African national teams’ results are cited as evidence that the continent’s World Cup qualifying allocations have been increased, even as some critics continue to question the change. Multiple outlets report that debate centers on the number of automatic qualification places available to Africa under an expanded World Cup format. According to the reports, Africa’s allocated slots rise from five to nine as the tournament expands to 48 teams. The coverage says African teams have performed strongly in ways supporters argue justify the additional berths, pointing to on-field outcomes during the qualification process. At the same time, critics argue Africa should receive fewer automatic slots, maintaining that the allocation should be more limited despite the expanded field. Overall, the articles frame the dispute as a balance between performance-based arguments for more participation and concerns about fairness and competitive value. The reports do not present a single definitive measurement or ruling, but they agree that the increased allocations have prompted public criticism and that African performances are being used to respond to those concerns.