Akufo-Addo backs 10 World Cup slots for Africa

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has added his voice to the clamour by heads of Africa’s football associations for the continent to be given five more spots at the proposed 48-team FIFA World Cup beginning in 2026.

According to Mr Akufo-Addo, “Ghana joins the call for 10 slots for the continent at the World Cup. We think it is fair, just, and equitable, especially when you consider the enthusiasm with which football is followed on the continent.”

The president made this known on Monday February 27 when FIFA president Gianni Infantino paid a courtesy call on him at the Flagstaff House.

Commending the Swiss for appointing Senegal’s Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura as Secretary General of FIFA, coupled with the appointment of Ghana’s Justice Anin Yeboah onto the adjudicatory chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee and for his assistance to African football, Mr Akufo-Addo noted that these moves pointed to a FIFA president who has made Africa his foremost priority.

To this end, he assured Mr Infantino: “The reforms that you have initiated in the administration of global football have our full support. What we would like to see is that those reforms are also translated into the administration of African football. This will be a major achievement of your presidency.

“We are passionate about the game in Ghana, and we want to make a strong contribution to the growth of world football. We are honoured by your presence and we wish you success in the big undertaking that you have put upon yourself, which is to reform the administration of the world game and make it a more fitting instrument for the 21st century.”

Nana Akufo-Addo was hopeful that when FIFA’s rotational policy on the holding of the World Cup returns to Africa, “a West African country, in collaboration with another West African country, would host the World Cup”.

On his part, Mr Infantino was grateful to Nana Akufo-Addo for receiving him and his team from football’s world governing body.

He noted that Africa has been his biggest priority since he assumed the position of FIFA boss.

He further disclosed: “There have been Goal projects for Africa over the years and until last year, FIFA was investing $27million, every year in African associations. After I was elected, FIFA is investing $94million in Africa every year and this has been allocated for the development of Africa football.

“We have to help develop football on this continent. There is a potential and we have to exploit it not only with words but with concrete actions and we have started putting them in place and together we can make the difference.”

In conclusion, he noted: “There is such a big passion for football in Africa and we need to channel a little bit of this passion to structuring. The future will become present for all of us.”