In response to comments made by UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin regarding the reformed FIFA World Cup, Safa has joined forces with 12 other nations to express their discontent. Ceferin has criticized this year’s format, which includes participation from 48 countries, labeling the global tournament as “boring.”
A joint statement issued by the football associations of Cape Verde, Curaçao, Uzbekistan, Congo, Haiti, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Ghana, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, and South Africa articulated their profound disappointment at Ceferin’s remarks. They emphasized that every World Cup match holds significance for their nations.
“For Cape Verde, Curaçao and Uzbekistan, qualification for the FIFA World Cup represents a historic achievement and the realisation of a dream shared by generations,” the statement read. It further highlighted that for countries like Congo and Haiti, returning to the World Cup stage carries monumental importance for millions of fans who have anticipated this moment for years, if not decades.
The statement concluded by asserting that any suggestion of less importance attributed to certain matches is deeply disappointing, as it overlooks the dedication and aspirations of players, coaches, clubs, football leaders, and supporters worldwide.