FIFA's concern over Africa's ineligible players

FIFA director of competitions Mustapha Fahmy says Africa's problem with ineligible players must be addressed after the world body opened nine cases during the continent's World Cup qualifiers and punished seven countries by forcing them to forfeit games.

An eighth African country is currently under investigation.

Fahmy, who is Egyptian, says in an interview on the Confederation of African Football website that the problem appears to be an African one as it "only happened with one continent."

Burkina Faso, Sudan, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Togo and Cape Verde all forfeited games, with Cape Verde losing its place in the World Cup playoffs for fielding a player while he was suspended.

Liberia is the latest to be investigated and Fahmy says FIFA has noted the cases "with concern."