Ex-Ghana international Tony Baffoe supports FIFA president Sepp Blatter's proposed review of World Cup slots.
The FIFA president has called for review of the current format where European and South American confederations are afforded more spots in the 32-team tournament.
The ex-Ghana defender, who currently works as FIFA match coordinator has welcomed the suggestion from the boss of the world governing body.
ââ¬ÅI second the fact that more African countries should be participating in the world Cup and of course if you talk about Africa you canââ¬â¢t leave out Asiaâ⬠Baffoe told Radio XYZ
ââ¬ÅI believe that on the African continent we have 53 countries just like Europe but they have thirteen (13) representatives and we have only five (5).
ââ¬ÅWe (Africa) used to have only one representative back in the days until 2010 when South Africa hosted and gave Africa the chance to have six slots.
ââ¬ÅI always had the impression that Africa is doing well with the national teamsâ⬠ââ¬ÅOn two straight occasions Ghana have progressed from the Group stages and nearly made it to the Semi finals in 2010.
ââ¬ÅIf you look at the magnitude of the players from Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Nigeria and Ghana it brings a lot of hope.
ââ¬ÅCameroon were the trail blazers in the 1994 competition in USA, Senegal achieved a similar feat in 2002 in Korea- Japan and then Ghana recently so I think that we have grown as a continent and we deserve more slotsââ¬
ââ¬ÅI think that we need to do better at next yearââ¬â¢s World Cup in Brazil. If we have two or three countries progressing further in the tournament that will help us to advocate for more slots at the World cupââ¬
ââ¬ÅThe president of the professional footballer Association of Ghana also expressed delight at the proposal and concluded ââ¬ÅI am very happy that Sepp Blatter the President of FIFA and Michel Platini the boss of UEFA has raised this issue at this time"
"Brazil is obviously impossible at this time but i feel that at the next congress meeting a decision will be made and we stand to gain in Russia in 2018"
ââ¬ÅIt tells us that we need to do more and get the needed recognitionââ¬.
UEFA boss Michel Platini as well asà UAE Football Association chief Yousef Alserkal have given their full backing to the idea of an expanded World Cup finals.
African currently has five slots