excuse my ignorance but why? Instability? Lack of facilities? Weather? All of the above?
or is that just how it is in African WC quals?
Maybe off topic, but it is a very interesting the chance to watch more African countries at the World Cup. Africa has many cultures and it would be fantastic to meet some them in the stadiums in 2026. I don’t know who the strongest are (apart from those who have already been to the 2022 World Cup), but I’m waiting to buy a ticket for a game of Ethiopia, Angola or maybe South Africa.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_(CAF)#Groups
This page will give you a simple overview of the ranking of African teams. “Pot 1” teams are most likely to qualify for the World Cup, while “Pot 2” has several teams that have a good chance to overtake the Pot 1 teams. The rest of the teams aren’t expected to have much of a chance to qualify.
Obvious reasons in both cases, but in terms of football, it is a big blow for Burkina Faso and Guinea in particular. These are usually quite strong teams who have a bigger chance to qualify with it being 9 teams rather than 5. An away trip to Conakry or Ouagadougou is a tough task for any team on the continent. Won’t be nearly as difficult on a neutral pitch.