Motsepe believes in the chances of an African team reaching the 2026 World Cup final

The President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), South Africa, Patrice Motsepe, confirmed on Wednesday that he believes in the chances of one of the continent’s teams reaching the 2026 World Cup final, following the great achievement achieved by Morocco after it became the first Arab and African team to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup in Qatar.

Motsepe said in a press conference held in Johannesburg that Morocco "opened the door by reaching the semi-finals this month, and I am confident that an African country will go further in the next World Cup."

And he added, "The main goal of the Confederation of African Football is for an African country to win the World Cup, and this goal is within reach."

And with a new system for the next World Cup, in light of the participation of 48 teams, there will be nine or 10 teams from the brown continent, instead of five in the Qatar World Cup, in the 2026 finals, which will be hosted by three countries, the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Morocco made history in the world football tournament, which was held for the first time in the Middle East and the Arab world, when it became the first representative from Africa to reach the semi-finals.

The "Atlas Lions" surprised Belgium in the group stage (won 2-0), before the men of coach Walid Regraki eliminated two ancient European teams, Spain, by penalty kicks, and Portugal, 1-0, in the eighth and quarter-final rounds, respectively, to return and lose to France, the defending champion and runner-up. This version, in the semi-finals zero-2.

"There are at least 10 African countries that can compete at the highest level and win the World Cup," Motsepe added.

He also praised Cameroon and Tunisia for their surprising group-stage victory over five-time World Cup winners Brazil and France, respectively, by the same 1-0 scoreline.

"We should be proud of what Cameroon and Tunisia have achieved, which they and other African countries should learn from Morocco," said the Confederation's president.

While Cameroon and Tunisia did not succeed in overcoming the group stage, Senegal reached the final price, where it was eliminated against England, losing 3-0.

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