African teams justify increased World Cup slots despite criticism
via Punch Nigeria10 min read
African teams demonstrated strong performances in the 2026 World Cup, largely justifying the increase in their allocated slots from five to nine, and ten with an intercontinental play-off win by the Democratic Republic of Congo. Despite initial criticism from figures like former Italy head coach Gennaro Gattuso, who suggested Africa was overrepresented, nine out of ten African representatives reached the knockout stage. This represents a 90% success rate, the highest among FIFA regions. While seven African teams were eliminated in the round of 32, Egypt reached the round of 16, and Morocco made history by becoming the first African team to reach the quarter-finals twice. A recurring issue for African teams was conceding late goals, with instances involving Senegal losing a two-goal lead and Egypt surrendering a 2-0 advantage to Argentina. Analysts Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimovic noted a tendency for African sides to lose focus when leading. Morocco's quarter-final loss to France highlighted a remaining gap in quality against top European teams. Cape Verde, despite not winning a match, impressed with a 0-0 draw against Spain and a close 3-2 loss to Argentina, gaining significant global attention.
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Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, has criticized President Bola Tinubu for allegedly prioritizing political campaigning for the 2027 presidential election over national security, particularly in the wake of the rescue of abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State. While commending the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies for the successful rescue operation, Atiku stated that the incident highlighted a failure of political leadership at the highest level. He argued that the President, as Commander-in-Chief, should have personally addressed the nation alongside defense chiefs to brief Nigerians on the operation, acknowledge the troops' bravery, and reassure families, instead of engaging in political activities. Atiku emphasized that the protection of lives and property should be the primary campaign of any responsible administration, and that politics can wait when citizens' lives are at stake. He also cautioned against premature celebration, noting that many Nigerians remain in captivity, and called for sustained military pressure until all abducted individuals are freed and communities are restored to peace.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, stated that the successful rescue of pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State demonstrates President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to protecting Nigerians and ensuring school safety. Alausa commended President Tinubu for his leadership during the rescue operation and praised Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and security agencies for their collaboration, which led to the safe recovery of the victims and the arrest of suspected kidnappers. He described the rescue as a significant victory against criminality and a testament to the Federal Government’s determination to safeguard children. The minister also expressed sympathy to the rescued individuals and their families and reaffirmed the Federal Ministry of Education’s commitment to strengthening school security nationwide. The abduction had previously sparked nationwide outrage, leading to threats of a nationwide strike by the Nigeria Union of Teachers and protests by the National Association of Nigerian Students.
Must ReadSpain coach Luis de la Fuente has characterized his team's FIFA World Cup semi-final match against France as "a final before the final," expressing confidence in his players to perform against one of the tournament favorites. Spain secured their spot in the last four after a 2-1 victory over Belgium, setting up the highly anticipated encounter with Didier Deschamps’ side. De la Fuente acknowledged France's quality as 2018 world champions but highlighted Spain's belief in their ability to progress, noting their past success in beating France in two semi-finals. He emphasized the need for Spain to elevate their game and praised midfielder Mikel Merino, whose late goal against Belgium was crucial. De la Fuente described Merino as "tailor-made" for his tactical system due to his versatility and consistent performance across multiple positions.