Africa will be represented by five
countries at the 2014 World Cup, the
world football governing body,
FIFA, has said.
This was a fallout of a decision by
FIFA to keep the same number of
slots for each confederation for the
tournament taking place in Brazil.
A number of confederations in
particular, the Asian Football
Confederation (AFC) and their
European counterpart UEFA, had
hoped for an increase in the number
of places allotted to them, while their
African counterpart, the
Confederation of Africa Football
(CAF) were nervous about losing a
spot.
But FIFA on Thursday in Zurich,
Switzerland, at the conclusion of its
executive committee ’s first meeting
of the year, revealed they will be
sticking with the status quo ahead of
Brazil 2014.
The anxiety on the part of CAF was
as a result of the continent ’s
unimpressive showing at last year’s
tournament where six African
nations competed, including hosts
South Africa.
But of all these countries - Nigeria,
Algeria, Cameroon, Cote d ’Ivoire,
Ghana and South Africa - only
Ghana were able to advance beyond
the opening round eventually going
all the way to the quarter finals
before losing to two-time winners
Uruguay.
For the 2014 tournament, North
American football body CONCACAF
got three direct qualifying places,
while South America, represented
by CONMEBOL, got five direct
entries, including that of hosts Brazil.
Asia got four direct entries, while
UEFA will be represented by 13
countries.
The world body, however,
disclosed that a draw would be held
to determine the four countries who
will play off for two spots, unlike for
the last World Cup when it was
fixed in advance with CONMEBOL
squaring off against CONCACAF,
while the AFC side took on their
counterpart from the Oceania
confederation.
Huge success
Also on Thursday, FIFA President
Sepp Blatter, hailed the 2010 World
Cup as a financial success, after it
pushed the governing body ’s four-
year revenues above four billion
dollars for the first time.
Blatter claimed it vindicated the
choice of South Africa despite fears
that the decision to bring football ’s
biggest tournament to the continent
was a financial risk.
“I am the happiest man to announce
that the World Cup in South Africa
was a huge, huge financial success
for everybody, for Africa for South
Africa, for FIFA, ” he told journalists
after an executive committee
meeting.
“For the first time in FIFA’s four-year
accounts we are over four billion
dollars. ”
Canada gets women’s tourney
Meanwhile, the 2015 women’s
World Cup has been awarded to
Canada after Zimbabwe pulled out
of the race.
The United Arab Emirates were also
announced as the hosts for the 2013
Under 17 World Cup for boys, while
Costa Rica will host the women ’s
U-17 World Cup in 2014.
Turkey were also announced as the
host nation for the 2013 U-20 World
Cup for men, while Hungary and
Mauritius will host the annual FIFA
congresses of 2012 and 2013
respectively.
September 10, 2009, 05:38:16 AM