessary to give Africa, which parades an array of global stars, a sense of belonging and justice in the decisions and activities of the World’s football governing body.

“Anything short of this will be unacceptable as it portrays a clear unfair treatment and discrimination against Africa.

If more and corresponding slots are given to Africa, it will make the World Cup more competitive and the real World Cup it ought to be as the present arrangement favours Europe to win the tournament,” he concluded.

Africa is guaranteed nine automatic slots for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a playoff tournament involving six teams to decide the last two FIFA World Cup berths.