Football pitches and stadium infrastructure in Africa must be improved for a team from the continent to win the FIFA World Cup, according to Democratic Republic of Congo coach Sebastien Desabre. His remarks come in the wake of Ghana being banned from hosting international matches by the Confederation of African Football (Caf).
While Desabre acknowledges that the level of play is rising, he stresses that the facilities supporting the game are lagging behind. “Some pitches and structures are not at the level of the objectives set by Caf or the federations,” Desabre explained, adding that this lack of infrastructure makes it more difficult for African teams to achieve success.
Several African nations, including Benin, Kenya, and Madagascar, had to hold their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers at neutral venues this month after failing to meet Caf’s stadium standards. Ghana may face a similar situation next month due to issues with the pitch quality at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi. If alternative venues in Accra are not approved, Ghana will have to host their match against Sudan outside the country.
Although Morocco became the first African side to reach the World Cup semi-finals in 2022, Desabre believes further infrastructural improvements are needed for an African team to win the tournament. “The professional game is improving, and I know an African team will eventually win the World Cup. But we must continue to build better stadiums and training pitches to support coaches and players,” he said.
Desabre is attending a Caf symposium in Ivory Coast with other national coaches to reflect on this year’s Nations Cup and discuss future tournament improvements. He views the gathering as a valuable opportunity to exchange knowledge and experiences with colleagues from the 2023 Afcon finals.
Desabre’s DR Congo team has had a strong start to the 2025 Afcon qualifiers, winning their first two matches in Group H against Ethiopia and Guinea. While pleased with the results, he remains cautious. “We need to stay focused, as there are six games, and we’re not yet qualified,” he said.
Looking ahead, Desabre expressed a preference for Afcon tournaments to follow qualification more closely, but acknowledged the need to adapt to the schedule. The finals in Morocco will take place from 21 December 2024 to 18 January 2026, with qualification concluding in November 2025. Desabre emphasized the importance of maintaining focus, whether in qualifiers, friendlies, or World Cup matches.
