Ivory Coast head coach Patrice Beaumelle feels FIFA are shamefully killing African football with the current allocation of five spots at the World Cup.
With 54 countries, Africa represents the biggest continent but receives the least spots for the global showpiece with the qualification process amongst the most rigorous in world football.
Aside from travelling and logistical nightmares, the three-round system towards the play-offs leaves behind some of the best talents that the continent has to offer and the Elephants boss says it’s crippling development.
“For me, it is an injustice towards Africa. It kills me because we are going to leave champions at home, players who make UEFA happy in the European championships,” Beaumelle said after they were knocked out by Cameroon.
“Each time we deprive three to four major nations of a World Cup and that hurts me. I do not denigrate the other continents, I think that we are killing African football.
“It is not normal that in each pool of the World Cup, that we do not have at least one African team. Just five countries for Africa, it’s shameful.”
The two-time African champions were eliminated from the World Cup qualifiers after the 1-0 defeat to Cameroon on Tuesday evening.
