Governing Bodies
Parade of 10 teams at Qatar 2022, African Playoffs Draw
The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, African Qualifiers Third Round draw will be conducted on Saturday, 22 January 2022 in Douala, Cameroon.
The draw will start at 16:00 local time (15:00 GMT, 17:00 CAT), and will be live on CAF platforms.
The 10 qualified teams will be divided into two levels based on the official FIFA ranking, published in 19 November 2021 as follows:
Level 1: Senegal, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Nigeria
Level 2: Egypt, Cameroon, Ghana, Mali and DR Congo
The five highest ranked teams will play against the five least ranked teams (the first leg will be played at home of the lower ranked teams).
Following are the teams World Cup fact sheet, in alphabetic order (in English):
Algeria
Algeria played in FIFA World Cup finals four times (1982, 1986, 2010 and 2014). Their best feat was Round of 16 in Brazil 2014.
In total, Algeria played 13 matches, where they won 3, drew 3 and lost 7. They scored 13 goals and conceded 19 in the process.
Cameroon
Cameroon was the first African team to reach World Cup quarterfinals in Italy 1990. They appeared in seven editions, African record (1982, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2010 and 2014)
In total, Cameroon played 23 matches, where they won 4, drew 7 and lost 12. They scored 18 goals and conceded 43 in the process.
DR Congo
DR Congo only World Cup appearance was in West Germany in 1974.
DR Congo (Zaire) played 3 World Cup matches; losing them all, scoring none and conceding 14 goals.
Egypt
Egypt was the first African country to reach the FIFA world Cup, in Italy 1934. They appeared in three World Cups (1934, 1990 and 2018).
In total, Egypt played 7 World Cup matches; winning none, drawing twice and losing 5. They scored 5 goals and conceded 12 in the process.
Ghana
Ghana is one of three African teams to play a World Cup quarterfinal, in South Africa 2010. They appeared in the World Cup three times (2006, 2010, 2014)
In total, Ghana played 12 World Cup matches; winning 4, drawing 3 and losing 5. The Black Stars scored 13 goals and conceded 16 in the process.
Mali
Mali is the only team in the playoffs that has never played in World Cup finals before.
Morocco
Morocco was the first African team to go past the group stage when they reached the Round of 16 in 1986. They appeared in World Cup five times (1970, 1986, 1994, 1998 and 2018)
In total, Morocco played 16 matches, where they won 2, drew 5 and lost 9. They scored 14 goals and conceded 22 in the process.
Nigeria
Nigeria reached the Round of 16 three times, in USA 1994, France 1998 and Brazil 2014. They played in six World Cup editions (1994, 1998, 2002, 2010, 2014 and 2018)
In total, Nigeria played 21 matches, where they won 6, drew 3 and lost 12. They scored 23 goals and conceded 30 in the process.
Senegal
Senegal are one of the three African teams to reach the World Cup quarterfinals, in Japan / South Koea 2002. They played in the World Cup twice (2002 and 2018)
In total, Senegal played 8 World Cup matches; winning 3, drawing 3 and losing 2. The Teranga Lions scored 11 goals and conceded 10 in the process.
Tunisia
Tunisia appeared in the World Cup five times (1978, 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2018)
In total, Tunisia played 15 matches, where they won 2, drew 4 and lost 9. They scored 13 goals and conceded 25 in the process.
FIFA’s independent Ethics Committee has banned former Guyana Football Federation (GFF) General Secretary Ian Alves from all football-related activities for five years after finding he sexually harassed female staff members.
FIFA also fined Alves 20,000 Swiss francs ($22,000) after determining that he had breached provisions of the FIFA Code of Ethics relating to the protection of physical and mental integrity, abuse of position and general duties.
“FIFA has a strict stance against all forms of abuse in football,” the organisation said on Monday.
The decision followed a review of written statements from the victims, documents provided by the GFF, submissions from Alves, and other evidence gathered during the investigation.
Alves stepped down from his position in 2024.
The ban came into force on Monday, when the terms of the decision were notified to Alves, and the full grounds for the ruling will be communicated within 60 days in accordance with the Code of Ethics, FIFA added.
The GFF did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Alves could not immediately be reached for comment.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Thursday that he planned to seek re-election for a fourth term in a bid to continue to lead the governing body of world soccer.
Infantino confirmed he would run for the 2027–2031 term in the closing moments of the FIFA Congress in Vancouver, which comes less than two months before the start of the World Cup.
The election will be held on March 18 in Morocco, which is set to co-host the 2030 World Cup.
Infantino said he was “honoured and humbled” to have the chance to run for a fourth term.
The Italian-Swiss took office in 2016, replacing Sepp Blatter, and was re-elected unopposed in 2019 and 2023.
Infantino has pushed for the expansion of FIFA competitions during his tenure, with this year’s World Cup in North America the first to feature 48 teams, while the women’s tournament in 2023 has been expanded to 32 teams.
Infantino’s tenure has also drawn some criticism over issues such as high World Cup ticket prices and the decision to award the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize to U.S. President Donald Trump at the World Cup draw in December.
Earlier this month, the council of South American football’s governing body (CONMEBOL) said in a statement it would unanimously support the 56-year-old if he decided to seek another term.
-Reuters
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The supporters of Vancouver Whitecaps, a professional football (soccer) club in Canada, have staged a protest outside the FIFA Congress on Thursday, voicing fears that the Major League Soccer club could be relocated as uncertainty deepens over its ownership and long-term future.
The club is one of Canada’s most historic football institutions and has long been a central part of Vancouver’s sporting identity.
Around 100 fans gathered as delegates arrived for the annual FIFA meeting in Vancouver, chanting, singing and waving club flags in a show of solidarity. The demonstration comes just days after Vancouver Whitecaps FC revealed difficulties in securing a buyer willing to keep the club in the city.
The Whitecaps disclosed earlier this week that “stadium economics, venue access and revenue limitations” have complicated efforts to sell the club, despite a 16-month search for new ownership.
Season ticket holder Derek Hawksworth said supporters felt compelled to act amid growing fears of relocation.
“I wanted to come down given the threat of the team possibly moving,” he said. “It’s a rich history with the Whitecaps in North America… we want Vancouver to stay and not relocate. The history is here, and we want to continue with that history moving forward.”
The Vancouver Whitecaps are a professional football (soccer) club based in Vancouver, Canada. They currently compete in Major League Soccer (MLS), the top-tier league in the United States and Canada.
Concerns were heightened by reports that cities such as Las Vegas and Phoenix are leading contenders should the club relocate.
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim has urged intervention, calling on the provincial government — which owns BC Place — to negotiate a “bridge deal” that would allow the team to remain while plans for a new stadium are explored. The club’s current lease at BC Place expires at the end of the year.
Despite the off-field uncertainty, the Whitecaps have been one of the standout teams this MLS season. They currently sit second in the Western Conference with 24 points from nine matches, just three points behind the San Jose Earthquakes.
For supporters, however, performances on the pitch offer little comfort as the future of their club hangs in the balance — a situation they hope global football leaders gathering in Vancouver will not ignore.
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