Cairo, Egypt (PANA) - FIFA President Sepp Blatter Wednesday called for Africa to be given more spots in future World Cup finals, noting that the maiden World Cup in Africa in 2010 has already raked in more money than the 2006 edition kicking off in Germany in June.

Africa will be represented by five countries at the Germany 2006 World Cup finals, the same as in the 2002 edition in Japan/Korea.

Blatter told the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Congress in the Egyptian capital he had already made good his promise to bring the World Cup finals to Africa, in a reference to the 2010 hosting rights won by South Africa.

"Those with a bigger representation will automatically have a better chance," he said. "What must be done? You've to fight on the pitch and I can assure you that we'll continue to fight for a better African representation."

If South Africa's slot as host counts as one of Africa's five places in 2010, the continent would have lost one slot.

Soccer analysts say Blatter favour's a sixth World Cup slot for Africa from 2010.

"In 1998, when I was on the way to the FIFA presidency I had... a project in mind to bring the World Cup to Africa. That has now been done," the Swiss soccer administrator said, dismissing predictions by sceptics that staging the World Cup in Africa would mean less money than in previous tournaments.

"The 2010 World Cup, with most of the contracts that we have reached with television and sponsors, will bring in more money than that of 2006," Blatter revealed, stressing: "The market has not been mistaken, it's the prophets who have made a mistake."

He said that more money would be available for football development programmes, including an initiative to enable young talented African players to ply their trade on their own continent, instead of emigrating to Europe.

"Obviously, you'll still need a few stars elsewhere in the world, but not the hundreds and thousands who play in the second or third divisions in other countries," the FIFA President promised Africa, where the Goal Project he initiated is having a major impact on the development of the sport.

In his address, CAF President Issa Hayatou, called on Europe to crackdown on racism in football, and on European clubs to allow African players to play for their countries.

The CAF Congress comes ahead of Friday's opening of the African Cup of Nations (CAN) in Cairo, which like previous editions of the continental tournament, has been overshadowed by disputes over the release of African players by European clubs.

"I would like to address the clubs who, using pressure, find a way of holding on to our players who have been called up by their national sides," Hayatou said. "It is a worry for all of us. We have abided by the international calendar established by FIFA and football in our countries has a significant social role. It is the best basis for national unity, which can at times be a fragile thing."

About a third of the players at the 2006 Nations Cup are drawn from clubs in 19 European countries.

Soccer experts have called on world and continental administrators of the sport to resolve the perennial club-versus-country row.

There is also a growing call for more stringent sanctions against European clubs guilty of racism in football.

Hayatou solicited the assistance of Blatter and European soccer governing body, UEFA boss, Lennart Johansson, saying: "Help us.
Make sure that those responsible for racist acts are unmasked and condemned."