AL RAYYAN, Qatar: Ghana’s coach said Thursday that the continent needs more places in the World Cup given the strength of African teams so far. Senegal and Morocco are the only African qualifiers to reach the last 16 of the 2022 tournament. With a win against Uruguay in their final group match, Ghana can advance, while Cameroon can still advance if they beat already qualified Brazil, which is expected to rest its top players.
The only team so far to be eliminated is Tunisia, who won 1-0 against France on Wednesday. Ghana’s Otto Addo praised Senegal on Thursday, speaking before Morocco beat Canada 2-1 to finish top of Group F.
During a news conference, Addo expressed his happiness over the qualification of our African brothers.
Senegal is certainly an inspiration. I’m happy for them. Africa has been exploited a lot throughout history. Many things have gone wrong for us.”
“This is what we try to do for people, we do for Ghana, we do for Africa. And I hope that everybody understands that we have to give more than we have and everything we have, because sometimes for people at home it’s their last hope,” Addo said.
Nigeria and Algeria made it to the last 16 at the 2014 World Cup, Africa’s best showing in the previous five World Cups.
There was only one African team that advanced to the knockout round of the 2002, 2006, and 2010 tournaments, but all five African qualifiers from 2018 did not advance past the group stage.
Three of Ghana’s last five World Cups have reached the knockout rounds, making them one of only three African nations to reach the quarterfinals.
In comparison to Europe, where the same number of countries compete for 13 World Cup spots, Africa’s five World Cup spots are lopsided.
“It’s very difficult for us, the probability for us to proceed is lower than then other nations like in Europe, they have 13 spots. And so the probability is much, much higher.”
As a result of the limited number of places, Ghana’s Thomas Partey, who plays for Arsenal in England, said the World Cup was missing good African players.
“I’m not surprised,” he said of the African teams’ performance. We know most of the African countries are working harder. We have a lot of quality players … all those don’t qualify.”