Zambia's Sports Minister, Elvis Nkandu, expressed optimism about Zambia's prospects of qualifying for its first FIFA World Cup, following the announcement of an expanded number of slots for African countries in the 2026 edition of the tournament. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) recently revealed that FIFA's revised World Cup format would grant nine berths to African teams, a significant increase from the previous allocation of five slots. Nkandu believes that this expansion has significantly improved the continent's chances of clinching the prestigious title in international football. Speaking in an interview with ZNBC Sports in Lusaka, Nkandu applauded FIFA for acknowledging Africa's desire to have a greater representation and increased competitiveness in the World Cup. He emphasized that the enlarged allocation of berths offers African nations a fairer opportunity to compete for top honors on the global stage. Under the new format outlined by CAF, all 54 Member Associations will be divided into nine groups, each consisting of six teams. The group winners will secure direct qualification to the FIFA World Cup. Additionally, the four best runners-up from each group will participate in a CAF play-off tournament, where the ultimate victor will proceed to compete against teams from other continents for a final qualification spot in the tournament. The move to increase Africa's representation in the World Cup not only offers more opportunities for African nations to participate but also enhances the overall quality and diversity of the tournament. For Zambia, this expanded opportunity comes as a source of renewed hope and motivation. The country has been striving to make its mark on the international football scene, and the increased number of slots significantly boosts its chances of qualifying for its inaugural FIFA World Cup appearance.