‘Scratch our back, we’ll scratch yours’

– The head of African football, Ahmad Ahmad (right), has urged Europe to back Morocco’s drive to host the 2026 World Cup, in return for African support for a future European bid.

In an exclusive interview with AFP, Ahmad Ahmad, the Confederation of African Football president, appealed to European nations, saying: “Vote for us and we’ll vote for you next time.”

Morocco is a two-horse race against a rival united bid from the US, Canada, and Mexico. The decisive vote will take place at the Fifa Congress in Moscow on June 13, one day ahead of the start of the 2018 World Cup.

In a wide-ranging discussion, Ahmad, who replaced long-serving Issa Hayatou as head of Caf in March 2017, spoke of the impor- tance of Africa’s bid to host the World Cup for only the second time, as well as significant changes that will shake up next year’s Africa Cup of Nations.

He said Africa and Caf stood solidly behind Morocco’s bid to organise the 2026 World Cup, which will come 16 years after South Africa staged the tournament.

“Being in Africa while this is happening, I think that Africans, whether francophone or anglophone countries ... it’s in the continent’s interest,” he said.

“The World Cup has a huge impact here because it inspires hope for many young Africans.”

Ahmad said he was working to win backing from European nations for Morocco’s candidacy, saying that any support would be reciprocal. – AFP