African Football Expert Roots For Qatar 2022 World Cup Bid

Africa football expert Foussena Leila Djagba has embarked on a campaign to root for support for Qatar’s bid to host the 2022 World Cup.

The Middle East country is among the nations bidding to host the world’s biggest football event.

The Qatar 2012 bid has received a solid backing from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after reaching an agreement that saw them sponsor the 32nd Ordinary General Assembly of CAF held in Luanda, Angola last January.

Ms. Djagba speaking to the media at the launch of the campaign said that support for Qatar is in the right direction and is therefore calling on all Africans to throw their weight behind the bid that will see the World Cup being played in the Middle East for the first time since its inception in 1930.

“Africa has to back Qatar because we come from a similar position as the Middle East country. This region has contributed so much to world football and it is only right for the global tournament to be staged there for the first time like South Africa this year.

“My call for support is based on the fact I have been to Qatar and they have the excellent world-class facilities that can host the rest of the world. They also have experience in hosting international sporting events and are in a better position to host the Mundial. Qatar hosted the Asian Games in 2006 and is due to host the Asian Cup in 2011.”

MS. Djagba added that with no African candidature for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, it leaves Africans with no option than to support the Qatar bid.

Eleven candidates have now formally registered their intention to host the tournament when FIFA observes the bidding countries for 2018 and 2022.

Qatar and South Korea have applied only for the 2022 World Cup finals.

The other nine candidates are bidding to host the 2022 and 2018 tournaments are Japan, Mexico, United States, England, Russia with Spain & Portugal, and Belgium & the Netherlands as joint-bidders.

FIFA will announce the host countries for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in December.

By: Kofi Addae