President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe has expressed hope that an African team can reach the 2026 World Cup final.
Speaking in Johannesburg on Wednesday, Motsepe said, “Morocco opened the door by reaching the semi-finals this month and I am confident an African nation will go further at the next World Cup.”
“The main objective of CAF is for an African nation to win the World Cup and that goal is within reach.”
There will be nine or 10 African qualifiers for an expanded 48-team 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico – up from five in Qatar.
He also hailed Cameroon and Tunisia for shock group victories over five-time World Cup winners Brazil and twice champions France respectively.
“We should be proud of what Cameroon and Tunisia achieved. These and other African countries must learn from Morocco,” said the CAF president.
Morocco made history in Qatar by becoming the first African representatives to reach the semi-finals having defeated Belgium in the group stage and knocked out Spain and Portugal, in the knockout stage before losing to France in the semi-finals.
