FIFA President Gianni Infantino has singled out one African team for praise after their performances at the FIFA Club World Cup.
All four African teams failed to make it past the group stages at the newly-revamped tournament in the United States.
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Infantino gave some special praise to the Tunisian champions despite their early exit in the competition.
“The objective of the FIFA Club World Cup is to give a platform to teams like Espérance—big on the African continent but who haven’t yet had the global spotlight,” Infantino explained, as per Africa Soccer.
“We want to help them shine, help their players shine, and truly compete with Europe’s elite.
“They played well and were in the race until their last game. They failed sportingly only in the result, not in spirit.
“The fans were exceptional. They took over Philadelphia, they were in New York, and they celebrated with joy and colour.
“For many Americans, this was a discovery—not just of a football club, but of a culture and a passion.
“It was a success for Espérance, for Tunisia, and African football,” he declared. “They’ve written an important part of football’s story.”
Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images
