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Africa’s top players are as good as any in the world

SIX AFRICAN nations enter this Friday’s draw for the first World Cup played on African soil. Each approaches the tournament with divergent aspirations but there is genuine hope that the African sides can have an impact.

Cameroon qualified for their sixth World Cup in a row with four consecutive victories under new coach Paul Le Guen.

The Frenchman transformed a stuttering campaign that yielded just one point from the Indomitable Lions’ first two Confederation of African Football (CAF) third round matches in Group A.

Under his stewardship Cameroon thrashed Togo 3-0 and clinched away victories in Morocco and Gabon. Confidence is high as the World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations approach.

“The first thing [the coach has brought with him] is professionalism. If things are working now it’s because he brought us this kind of mentality,” said midfielder Geremi.

Le Guen draws upon the Premier League talents of Alexandre Song, Sebastien Bassong and Benoit Assou-Ekotto. Add the irrepressible Samuel Eto’o to the mix and Cameroon are formidable opponents.

South Africa have home advantage but are not at the tournament on merit. CAF combined World Cup and African Nations qualifiers so the Bafana Bafana found themselves in the curious position of being the first hosts to enter the qualifying rounds for their own tournament.

The South Africans failed to reach the CAF third round despite the talents of Steven Pienaar and Benni McCarthy. It is difficult to see them causing any ripples beyond the group stages.

Nonetheless their qualifying campaign has kept them sharp through continued exposure to the competitive football denied to previous hosts.

Nigeria came through the final round of qualifying unbeaten in Group B but their uninspiring form has cost coach Shaibu Amodu his job. Defender Joseph Yobo lamented that his team were unprofessional and had “played to the gallery” at times.

It took Obafemi Martins’ 81st minute winner in their final match with Kenya and a Tunisian collapse in Mozambique to seal the Super Eagles’ passage to South Africa.

“I think the solution is to bring in a foreign coaching crew of the Super Eagles. Shaibu Amodu has done his best,” said Emmanuel Babayaro. “But he cannot do more than he has done now.”

Fans will be hoping for a Cameroon-style turnaround from the new coach but beyond John Mikel Obi, Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Obafemi Martins, talent is thinly spread in the Super Eagles’ squad.

Algeria were the last side on the continent to book their World Cup berth when they overcame Egypt 1-0 in the Group C play-off in Khartoum. It is the first time in 24 years that Les Fennecs have qualified.

Published: 30 November 2009
Issue: 1400

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