Africa-Press – Uganda. Former Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba admits regretting the chance to play at the Fifa Club World Cup.
Back in 2012, Drogba struck the winning penalty for English side Chelsea to defeat Bayern Munich in the Uefa Champions League final.
He however made a move to Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua the following season and thereby missed playing in the Club World Cup.
With Fifa expanding the tournament from just continental champions to now 32 teams, Drogba believes this is a priceless opportunity for African players.
“It’s a great opportunity, for players coming from a continent like Africa, for example, where they don’t really see those teams on the biggest stage,” Drogba, now 47, told Fifa in an interview.
In the past, Africa had one slot which went to the Caf Champions League winner of that year. And now, the continent will be represented by four teams at the 2025 edition in the USA next month: Egypt’s Al Ahly, Wydad Casablanca from Morocco, Tunisian side Esperance de Tunis and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns which has Ugandan Denis Onyango.
“It gives more chances to players who cannot perform (in) and win the World Cup with their national teams to be able to become world champions with their club,” Drogba added.
Of course, that’s notwithstanding the fact that Morocco became the first African country to reach closest to the Fifa World Cup final in Qatar three years ago.
At the Club World Cup in the USA, four-time Africa champions Esperance, placed in Group D, face Major League Soccer (MLS) side Los Angeles FC who beat Mexico’s Club América 2-1 in a play-off at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
LA FC reached this play-off as the runners-up in the 2023 Concacaf Champions League while Club América was the top-ranked team in the Fifa Club World Cup confederation ranking at the conclusion of the Concacaf Champions Cup staged in 2024.
FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP
Africa’s Representatives: Al Ahly (EGY), Wydad Casablanca (MAR), Esperance de Tunis (TUN), Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA)
PLAY-OFF MATCH
Result
Los Angeles FC (USA) 2-1 Club América (MEX)
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