2-IN-1 STORY: 2026 World Cup: African Nations Want 10 Places At Expanded Competition; FIFA Boss To Attend Controversial Party For Zimbabwe FA Head

Nigeria (pictured) and Algeria were the best performing African sides at the 2014 World Cup, reaching the last 16

Africa will be looking to double the number of places it has at an expanded World Cup from 2026.

BBC Africa Sport report continues:

The continent's football association presidents have told football's world governing body FIFA they want at least 10 spots in the 48-team World Cup.

"All associations back the idea to expand the World Cup and there is hope that Africa can have 10 places," said South African FA chief Danny Jordaan.

That would be double the five places Africa has at the 2018 and 2022 events.

Europe is seeking a minimum of 16 places, up from 13, and wants its sides to be separated in the opening group stage. The first phase will see 16 groups of three teams, with the top two advancing to a 32-team knockout phase under plans approved by Fifa last month.

Asia are expected to get eight to nine places, compared to 4.5 now, and South America, which has 10 member countries, a total of six, also up from 4.5.

The CONCACAF region, made up of the Caribbean, Central and North American countries, would get 6.5 places, compared to 3.5, with Oceania, the small Pacific Islands confederation, having one automatic place at the finals instead of 0.5.

Inter-continental playoffs between countries with half a place would determine the additional spots at the finals.

The final allocation of places must be passed by the FIFA Council.

The subject of the expanded World Cup featured prominently at a three-day summit between FIFA chief Gianni Infantino and more than 50 presidents of the African FAs.

The talks were behind closed doors but FIFA officials said Infantino had outlined plans for an expanded World Cup and new development assistance for member countries.

It is the first time a summit of this type has been held, giving Africa's FA representatives informal contact with the FIFA leadership, including the world governing body's recently appointed general secretary Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura.

"It has been a very good idea and a chance for the associations to also speak directly to the FIFA leadership about their issues and concerns," said Ahmad, the president of the Madagascar Football Federation.

Ahmad, who uses just one name, is running for the presidency of the Confederation of African Football against long-standing incumbent Issa Hayatou of Cameroon next month.

The summit comes three weeks before the CAF elections in Addis Ababa on March 16 and the FIFA event in Johannesburg has been dominated by intense lobbying, delegates said.

"Most of the business at this summit is actually outside of the conference room, in the corridors and the hotel lobby as different candidates try to persuade associations to vote for them," said one African FA chief, who asked not to be named.

FIFA Boss To Attend Controversial Party For Zimbabwe FA Head

Mr Infantino's visit has caused controversy. AFP

FIFA president Gianni Infantino arrives in Zimbabwe today, to attend a controversial gathering arranged by the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) president Phillip Chiyangwa. 

Mr Chiyanga insists it is a celebration to mark his 58th birthday as well as his ascendancy to the presidency of the regional confederation, COSAFA.

But the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) took a different view, claiming the meeting might be an attempt to destabilize CAF by gathering a host of continental football figures, and Mr Infantino, outside the usual forums.

COSAFA and Mr Chiyanga have thrown their weight behind the challenger to long-serving CAF president Issa Hayatou.

He is the head of Madagascar's FA, Ahmad Ahmad - and he will be a guest in Harare this evening, along with 23 other football federation heads and FIFA secretary-general Fatma Samoura.

Mr Hayatou is not a guest - but the head of the organizing committee for the festivities, Chamu Chiwanza, told reporters there was no reason to read anything into that:

When you do your birthday party, invitations are sent at your own discretion. We asked Dr Philip Chiyangwa to come up with a guest list of the people that he thinks he's close to. I'm not saying he's not close to the CAF president but maybe he spoke to him and he's busy this weekend - and there was no need for him to invite him and apparently the FIFA president happened to be free on that particular day.

There's nothing sinister as far as I'm concerned. It's a private function. You are allowed to omit some people you don't want to be celebrating with you. If you're not friends with them why would you just invite them because they have a position?"