Big Question: Can An African Team Make The Semis in 2010?
Pelé famously predicted that an African team would win the World Cup by the year 2000. Pele was wrong. There’s no doubt that African teams are improving, but still no team has gone past the quarter-finals.
European teams dominated the 2006 World Cup, as they usually do when it’s held in Europe. But 2010 will be in South Africa, the first World Cup on African soil. Winning the whole thing may be asking too much, but 2010 is the perfect opportunity and the perfect time for an African team to crack the final four.
Can it be done? And if so, which team will be best equipped to do it?
Related Posts
Subscribe
|
Print
|
Share        |
Comments
Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 73 comments.
Read the rest of the comments
By Danny | July 15th, 2006 at 11:08 pm 
Yeah your right Joka. Anything can happen but in reality I want to make sure the best teams of Africa qualify. Since Africa doesn’t have the luxury of getting more than one team in each qualifying group, I hope a team like Cameroon or Nigeria doesn’t get screwed in not being able to qualify. The advancement of football in Africa has come so far that traditional powers might not make it.
Posted from 
United States
By Pavla | July 16th, 2006 at 12:05 am I think an African team can win the WC (afterall, Cameroun and Nigeria have each won olympic soccer) — but for an African team to win, it will have to be FEARLESS. And by the way, I second the person who said France was an African team — because for all intents and purposes, it is basically made up of one North African (Zidane) and several sub-saharan Africans (Yes I know there are red blooded european on the team as well)
I think half of the reason Ghana did not do well against Brazil is that Ghana was intimidated by the might of Brazil. The African team will have to be ready to die for the game to win the WC. it can be done, and I’m hoping at least one team cracks the semifinals.
Posted from United States
By sooz | July 16th, 2006 at 1:09 am President Mbeki’s speech in Berlin on July 7 is extremely moving, powerful, and promising. With the strength and determination felt in his words, ALL African teams will be working toward success, with fearlessness, and I think with intimidation well behind them. I will leave it up to the technical knowledge and expertise of my counterpart as well as others on this board to predict the strenghts and chances of individual squads, however.
These are the last sentences of the speech, and the rest can be read here http://www.southafrica.info/2010/mbeki-speech-100706.htm
“Again, dear friends, we come from a place where football is not simply a game but an enduring passion; we come from a place where our hearts beat in unison as we celebrate a shared destiny and love for the beautiful game with the human family.
Africa is ready. Africa’s time has come.
Africa is calling: Come home to Africa in 2010″
Posted from 
Canada
By nicko | July 16th, 2006 at 2:26 am a couple of people here have claimed ‘France is an african team’. This statement is either meaningless or false depending on your interpretation.
The french team is NOT a team of immigrants, only 3 were not born in France and all except Trezeguet have lived in France since they were young (Trezeguet lived in Argentina).
Several French players were born in french overseas departments - almost all of these are from Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guiana - these departments have been French longer than some areas of mainland france so claims that they ‘are not really france’ are misplaced. But if we’re talking player origins in a continental sense then the carribean and of course europe are the strongest influences in the french team.
So basically the statement that ‘France is an african team’ is incorrect in all senses other than saying that the french team has many black people in it. If you don’t consider this racist and meaningless consider the comparable statement that ‘Brazil is an african team’.
France’s team is dominated by ethnic minorities, but being a part of a minority does not make you any less french nor give you any less right to represent your country and anyone who claims otherwise should go f*ck off.
Posted from 
Australia
By kasets68 | July 16th, 2006 at 2:49 am I think it’s possible for an African team to crack the final four but they require a manager to instill more discipline in their game.
A good example would be Ghana in WC 2006. Very entertaining to watch but a lack of quality finishers and team defense was their downfall.
As for who will it be I’m not sure…Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria?
Posted from Canada
By LiverpoolFC | July 16th, 2006 at 4:41 am Senegal/Ivory Coast will make the semi’s in South Africa
Posted from Australia
By Kruman | July 16th, 2006 at 5:34 am It is possible for any team to get into the semi-final. Just get characters like Materazzi on your team to chest pinch and provoke opponents.
“Football fields cried when foul words were the crowning glory of champions.”
Posted from United States
By malik | July 16th, 2006 at 4:34 pm it will be between Cameroon, Senegal, Ivory coast,tunisia, nigeria, Ghana, and egypt to do it big in 2010, they will be the best teams in Africa, they are now, and they will be even greater than. africa can have the best soccer in the world, i believe some african nations need to pickup some south american coaches rather than all these french coaches…other than tuniasias, egypts and nigerias coach’s, the rest of africa needs NEW coaches
Posted from United States
By kasets | July 16th, 2006 at 4:36 pm Kruman
“Football fields cried when Zidane committed that headbutt”
“Football fields cried when Zidane issued that lame apology to the children but said he would do it again.
“Football fields cried when Zidane didn’t issue an apology to Materazzi because that tells the children of the world when someone says something to offend you you can attack that person.
No excuse for Zidane and the reasons people try and use to defend him and frankly embarassing.
GoodLuck to all Afican Teams in 2010.
Posted from Canada
By Danny | July 16th, 2006 at 6:36 pm Well said Nicko.
Posted from United States
By sooz | July 16th, 2006 at 9:10 pm FYI for those who don’t already have this -
Link to CAF site:
Posted from Canada
By Adam Rupolo | July 20th, 2006 at 6:33 am I don’t think an African team will crack into the semifinals but I would like to see Africa play a better tournament and I think we will. We all know about the obvious home advantage that has helped inspire the successful German team this year and also the Koreans 4 years ago. So I’d expect to see at least 2 African teams in the round of 16 and maybe 1 team in the quarterfinals.
What team this will be… I’m not sure, I dont know African soccer much. But although Angola and Ghana played OKAY tournaments, I dont think it’d be them. They played good tournaments “for an African team.” To be successful we need to get rid of this statement and see how they play just as a team from somewhere on the world stage. The fact is that Angola couldnt score. Ghana showed a lot of potential but maybe its coaching they need… i dont even know… They played well with Brazil as far as not letting Brazil dominate and having some good control of the ball but they were horrible finishers. It seemed every one of their many shots was well over the bar. perhaps they should try their hand at American football 
Im kinda spekaing in ignorance here becuz due to school i didnt see any of their games… BUT results tell. The Ivory Coast is my pik to make the quarterfinals maybe. With 2-1 versus Argentina and the Netherlands that’s a result to be proud of and unfortuneatly they didnt have much room to move in that “group of death”
Good luck to Africa as they host their first world cup
By Adam Rupolo | July 20th, 2006 at 6:39 am I think South America should have less spots too if only 10 countries compete and at least 4 (and most definately 5) make it.
People think CONCACAF should get less but for their size they simply dont have enough. I’m totaly bias though because I somehow want, by some freak of nature, Canada to make 2010. And this extra half a spot means it can easily happen. It makes me angry that such a developed country based a lot on immigrants can have such an undeveloped soccer team when us Canadians prove to love the world cup (as we cheer for OTHER teams)
By nicko | July 20th, 2006 at 7:22 am There are rumours that Canada may try to host the 2018 world cup as it will be the CONCACAF’s turn in the rotation system (though that officially ends in 2014), but yeah Canada has to stop losing out to Jamaica, T&T etc. in the qualifying race to have any chance of hosting.
Posted from Australia
By dave | July 24th, 2006 at 2:30 am you must be joking
Posted from 
United Kingdom
By Mike | July 24th, 2006 at 5:41 am Egypt one the afircan cup i think they might have a chance of making past the qauter finals in the 2002 world cup senga shocked the world when it defeated france. African soccer is on the rise
Posted from United States
By nicko | July 24th, 2006 at 6:16 am I’m skeptical of Egypt, apparantly their team is made up almost entirely of players playing in Egypt, sounds like one of those teams which benefit from the travel/availability problems of other teams with stronger but european based players. This sounds alot like Saudi Arabia in Asia, does very well locally but really sucks at the WC.
Posted from Australia
By Danny | July 25th, 2006 at 5:48 am Egypt isn’t that bad Nicko lol. Comparing them to Saudi Arabia is quite a diss. They have a great striker in Mido and are quite balanced. They beat Ivory Coast in that African Cup final and we all know how well the Ivorians played this World Cup.
Posted from United States
By nicko | July 25th, 2006 at 6:27 am yeah you’re right, Saudi Arabia comparison is a bit harsh given the difference in African and Asian standards (apologies to Egyptians out there!)
still, I’m not certain how Egypt will go in a non-african context, In WC qualifying they were behind (but not too far behind) Ivory Coast and Cameroon, for the African Nations Cup they had home advantage, and all but 4 of their squad for that competition play in Egypt rather than Europe. Also although Morocco did so well in Mexico ‘86, Northern African teams have struggled ever since in the WC.
but here’s hoping! After this year’s very establishment-friendly world cup, it would be great for any African team to make the semis!
Posted from Australia
By DD | July 26th, 2006 at 12:44 am Sure Its possible for an african team to make it to the semis, but its hard seeing them going much further. Even though there are many talented players from Africa, they lack strong national federations and leagues. Basically support structures. Untill thats fixed we wont see an African Team in the final.
By Danny | July 26th, 2006 at 9:38 am Well said Nicko and DD. All of your points are quite accurate. The Northern African teams have struggled and the national federations and leagues are quite a joke unfortunately. Maybe all that could change with a strong performance out of each African country that reaches the World Cup. As an African, I have become quite tired and annoyed of the “potential” of the African teams. If we can’t pull it off in South Africa in our own soil and climate, then we’re just hype and not real contenders.
Posted from United States
By Bokar | August 11th, 2006 at 11:05 am Nicko of Australi - I would like to remind you that of the French team - Boumsong, Vieira, Makelele were all born in Africa..and are often there. I myself saw Desailly in his birth place of Ghana right after their early departure from Korea 2002..Many of the other players like Zizou are only second generation Africans. Those born in Guadeloupe/Martinique are of African descent and will quickly remind you..Lilian Thuram and Sylvestre were both travelling the African continent right after world cup 2006 and speaking proudly of their ancestry…Its funny how you consider them French..I hope you consider the guys from those neighborhoods they grew up in French as well - because French and world media did not when those neighborhoods were burning not too long ago…Rather, they would tell you to f*ck off
Posted from United States
By ALex R | September 30th, 2006 at 4:36 pm Since it is their turf…they will rise up to the competiton. I would not be surprise if the south african teams will make not only the semi’s , but the finals….
Hope that finally will be exhilarating. The next generation african’s will live up to zizou. Can’t let last WC finals out of my mind. Zidane Rules… http://www.respectzidane.com
Posted from Canada
By akua k | September 4th, 2007 at 5:33 pm Ghana was the only african team last year to make it to round of 16, and they played BRILLIANTLY against the czechs and the americans and even the brazilians (although they lost,the game was beautiful) so i am crossing my fingers hoping ghana makes it to world cup again….i hope!
By robert | December 17th, 2007 at 3:18 pm MExico has a great chance of making the semis on 2010.. they have been getting players to europe and by 2010 they will have alot of players in european soccer. plus the one that have been there for a while will get even more expierience …but i think cameroon is gonna get to the semis to.. ETO’O is gonna get them in.. hes still wants to after the 2006 failure.
Posted from United States
Comments are closed
