Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe has said the FIFA World Cup feels incomplete without the participation of Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions.
Nigeria missed out on qualification for the 2026 World Cup after South Africa secured the automatic qualification spot from their group.
The Super Eagles later had another opportunity to qualify through the African playoffs in Morocco but lost to the Democratic Republic of Congo on penalties in the final.
Speaking on Africa’s performance at the World Cup, Motsepe highlighted the significant contributions of Nigeria and Cameroon to African football and their impact on the global stage.
He also expressed CAF’s commitment to ensuring that more African countries qualify for future editions of the tournament.
“I am happy for Nigeria and Cameroon. Nigeria did not make the World Cup, and I keep telling people that a World Cup for me without Nigeria, Cameroon, and many others is incomplete because Nigerians and Cameroonians have all made us proud,” Motsepe said.
The CAF president acknowledged that the absence of both football powerhouses was noticeable, considering their history and memorable performances at previous World Cup tournaments.
Motsepe said the future of African football remains promising, adding that CAF would continue to create better opportunities for its member associations.
He said the continental football body would increase efforts to develop the sport through greater investment in youth football, coaching education, infrastructure and competitions.
“And a part of what we are going to do is to work harder than we have ever done before because in life, if you work hard and you are determined, you will succeed,” he added.
While acknowledging that meaningful progress would take time, Motsepe expressed confidence that sustained investment and commitment would eventually yield positive results.
“You may not succeed immediately or overnight, but I am enormously confident, and I cannot have a quantifiable objective, criteria and facts that justify the optimism.”