Ghana football legend Mohammed Polo has thrown his support behind FIFA’s decision to expand the World Cup to 48 teams, arguing that the move finally addresses long-standing concerns over Africa’s limited representation on the global stage.
The 1978 Africa Cup of Nations winner believes the new structure will significantly increase opportunities for African nations and better reflect the continent’s rising influence in world football.
Speaking to Citi Sports, Polo welcomed the development as a positive turning point.
“I think it’s good because if you look at the opportunities that have been given to Africa, I think it’s a blessing,” he said.
The expansion, first introduced as part of FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s 2016 election campaign, was approved in 2017 and will come into effect at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Polo argued that the previous 32-team format limited Africa’s presence despite the depth of talent on the continent, insisting that earlier generations were strong enough to compete at the highest level.
“Africans were marginalised,” he suggested.
“If you look at the teams that we played with, think about those days; these teams cannot stand us,” he added.
He further stressed that the expanded tournament will provide a bigger platform for young African players to showcase their talent on football’s biggest stage.
Meanwhile, Ghana, making their fifth appearance at the global showpiece, have been drawn in Group L alongside Panama, England and Croatia.
