Big Question: Can An African Team Make The Semis in 2010?

Well as soon as the referees will be fair enough with african team they can rich the final.
But i think this will not be the case for a long long time! except if some video control is used may be ?

Ivory Coast and Ghana are very young teams that could go really far.

A team from Africa will do quite well and probably reach the semis. Look for Angola to be back in 2010.

I think Togo will win the next cup

I would go with a return to the traditional powers, Nigeria and Cameroon. Ghana look to be the most real of the African entries this year.

I’ll guess that in 4 years Nigeria has the best chance at the final 4.

Nigeria

I’m going to disagree – I don’t think an African team will make it to the semi finals, though I can see Cameroon and Ghana making the quarter finals. Togo and Angola looked OK, but not up to World Cup standard. I hope the Ivory Coast are there again in 4 years’ time – I enjoyed watching them.

Not easy to predict.
Ghana is a very good and young side. They need a real striker and they could go very far in the next WC.
Cameroon and Nigeria missed to qualify for this WC but they are the traditional powerhouses of African football, you can expect something from them.
Ivory Coast played a good football they were a bit unlucky against Holland. Who knows.

I, just heard on the radio they might not be a world cup in South-Africa because the stadium might not be ready for 2010. Fifa contacted the United states to be ready it might be there because they have the stadiums.

They should award two more spots to Africa and take one away from Europe and one away from Asia. FIFA needs to give Africa more top level experience and only allowing 4 teams to play in the WC every four years isn’t gonna do that. Even in their first appearance, Angola was formidable. Imagine if they can get the experience they need to improve — and you have a WC with Cameroon, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Angola and a N. African country.

France made it to the final twice didn’t it?

I can see two of Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana and Ivory Coast making the quarters, so I’d give a 1 in 2 chance that one will make a semi.

I must admit I hope we don’t see Angola or Togo again at the world cup, they were terrible – Angola was ridiculously defensive, Togo was more interested in money than playing.

Tunisia were pretty lame also, but apparantly Egypt is a good team now (according to the rankings, can anyone confirm?)

I think Africa has to consider its ‘no second chances’ qualification system, because they didn’t have their 5 best teams in this world cup which is a big part of why their teams underachieved.

I really see big things from Ghana…They made their way out of the group of death, but then ran into Brazil…with a little luck in 2010, an easier road might take them to the quarters.

African teams have ways to go to reach the quarter finals.

That’s not true. Ghana could’ve reached the quarterfinals if it played Ukraine or Switzerland instead of Brazil (which I think is what would’ve happend if France finished first in the group — which is what should’ve happened except for a referee mistake). Ivory Coast could’ve done well too, except it got stuck in the group of death.

African teams that made the knock-out phase in recent world cups:
1990: Cameroon Qtr final
1994: Nigeria Round of 16
1998: Nigeria Round of 16
2002: Senegal Qtr final
2006: Ghana Round of 16

so basically there has always been one (sub-saharan) african team to make it to the knockout phase. And about half the time, that team makes it to the quaterfinal.

No host nation has ever not made the round of 16, so there is a good chance that South Africa will (even though they are not a strong team atm, consider Japan for comparison in 2002)

A downside is that the tournament will be held in winter, so the climat difference possibly may not help as much as say Japan/Korea.

So African teams have already shown they can reach the quarter finals (and often by beating big teams in doing so). Asia got a semifinalist when they hosted the cup, there is no reason why Africa (a stronger confederation) can’t do likewise :-)

Simple answer, NOOOOOO

yes algeria

nigeria

togo

Let’s face it,everyone is hoping a sub-saharan’ team does well in cup play,(don’t we always root for the underdog?)but you can’t just field 11 adu(freddie) wannabes. this world cup showed that to this game you must bring a professional mind-set, that can help you to compete against thee worlds’ finest! and i gotta say i’ve seen some african teams not up to that kind of challenge. i’ve seen some nice plays throughout the tourney, but in my humble opinion, you gotta bring your A game.
i grew up watching pele, even did a book report on him, and thought he was the greatest player on the planet(one of many-hard to choose), but what ive come to learn, about winning and watching teams achieve that apex is… well i’d be rich if i knew what that was. think about it: every time an”african” team goes down 1 goal against most teams they seem to fall apart and if its 2,
everyone says’they’ll never come back’!
in short,good luck?, i dont know if that will ever be enough. need to re-think the approach.

@ Simon
Ghana could have finished first in their group and then have played Australia.
They had to play a team from group E

Egypt or Nigeria
or maybe South Africa since they have the home advantage

I’ll go with Cameroon (who by many, are considered the best team in Africa) and the best team not to make it thru the group stages – the Ivory Coast because they are both young.

I don’t know about the Nigerians because the next generation hasn’t arrived yet, like they have in other african nations – mainly Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Angola, Senegal……

I look at Nigeria, more like S. Africa. The age of their stars might not be all that youthful. Where as, the above will be headed toward their peaks by the time 2010 comes.

Anyway, when this next generation of Nigerians arrive, watch out because they are usually very talented, big and strong.

I’m very fortunate because next yr, the U-20 World Champions are coming to Canada. So, I’ll get a chance to see some of the stars of tomorrow. I’m not sure but I believe it is a 32-team tourney and the Nigerian might be there…………..I hope so.

Yes. All they have to do is make Guus Hiddink their manager.

Look at what he did with South Korea four years ago.

And Australia looked strong this year.

I don’t doubt an African team managed by Hiddink can make it to the semis.

Well France won once, and went to the final this year. So I think if any African team will make the semis in 2010 it would probably be France. But I doubt they will go that far.

South Africa can get past the group stage if thet cheat like South Korea.

I liked Ghana and Angola but I also think at lot of it depends on the groups you are drawn in. Take the Euro draw some groups there and you know who is going to walk it.

This may sound stupid but to South Africa have a team?

South Africa made it to the last world cup, only just missed out on the 2nd round due by scoring one less goal than paraguay, but since then have been pretty ordinary

actually to show how far Sth Africa have fallen:

in the 2006 african nations cup Group ” C”
South Africa was with Guinee, Tunisia and Zambia, it lost all 3 games without even scoring a goal …

Most African teams see the WC in South Africa as “the biggest chance to win it” since its being played in Africa.

The Qualifiers will be tough as so many teams have improved. I predict an 10 team battle for the 4 spots.

lol @ Massimo for calling the French team an African team. Your country won the World Cup. So why do need to waste time showing us all your ignorance and sheepish thinking. You should be celebrating over a hard fought victory and displaying good sportsmanship to the French team. Not insulting them. Your country won! So act like you’ve done it before. Win with class bud. And by the way Massimo. South Korea earned their way out of group stage. Give them their due on that part. After the group stage is when things started to become dicey.

Massimo Ive read previous comments from you and I must say that you’re not representing your country in a well manner. I think you need to take a world history class 101 ASAP.

I love the way African teams play. Fast, exciting, with their heart.

Oops… is that the opposite of France and Italy?

Simon,

Two more spots is an absolute joke.

Wait a minute. why should FIFA give a confederation that has never gone past the quarter finals – and only that rarely more slots in the world cup? Those slots are supposed to be earned not given out because we want to see more experience for african teams. bosh. when african teams start winning they can complain about not having enough slots then and only then. same goes for CONCACAF but you never hear them complain and lobby for more slots so it isn’t an issue.

Two more spots is an absolute joke.

no way should africa have more slots. I am from the US so i am agnositic on this but by all rights europe and south america should have MORE positions and all the rest of us should have fewer.

If Egypt add Mido, hossam ghaly, and mohamed zidan to the line up, they will make it past the second round in world cup 2006. So will Ghana and Ivory Coast, and maybe Cameroon. Four African teams that have a probability of getting to the second round depending on who they get drawn against. CIV almost beat Holland and Argentina, Tunisia handled Spain, Angola took on Mexico, and Ghana beat Czech while playing well against Italy and Brazil. African teams are not disadvantaged.

FIFA should give one-two more spot to Africa yes. But it should take away from Asia and North/Central AMERICA. Not from Europe. It is always the same teams from North/Central America, the weakest region after Asia.

Well James…… do you actually watch football other then the world cup?? Oh……. I’m sorry, that’s the other james – right. #^$^

Anyway……. if you are going to complain then the Aussies would not have made it this time without the 2-half-spots made available for the Oceanic region thru europe and s. america (I believe), each give up a half spot.

Well……….I’d say they’d reperesented very well the Oceanic region and football in general

Anyone who has followed knows that NOT all european or s.american teams do well in this tournament – so why not.

Look……..it took nearly 2 full tournments before Poland looked somewhat like the deserving team they were in qualifying in europe.

Also, only the real haters will try not to see this…… another example look at Serbia Montenegro, who were sooo convincing in qualifying in europe but…..not as nearly in the tourney – not trying to put them down or Poland, for that matter……….just trying to make a case for the SO-CALLED, non traditional teams/continent/region that seems to “bring it” whenever they are given a chance.

Maybe it will be like the Oceanic region, 2-half-spots?? ………. and I do believe CONCACAF was in the same position too, at one point.

ps. there are probably better example of this than Poland and SM – so excuse, please.

You see particular world cup have exposed the african teams as a very good team. In the beginning I was upset that the big guns like Cameroun, Nigeria, Senegal were not in the line up. But their replacement did show that all african countries can play good football.

The main problem in african I believe is management. The talents abound in the continent but managing a squad to reach any level is the number one problem for africa.

As can be seen all the african team except Angola had expatriates coach. Yet, that did not propel them far. Instead, I admire Angola so much for staying with a local coach, and this local coach proves himself right – look at how good the Angolans played. For an african team to win the world cup or make it to the semi final, they must stay with a coach who knows them in and out.

I think Mongolia has a fair chance to win next WC. If not Mongolia then Somalia, Pakistan or the state of Delaware…

I honor you …King Solomon… you speak the truth.

just a note, the no. of slots per confederation for the 2006 world cup were:
Host – 1
Europe – 12
Africa – 5
Sth America – 4.5
Asia 4.5
Nth/Ctrl America – 3.5
Oceania – 0.5

where the Nth/Ctrl America 4th place played off with the Asian 5th place, and the Sth American 5th place played off with the Oceania 1st place.

Should this be unchanged, then Africa will have 6 teams at the next world cup.

Despite the poor performance of Asian teams, FIFA is unlikely to reduce their allocation since they hope to develop football there (and make a lot of money there in the future also)

Since Australia has moved from Oceania to Asia, the most likely situation is that the 5th Asian team will beat the 4th Nth/Ctrl American team and almost undoubtably the 5th Sth American team will beat the Oceanian best team (New Zealand or Soloman Islands on current form). In this case the no. of teams at the next world cup would be (with the change from this world cup in brackets):
Europe – 12 (-1)
Africa – 6 (including Sth Africa) (+1)
Sth America – 5 (+1)
Asia – 5 (+1)
Nth/Ctrl America – 3 (-1)
Oceania – 0 (-1)
ie. effectively europe and Nth/Ctrl america lose spots and Africa and Sth America gain spots

well, i think african country can even win the cup.why? because if they can win the under 17, under 20 and the olympics, why not the world cup?.the truth is senior world cup is more of politics similar to what happens in world affaires.there is different set of rules for africa and the socalled big soccer nations.watch ghana brazil again and u wil see how ronaldihno nearly broke a players feet into pieces without even a verbal warning from the referee.the same offence would have been a red card and a subsequent couple of match ban from the fifa discilinary comitee. no wonder only five teams have won the world cup.

King Solomon, you couldn’t have said it any better my brotha. Since we are talking about Africa, has anyone noticed the only region of Africa that hasn’t qualified for the World Cup is East Africa. Is football that bad in East Africa? Well I know my country almost cracked the top 100 in the latest Fifa rankings haha. We banging hard on that top 100 door lol. Ethiopia is ranked 101 baby! Were outdoing ourselves huh. With this kind of progress, we might crack the top 90 in five years lol.

Nicko, your slot count comes to 31 teams. I think Europe should amount to 13 slots based upon a count of flags on top of screen.

well spotted AF, apologies for my miscounting!

Any thing is possible… and an East African team can win the world cup in South Africa 2010… every body thought it was going to be between Nike and Adidas… but look Puma won the World Cup…

There should be more intercontinental play-offs to make it fairer.

South America has 10 countries competing for 4.5 spots. Practically 5 spots, since the 5th ranked will face either one of New Zealand, Fiji or Solomon Island in order to qualify. Each South American nation has 50-50 chance to qualify. This is way too easy.

North and Central America has 3.5 spots. This is very generous. FIFA practically gives USA and Mexico free passes.

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.

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.

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″

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.

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?

Senegal/Ivory Coast will make the semi’s in South Africa

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.”

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

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.

Well said Nicko.

FYI for those who don’t already have this –

Link to CAF site:

http://www.cafonline.com/

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 :-P

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

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)

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.

you must be joking

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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

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!

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.