The Ivorian Head coach has said Cameroon, like other nine nations are yet to qualify for the Qatar, owing to FIFA’s limitation of final African World Cup qualifiers to just five (5) places, despite the fact that the Continent houses some 54 football nations.
Patrice Beaumelle made this open minded statement, two days after his team lost to a 1 goal to 0 defeat, the chance of qualifying for play – offs for Qatar 2022, in favour of The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.
According to BBC Sports, he said FIFA is stressing African footballers and killing football in Africa by giving it only five playing chances, while Europe housing just one nation more than Africa, is allocated up to thirteen guaranteed playing spots.
The 2012 CAF winner with Zambia, stated “ It is a shame that strong teams like mine will stay at home, even though many African players are fully participating in Major and renowned European championships.”
The former Assistant to Herve Renards noted that even he had qualified for the play- off, beating Cameroon, he still would have said this, adding that even the group qualifiers, non has successfully made it to Qatar already.
The French citizen furthers that the World is yet to see an African World Cup semi finalist, after Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana were all knocked out in 1990, 2002 and 2010, at the last eight knock out stage.
He however, expressed his expectations for Africa to gain nine guaranteed World Cup qualifiers chance, now that FIFA has announced an increase in the number of participants from 32, to 46 nations.
