Governing Bodies
CHAMPIONS FRANCE TO LEARN PATH TO QATAR IN WORLD CUP QUALIFYING DRAW
European nations led by reigning champions France will on Monday (Dec 7) learn their opponents in qualifying as they begin the long and congested road towards the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The draw for the qualifying stage will take place in a virtual ceremony at FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich, allowing France and leading lights like Kylian Mbappe to start tracing out their route to a successful defence of the trophy in Doha.
Two years since their triumph in Moscow, the French look the strongest side around, and recently qualified for the finals of the Nations League that take place next October.
“We mustn’t start believing we are better than we are but we do have the feeling that we can still do some great things,” France coach Didier Deschamps said this week as he looked ahead to a packed 2021.
Qatar and FIFA recently celebrated marking two years to go until the start of the controversial tournament, which will start on Nov 21, 2022 and conclude with the final on Dec 18 after being moved to the northern hemisphere winter.
Playing with the dates of football’s biggest events has become commonplace due to the coronavirus pandemic, and qualifying is scheduled to start with three rounds of matches next March, before the delayed Euro 2020 tournament goes ahead in June and July.
France will be joined in the first pot of seeds for Monday’s draw by the world’s top-ranked side Belgium, reigning European champions Portugal and Croatia, the team they defeated in the 2018 final in Moscow.
England, Spain, Italy, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands will also be top seeds, with only the winners of each of the 10 groups qualifying automatically for the finals.
Uphill struggle
The 10 runners-up will go into playoffs alongside the two best Nations League group winners who miss out on qualifying via the traditional path.
Those playoffs will produce three more qualifiers in total, with Europe having 13 spots out of the 32 at the finals.
France, Belgium, Italy and Spain will all be placed in qualifying groups of five teams by virtue of having qualified for the final four of the Nations League in Italy next October.
It all points to a continuing pile-up of matches.
For example, a team that reaches the final of Euro 2020 can expect to play 17 competitive games between March and November next year.
Club managers like Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp have bitterly criticised the number of games their players are being asked to play for club and country, and that issue is likely to come to the fore again over the course of 2021.
The continent’s more modest nations have had their access to the European Championship opened up by that competition’s expansion to 24 teams, but reaching the World Cup promises to be a far more arduous task.
For example, after qualifying for Euro 2020 to reach their first major tournament since the 1998 World Cup, Scotland will face an uphill struggle to make it to Qatar.
Their world ranking of 48 means they are in the third pot of seeds, so could go into a group with, for example, France and Switzerland.
Scotland’s prospects of making the World Cup were not helped by their failure to top their Nations League group last month.
“The playoff route via the Nations League has gone – we’ll just need to qualify from the group. That has got to be the aim,” said Scotland manager Steve Clarke.
World Cup qualifying has already started elsewhere, including in South America which began its marathon 10-team round-robin tournament in October.
-AFP
The Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Sports has commenced a comprehensive inventory of all sports infrastructure across the state, following a directive from Governor Umo Eno at a recent State Executive Council meeting in Uyo.
The initiative aims to enhance safety, ensure proper maintenance, and assess the viability of facilities for possible upgrades or replacements.
Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, emphasized that the inventory is crucial to sustaining the state’s reputation as Nigeria’s sports tourism centre.
Key facilities under review include the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo Township Stadium, Eket Stadium, Olympic-size swimming pool, Arise Park sports facilities, Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre sports facilities Ikot Ekpene Township Stadium, West Itam Sports Centre and various sports centres and academies.
He noted that Akwa Ibom remains the only Nigerian state with a stadium certified by both CAF and FIFA for international football matches, attributing this to the state’s strong maintenance culture — a legacy the current administration seeks to expand under the Arise Agenda.
During the recent Town Hall meeting in Eket, the Governor engaged the sports commissioner on the functional state of facilities at the Eket Stadium and asked him to report back to Exco as soon as possible, as directed.
“Akwa Ibom State has been Nigeria’s sports tourism centre for some years now, and Governor Umo Bassey is determined to maintain the status quo as we have seen in his administration’s resolve in maintaining sports infrastructure and facilities across the state.
“The fact that Godswill Akpabio International Stadium is the only stadium in Nigeria that meets CAF and FIFA standards for hosting international football matches is a testament to the maintenance culture of past and present administrations in the state.
As outlined in the Arise Agenda of the governor, we are committed to extending the maintenance culture to all sports infrastructure and facilities in Akwa Ibom State.
“The comprehensive compilation and sports assets inventory exercise is a step towards repositioning and ensuring proper maintenance of sports infrastructure and facilities while promoting and marketing our state as a sports tourism destination”.
The initiative is expected to support strategic planning for future sports development and enhance the state’s capacity to host local and international sporting events.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Governing Bodies
FIFA President Infantino Tours Historic Chefchaouen During Private Visit to Morocco
FIFA President Gianni Infantino was reportedly spotted in the picturesque hillside town of Chefchaouen in northern Morocco, as part of a private visit to the country.
Infantino, accompanied by family members, toured the famous blue-painted alleys of the town’s medina (market) and visited the central square, Outa El Hammam.
Morocco World News reports that local sources revealed that the FIFA president received a detailed briefing on Chefchaouen’s architectural significance and its place in Moroccan cultural history.
He also posed for photos with residents and praised the town’s beauty and warm hospitality.
The FIFA chief’s appearance in Chefchaouen comes on the heels of an earlier family stop at Taghazout Bay, a coastal resort near Agadir.
Although his trip has been officially described as personal, Infantino’s presence in Morocco has drawn public interest, especially in light of the country’s growing prominence in world football.
Morocco is preparing to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and is one of the three co-hosts of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, alongside Spain and Portugal.
Major infrastructure and stadium upgrades are currently underway across Moroccan host cities in preparation for the tournaments.
Earlier last week, Infantino was in Rabat for the official opening of FIFA’s new Regional Development Office for North and West Africa.
Situated adjacent to the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé, the new office will coordinate FIFA programmes throughout the sub-region.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe and the President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, Fouzi Lekjaa. The event was described as a landmark in FIFA’s ongoing collaboration with Moroccan football authorities.
Morocco has emerged as a key player in international football, thanks to its sustained investment in youth development, world-class facilities, and capacity to host major tournaments.
Infantino has previously highlighted the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Maamoura as a model for football development worldwide.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Governing Bodies
FIFA President Hails Reconstructed Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium as Symbol of Modern Morocco
FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Sunday paid a visit to the newly reconstructed Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat, describing it as one of the most modern and innovative stadiums in world football.
Infantino was accompanied on the inspection tour by the President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), Fouzi Lekjaa. The FIFA chief commended Morocco’s commitment to sports infrastructure development, noting that the stadium reflects the country’s ambitions to position itself as a global football hub.
“A football stadium today is much more than just a place to play football. It is a symbol for a country and a place to unite people,” Infantino wrote in a social media post following the tour. “This particular stadium is already a true jewel, showing the modern Morocco — a country projecting itself into the future and choosing football to unite the world.”
The old Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah
The original Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah was demolished in the summer of 2023 to make way for a state-of-the-art facility that aligns with Morocco’s aspirations on the global football stage.
The revamped stadium is expected to play a pivotal role in both continental and global tournaments.
The new Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah
Strategically, the stadium is slated to host one of the semi-final matches of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host alongside Spain and Portugal. It is also billed to feature prominently during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with plans to stage several high-profile matches.
Infantino’s visit underscores FIFA’s recognition of Morocco’s football infrastructure transformation, with the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium serving as a flagship example of the country’s modernisation drive in sports development.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
South Africa face belated World Cup disciplinary action for fielding suspended player
CAF Security Chief, Nigeria’s Emeruwa, Leads Inspection of Tangier Stadium Ahead of Major Tournaments
Nigeria Reaffirms Commitment as Commonwealth Bid Team Visits Abuja
Breaking! Uzoho suspended from Super Eagles’ next match with Sierra Leone
No longer Super League as CAF changes name of its new clubs competition
AIU releases its report on Tobi Amusan
-
World Cup1 week agoBREAKING! Bafana Bafana Escape Point Deduction Over Ineligible player
-
World Cup1 week agoRoad Not Yet Closed: Nigeria’s Possible route to the World Cup
-
World Cup6 days agoAnd Now, South Africans Join Calls for FIFA Ruling on Mokoena Eligibility Saga
-
Athletics2 days agoNigeria’s Lost Talents: Diaspora Athletes Shine for Other Nations at Tokyo 2025
-
World Cup1 week agoGernot Rohr’s Benin Deepen Nigeria’s World Cup Misery
-
AFCON6 days agoCAF marks 100 days to kick-off of the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025
-
World Cup4 hours agoBREAKING! FIFA Charges South Africa Over Ineligible Player – Boost for Nigeria’s World Cup Hopes
-
AFCON6 days agoMorocco Ushers in 100-Day Countdown to AFCON 2025