The president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Patrick Motsepe says the recently concluded World Cup 2026 was incomplete due to the absence of two of Africa’s powerhouse in football, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Motsepe said the absence of Nigeria and Cameroon created a gap at the tournament which was won by Spain with a 1-0 win over Argentina in the final on Sunday.
Both countries failed to qualify for the tournament, with the Super Eagles missing the tournament for the second consecutive time. The first time it has happened since their maiden appearance at the tournament in 1994.
“I’m very proud of Nigeria, Cameroon. I can say the same about every one of the 54 nations. Nigeria didn’t make it now. Nigeria has got some of the best players not just in Africa but in the world, and I’m confident Nigeria will continue to make us proud as they did in the past, same Cameroon and same Bafana Bafana,” he explained.
“And I keep telling my Nigerian friends, a World Cup for me without Nigeria, without Cameroon and many others, is incomplete because Nigeria has always made us proud. How many superstars are there? Not here, Nigeria, everywhere. Many, many outstanding young players,” he stated.
He went ahead to speak on the unifying factor that the Super Eagles bring whenever they play. “When I went to Nigeria, I was told when the national team plays, there’s nobody from the north, there’s nobody from the south. We’re all Nigerians. There’s no Christian, there’s no Muslim. We are all Nigerians,” he concluded.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
