Clive Thabo Dube
Sports Reporter
ONLY 18 DAYS ARE LEFT before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar kicks off with African representatives in the prestigious tournament Cameroon, Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal expected to climb over a tough wall to break the jinks of failing to proceed to the semi-finals.
The five teams walk into the field of play as the dark horses of the tournament.
For the first time in history of the World Cup, African nations will be lead by coaches from the motherland. African champions Senegal will be lead by their former national player Alliou Cisse. Early this year, Cisse lead the Lions of Teranga to the top of the African throne by winning their first ever Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The African Champions are grouped with hosts Qatar, Netherlands and Ecuador in Group A.
With the super Eagles Nigeria and Ivory Coast out of this year’s World Cup, the Lions of Teranga come to the World Cup as the African favorites to go all the way.
But can the 46 year old coach lead them to the last four of the World Cup or even further and become the very first African country to do so?
Cameroon who have had their taste of the Quarter Finals in 1990 have qualified for the eighth time, will be guided by their legend Rigobert Song. The Indomitable Lions have preformed dismally in their previous World Cup appearances as they have struggled to go beyond the group stages. Morocco with the boost of Archraf Hakimi will be coached by Walid Regragui, while Tunisia will have Jalel Kadri and Ghana’s head coach is Otto Addo. The black stars will be hoping to make it the last 8.
In the 2010 World Cup in South- Africa, all African teams under performed and failed to make it past the group stages with Ghana being able to do so only to be denied the way through by the Uruguayan Luis Suarez.
Ghana are looking forth to exert their revenge.
The African football’s under achievement in the biggest events has been mirrored by stunted economic growth, lack of advanced training facilities and equipment, political interference and financial woes to pay the players and the staff. In Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has been banned by FIFA due to government meddling and the sporting facilities are below the international standard to host any major, regional or international matches.
Government meddling in sports slows the pace of improvement especially in the African Nations Football and players become demoralized leading to under par performance.
But the big issue is the uneven representation of the African Continent, Africa gets 5 slots to represent the Continent which in unfair for a continent comprising of more than 50 football fraternities.
It is sheer pure ignorance by FIFA, how can a whole continent of Africa have similar representatives to South America, a continent with only 10 nations?
It is no wonder no African team has made it to the Semi-Finals in Footballs grand stage, the odds are against Africa as a whole and this years World Cup will be the toughest draw ever for the African teams.
Tunisia who are in Group D will have to go toe to toe with the defending champions, France, Denmark and Australia.
Group F is Morocco who will have to navigate through Canada, Belgium and Luka Modric’s Croatia. While Indomitable Lions in Group G, have to battle the favorites and World Cup record holders Brazil, Switzerland and the wildcard Serbia.