CAF President Patrice Motsepe says African football’s biggest nations deserve to be on football’s grandest stage.
Motsepe described Nigeria and Cameroon as two of Africa’s football powerhouses, saying the FIFA World Cup does not feel complete when either nation is absent.
Nigeria and Cameroon have rich World Cup histories, with Nigeria has qualifying six times, while Cameroon became the first African nation to reach a World Cup quarter-final in 1990, inspiring generations across the continent.
Motsepe stressed that both countries possess enormous talent, passionate supporters and football traditions that make them key representatives of African football on the global stage.
The CAF president also praised Africa’s growing competitiveness, noting that investment in youth development, coaching and infrastructure is helping African nations compete with the world’s best.
Africa enjoyed its strongest-ever World Cup campaign in 2026, with nine of its ten representatives reaching the knockout stage, underlining the continent’s rapid football progress.
Despite Africa’s recent success, Motsepe believes iconic football nations such as Nigeria and Cameroon remain central to the continent’s identity and global appeal, making their participation especially significant.
As qualification campaigns continue toward future tournaments, CAF hopes to see Nigeria, Cameroon and other African giants consistently competing on football’s biggest stage, strengthening Africa’s influence in the World Cup.
