Former Nigerian international, John Utaka, has responded to Italy manager Gennaro Gattuso’s comments regarding Africa’s allocation of World Cup slots, urging the coach to concentrate on guiding the Azzurri rather than disputing the nine places allotted to the continent for the 2026 tournament.
Gattuso had suggested in a post-match press conference following Italy’s loss to Norway that African nations should have fewer World Cup berths, implying that teams like Italy “deserve” automatic qualification over African sides.
Reacting to this, Utaka told Brila FM that Gattuso has no grounds to question the number of slots given to African teams.
“FIFA is the governing body that decides which country and what country should be at the World Cup. If everyone is complaining then it must be equal.
“If you are giving Europe five then you give others five in general so we make it even. Why will Europe get more than the rest and he is still complaining? It does not add up. Call a spade a spade.
“If there are sixteen teams and you cannot qualify then that is your problem. It is his own perception of how he sees things. I feel he is saying this maybe from frustration, I understand from that angle but saying this and that I disagree.
“I like him, no hard feelings as a player and coach, but I am stating facts and it is all about that.”
