Domenech’s rant
While the qualifications for the World Cup in Qatar have given their verdict, except for some play-off matches, Raymond Domenech is surprised at the low representation of African teams.
The World Cup qualifiers have come to an end, making many unhappy. This is especially true in Africa where Egypt, Mali, Congo, Nigeria and Algeria have seen the doors of the World Cup close. Places are particularly expensive on the African continent where more than 50 teams are competing for the five tickets granted by Fifa.
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It is certainly the second most represented zone behind Europe since Asia is only entitled to four and a half places (in addition to Qatar, the organizing country), just like South America, but they are only ten nations on the starting line in the South American zone. A problem pointed out by Raymond Domenech. » What must be emphasized is that these are not play-offs, they are qualifications. For us in Europe, it is those who have not managed to finish at the top of their group who play the play-offs. But for them, they are the first of groups. And the 10 teams meet to finally be five at the World Cup. 51 African countries are represented by five “, he thus launched at the microphone of the chain The Team.
The situation will change drastically in 2026 since the transition to 48 teams for the next World Cup will particularly benefit the African continent which will indeed have 9 or even 10 representatives. But that does not completely satisfy the former tricolor coach. » I think they are going to have nine representatives from the next World Cup. But it’s totally illogical if we compare with South America which has 10 countries and 5 qualified, » he observed. “There are Brazil and Argentina, the others we do not see them”, he added, adding about Uruguay, also two-time winner of the competition: “Yes, they won it when there were three countries… »
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