Africa will have five countries representing them in June for World Cup 2006 namely Ivory Coast, Ghana, Angola, Tunisia and Togo. They are also hosting the next World Cup in four years time.
Fifa President Sepp Blatter preferred to have an extra place for the host instead of having one of the five countries today removed for World Cup 2010.
I believe the extra slot would be a walk in the park unless the five countries today show a mediocre performance come June. They have to show they can stay competing strong throughout the tournament to boost Africa’s chance in that 6th representation in World Cup.
They can definitely do this. They have already proved their skeptics wrong when predicted the decline of money once the World Cup is held in Africa. The World Cup 2010 has already generated more money through contracts it has reached with television and sponsors.
This shows the marketing power of football or I would put it better by saying the power of the football product is bigger than any sports in the world. It’s bigger than the Olympics.
The extra money generated in the World Cup can be put into good use through the development of football programmes and an initiative for a better football career in Africa as Blatter pointed out.
Other Articles
World Cup Team and Groupings
The Education of a Coach
