2014 World Cup Places In Hands Of Fifa

Thursday, 3rd March 2011 at 11:23am

The allocation of qualifying berths for the 2014 Brazil World Cup is being decided by football's governing body Fifa at a meeting at headquarters in Zurich.

The African federation is likely to be the hardest hit after receiving six places for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

The African allocation is expected to be reduced to five at the most and there is a high possibility of it falling to just four on the back of poor performances by Nigeria, Cameroon, Algeria, the Ivory Coast and hosts South Africa.

Only Ghana qualified for the knock out phase and the Black Stars were cruelly denied a semi final spot against the Netherlands after a deliberate handball on the line by Uruguay's Luis Suarez saved a certain goal.

Potential Fifa presidency candidate Mohammad Bin Hammam has been lobbying hard for the Asian quota to be increased from its current four places plus a playoff against the top team in Oceania.

The North and Central American and Carribean region (Concacaf) is also pressing hard for an increased allocation while it is expected that South America will receive an additional slot because of Brazil qualifying as host nation.

The announcement is set to be made at a press conference later today.

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