Fifa president Gianni Infantino believes African football has a bright future after Morocco’s historic run to the World Cup semi-finals rubber-stamped the continent’s best performance at the finals. <\/span><\/p>\n No African side had ever made it past the quarter-finals, while two African teams reached the knock-out stage for only the second time in history – and the first since the 2014 World Cup. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Four years ago, not one African team managed to get out of the group stage – so registering the worst World Cup for the continent <\/span>since 1982. <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n In Qatar however, all five African representatives won a group game to ensure that a record six victories were secured by the continent at that stage of a tournament later lit up by Morocco’s stunning run. <\/span><\/p>\n Having held their own against 2018 runners-up Croatia in their opening game, the Atlas Lions proceeded to beat Canada and <\/span>Belgium<\/span><\/a> before seeing off both <\/span>Spain<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Portugal<\/span><\/a> in the knock-out phase. <\/span><\/p>\n “I’m delighted because for many decades, we’ve been talking about the development of African football and when their time will come – their time has come,” said Infantino. <\/span><\/p>\n The 52-year-old paid particular tribute to Morocco, who will bid to become the first African team to win an effective World Cup ‘bronze medal’ when <\/span>they face Croatia<\/span><\/a> in the third-place play-off on Saturday. <\/span><\/p>\n “I think Morocco played exceptionally well – they were a great success and worked very, very well,” he said. “They played with great desire, determination and undeniable quality. <\/span><\/p>\n “Reaching a final can’t be done by chance. It’s the result of a long-term effort, investment by the Moroccan football federation, all the technical staff, and a young Moroccan coach who has also been in club football there.” <\/span><\/p>\n “They have shown us how you can play attractive and effective football.”<\/span><\/p>\n Unlike many African countries, Morocco’s football federation has invested millions of dollars into developing both infrastructure and players – with the results in Qatar having shown the fruits of that labour. <\/span><\/p>\n Infantino also congratulated the other African teams at the finals, with <\/span>Tunisia defeating defending champions France<\/span><\/a> while Cameroon secured a first-ever African World Cup win against <\/span>five-time champions Brazil. <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Meanwhile, African champions Senegal – who were eliminated on a ‘fair play’ ruling in 2018 – also joined Morocco in the Round of 16. <\/span><\/p>\n “Senegal qualified from the group stage, which wasn’t the case in 2018, and then came up against a very strong England team,” said the Fifa president, who took charge in 2016. <\/span><\/p>\n “Cameroon, Ghana and Tunisia also played very well and up to the last minute of the last matches, they had a chance of qualifying which shows you the standard of African football.” <\/span><\/p>\n Speaking at a press conference in the run-up to Sunday’s final between defending champions France and Argentina, Infantino believes the timing of Africa’s improvement is perfect given the World Cup expansion to 48 teams from 2026 onwards. <\/span><\/p>\n In four years’ time, the continent will have at least nine teams playing at the <\/span>2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada<\/span><\/a>, with the possibility of a tenth representative should Africa make it through an intercontinental play-off. <\/span><\/p>\n “In the next World Cup, there will be <\/span>double the number of African teams qualifying,<\/span><\/a> which means there’ll be other African teams too so we can look forward to some more excellent performances.”<\/span><\/p>\n Fifa had hoped to use <\/span>the expanded 48-team format in Qatar<\/span><\/a> but dropped the idea because the small gulf state could not accommodate a larger tournament and sharing the event with their neighbours proved impossible.<\/span><\/p>\n In a separate development on Friday, Infantino announce that the Seychelles’ hosting of the 2023 Beach Soccer World Cup has been <\/span>delayed until 2025, <\/span>‘More excellent performances’ from Africa to come<\/h3>\n
![\"Morocco](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/onesport\/cps\/624\/cpsprodpb\/15773\/production\/_128032978_gettyimages-1245509460.jpg\")
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