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World Cup Debate: No Cameroon, No Egypt, No Nigeria! Who Will Be Africa’s Hope At The 2010 World Cup?
Who will carry the African promise when the top teams from around the world finally assemble in June next year to showcase the very best of the globe's most adored sport?
24-Jun-2009 7:30:00 PM
With many of Africa's traditional big guns struggling to reach the World Cup finals, who can the continent rally behind in next year's competition, which will, of course, take place in South Africa?
Senegal, who did Africa proud in the 2002 World Cup by defeating defending champions France, are already out of the 2010 world football extravaganza, which will be held for the first time on the African continent.
After only two matches of the 2010 qualifiers, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, another success story in African football - the first team from the continent to reach the quarter-finals during the 1990 competition - look certain to be unable to recover in time to make it to 2010. This is also the case with defending African champions, the Pharaohs of Egypt.
The two teams will play decisive matches next month after their encounters last weekend were postponed because Egypt were participating in the Confederation Cup in South Africa, while Gabon’s president died, forcing the cancellation of Cameroon’s fixture in the country. As things stand now, both Cameroon and Egypt are languishing in the bottom positions of their groups with one point each.
Nigeria, who have in the past carried the aspirations and optimism of the continent on the international stage, boasting the kind of flair that one would expect from a South American outfit, are struggling badly on the world stage at present, despite a recent victory over France.
In the words of Tunisian coach Humberto Coelho, whose team registered a barren draw with the Super Eagles on Saturday; the once revered Nigerians are currently playing something akin to “dirty and defensive tactics”.
In an interview with FIFA.com after the match, Coelho said, “I thought Nigeria would have attacked more, but they have finally decided to sit back and wait for us. We have been surprised. I have no regrets, at least we haven’t lost.”
If one considers the fact that the Harambee Stars of Kenya were disappointed after losing 3-0 against the Super Eagles a fortnight ago in Abuja, one realises how the Nigerian national team has degenerated.
It is foolhardy to suggest that some of the ‘small’ teams who may snatch the top spots in the five groups will not deserve it. As has been seen in the first three qualifying matches, the teams that have recorded victories have done so through hard work and self-belief.
And if they eventually qualify to represent the continent in South Africa, it will be deserved. But one cannot yet discount the three giants as. Statistics do not lie.
The Indomitable Lions are bottom in Group A with only one point from two matches. They were beaten by Togo in the opening match and drew with Morocco in the second game. The group leaders, Gabon, have six points. For Cameroon to snatch the only qualifying spot in the group they must win all the remaining four matches. If they were to do this, they would be mathematically assured of a place at the finals.
It is not impossible for Cameroon to have such a performance. They have world class players capable of winning against any team on the continent - if only this kind of statement could easily be translated into action on the pitch. The Indomitable Lions still have their fate in their hands. A draw anywhere along the line could mean the end of the road for them.
Can they resurrect the truly ‘indomitable’ squad of their famous team in the 90s, which was glued around Roger Milla? They unconvincingly reached the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations finals. Since then they have been winning a match here, drawing another there and losing in the same stride. Unfortunately, they don’t look like reversing this frustrating trend.
What of Egypt, who wowed the footballing world during the ongoing Confederation Cup? The Pharaohs held their own against a classy Brazil only to loss in the last minute in their opening match of the ongoing competition. In the second match they wrote history by being the first African country to beat the current World Cup holders, Italy, before they fell in the last match against the USA.
Despite putting on a high octane display in South Africa, the defending African Cup of Nations champions have been lacklustre in their 2010 World Cup campaign. They have only one point from two matches. They are bottom in their group behind Rwanda, Zambia and the group leaders Algeria, who are on seven points.
But unlike Cameroon, Egypt have a greater chance of qualifying, although it is dependant on the kind of result their main nemesis Algeria gain against Zambia in the next match in September. If Egypt can get maximum points against Rwanda in the next two matches at home and away, then they will stand a better chance of going the whole stretch.
Similarly, it is not yet over for the Super Eagles. They are second in Group B with five points, behind Tunisia who have seven points. Nigeria can do their chances a great favour if they can get maximum points against Tunisia in their next match.
But back to the initial worry. If the recent matches by the continental cream of the crop are anything to go by, the chances are that Africa will not be represented by the usual faces in 2010. But any team that has reached this final qualifying stage and then goes the whole hog to take the single spot in each group is ably prepared to represent the continent and therefore there is no point running scared if the supposedly ‘better’ teams are unable to jump the remaining hurdles.
But come to think of it, this is going to be the first World Cup in Africa and at this particular time, it looks like the dreams of the continent will be carried by South Africa as the hosts, with the likes of Gabon, Algeria, Burkina Faso and even Kenya still within shouting distance of a qualifying spot.
Besides all the other benefits that the competition will bring to South Africa and Africa in general, this will be the best chance that the continent has ever had to win the trophy, with home advantage frequently proving to be an important factor. No European side has ever won the trophy outside of Europe. It has only been South American teams that have won the tournament outside their continent.
If there is an opportunity for an African team to win the World Cup trophy, then the South African event is ours to lose. But over the years, it is only special teams with a great deal of experience that have won the highly competitive prize. The question is, are there any such teams in the African countries currently in the running for a World Cup place?
James Momanyi, Goal.com
Senegal, who did Africa proud in the 2002 World Cup by defeating defending champions France, are already out of the 2010 world football extravaganza, which will be held for the first time on the African continent.
After only two matches of the 2010 qualifiers, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, another success story in African football - the first team from the continent to reach the quarter-finals during the 1990 competition - look certain to be unable to recover in time to make it to 2010. This is also the case with defending African champions, the Pharaohs of Egypt.
The two teams will play decisive matches next month after their encounters last weekend were postponed because Egypt were participating in the Confederation Cup in South Africa, while Gabon’s president died, forcing the cancellation of Cameroon’s fixture in the country. As things stand now, both Cameroon and Egypt are languishing in the bottom positions of their groups with one point each.
Nigeria, who have in the past carried the aspirations and optimism of the continent on the international stage, boasting the kind of flair that one would expect from a South American outfit, are struggling badly on the world stage at present, despite a recent victory over France.
In the words of Tunisian coach Humberto Coelho, whose team registered a barren draw with the Super Eagles on Saturday; the once revered Nigerians are currently playing something akin to “dirty and defensive tactics”.
In an interview with FIFA.com after the match, Coelho said, “I thought Nigeria would have attacked more, but they have finally decided to sit back and wait for us. We have been surprised. I have no regrets, at least we haven’t lost.”
If one considers the fact that the Harambee Stars of Kenya were disappointed after losing 3-0 against the Super Eagles a fortnight ago in Abuja, one realises how the Nigerian national team has degenerated.
It is foolhardy to suggest that some of the ‘small’ teams who may snatch the top spots in the five groups will not deserve it. As has been seen in the first three qualifying matches, the teams that have recorded victories have done so through hard work and self-belief.
And if they eventually qualify to represent the continent in South Africa, it will be deserved. But one cannot yet discount the three giants as. Statistics do not lie.
The Indomitable Lions are bottom in Group A with only one point from two matches. They were beaten by Togo in the opening match and drew with Morocco in the second game. The group leaders, Gabon, have six points. For Cameroon to snatch the only qualifying spot in the group they must win all the remaining four matches. If they were to do this, they would be mathematically assured of a place at the finals.
It is not impossible for Cameroon to have such a performance. They have world class players capable of winning against any team on the continent - if only this kind of statement could easily be translated into action on the pitch. The Indomitable Lions still have their fate in their hands. A draw anywhere along the line could mean the end of the road for them.
Can they resurrect the truly ‘indomitable’ squad of their famous team in the 90s, which was glued around Roger Milla? They unconvincingly reached the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations finals. Since then they have been winning a match here, drawing another there and losing in the same stride. Unfortunately, they don’t look like reversing this frustrating trend.
What of Egypt, who wowed the footballing world during the ongoing Confederation Cup? The Pharaohs held their own against a classy Brazil only to loss in the last minute in their opening match of the ongoing competition. In the second match they wrote history by being the first African country to beat the current World Cup holders, Italy, before they fell in the last match against the USA.
Despite putting on a high octane display in South Africa, the defending African Cup of Nations champions have been lacklustre in their 2010 World Cup campaign. They have only one point from two matches. They are bottom in their group behind Rwanda, Zambia and the group leaders Algeria, who are on seven points.
But unlike Cameroon, Egypt have a greater chance of qualifying, although it is dependant on the kind of result their main nemesis Algeria gain against Zambia in the next match in September. If Egypt can get maximum points against Rwanda in the next two matches at home and away, then they will stand a better chance of going the whole stretch.
Similarly, it is not yet over for the Super Eagles. They are second in Group B with five points, behind Tunisia who have seven points. Nigeria can do their chances a great favour if they can get maximum points against Tunisia in their next match.
But back to the initial worry. If the recent matches by the continental cream of the crop are anything to go by, the chances are that Africa will not be represented by the usual faces in 2010. But any team that has reached this final qualifying stage and then goes the whole hog to take the single spot in each group is ably prepared to represent the continent and therefore there is no point running scared if the supposedly ‘better’ teams are unable to jump the remaining hurdles.
But come to think of it, this is going to be the first World Cup in Africa and at this particular time, it looks like the dreams of the continent will be carried by South Africa as the hosts, with the likes of Gabon, Algeria, Burkina Faso and even Kenya still within shouting distance of a qualifying spot.
Besides all the other benefits that the competition will bring to South Africa and Africa in general, this will be the best chance that the continent has ever had to win the trophy, with home advantage frequently proving to be an important factor. No European side has ever won the trophy outside of Europe. It has only been South American teams that have won the tournament outside their continent.
If there is an opportunity for an African team to win the World Cup trophy, then the South African event is ours to lose. But over the years, it is only special teams with a great deal of experience that have won the highly competitive prize. The question is, are there any such teams in the African countries currently in the running for a World Cup place?
James Momanyi, Goal.com
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