FIFPRO Africa General Secretary, Kgosana Masaseng, has attributed the disappointing performance of African clubs at the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup to fixture congestion.
Top clubs including Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), Al Ahly (Egypt), Wydad Athletic Club (Morocco), and Esperance de Tunis (Tunisia) all failed to progress beyond the group stage of the tournament.
These clubs entered the global competition shortly after concluding intense domestic campaigns and CAF Champions League commitments, leaving minimal time for recovery and preparation.
Of the quartet, only Sundowns and Esperance managed to secure a single win in the group stage. Wydad lost all their games, while Al Ahly could only muster two draws.
Masaseng believes the demanding schedule left players drained.
“These teams had just finished their local league seasons and were also involved in continental competitions,” he told The Guardian. “Many players were also on national duty. The calendar has been relentless — no break, and straight into another tournament.”
The Botswana-born football official also highlighted broader issues affecting African football, particularly the lack of adequate infrastructure.
“Our leagues are generally underdeveloped, and infrastructure is lacking,” Masaseng said. “What I’d love to see is capacity building. It starts with reviewing our legal frameworks and ensuring they align with best practices. Once that’s done, we can work on professionalising our leagues.”
He added that although there are isolated instances of progress across the continent, a lack of coordination continues to hinder long-term growth.
“There are pockets of improvement, but without a unified approach, it’s hard to package and market the game effectively,” he concluded.