What hope for Africa at 2014 World Cup?

Italy’s Mario Balotelli (centre) with Nigeria’s Ogenyi Onazi (right) and Azubuike Egwuekwe during their friendly match in London…on November 18.

As the world waits for the 2014 World Cup draw in December, KAZEEM BUSARI looks at the chances of African teams at the tournament

The emergence of Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Algeria, Cameroon and Ghana as Africa’s representatives at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil did not come to many as a surprise. Save for Cameroon, who are ranked tenth by FIFA among African teams, the other four are occupy the top four spots on the continent. Besides, the five teams are making to the football fiesta together just four years after representing the continent at South Africa 2010.

The qualifications have proved, without doubt, that they are Africa’s best, but how ready are they to go beyond participation in the World Cup and actually win the coveted title. Various online polls, including ESPN’s, do not place any of the African teams in the top 10 of possible winners of the World Cup, but some have refused to totally rule out Africa’s chances at lifting the trophy.

Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi harbours a bizarre belief that his side may end up with the trophy in their kitty in Brazil, saying nothing is impossible at the world level.

“Why not?” he answered when asked if Nigeria could win the tournament. “Nothing is impossible in football. We’re not going there just to participate and aim at winning the tournament.”

The team captain, Vincent Enyeama, also echoed the coach’s belief after the Super Eagles picked the World Cup ticket by beating the Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia in Calabar last weekend.

“We can actually win it. I wouldn’t be surprised if Nigeria win the World Cup one day – maybe with me. It’s just a matter of time and moment. Everything is possible. Impossible is nothing,” Enyeama told BBC.

In the long history of the World Cup, only three African teams have ever reached the quarter-finals: Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002 and Ghana in 2010.

Nigeria have only made it to the knockout stage twice – in 1994 and 1998 – and since then they have not won any match at the tournament, even after featuring in the 2002 and 2010 editions.

While Nigeria can back their belief with their 2013 Africa Cup of Nations success, and Ghana can hope to replicate their performance at the last World Cup final, the others – Cameroon, Algeria and Ivory Coast – have struggled to stay at the top of their game as their teams wax and wane at major tournaments.

Former Nigeria international, Sunday Oliseh, argues in his blog that the failure of the teams to succeed in 2010 was due to the sacking of their coaches prior to the tournament. He believes, however, that they perform better if they plan ahead before going to Brazil.

“Prior to the last World Cup, almost every African team changed their coaching crew. The only one that had real continuity, Ghana, produced the best results,” he writes.

“The insanity of last-minute hiring and firing of coaches has to stop. Do not be surprised if the poor hardworking local coaches who helped qualify the African teams for the World Cup eventually get replaced by foreign coaches before the World Cup.

“For African teams to do well at the next World Cup there must be continuity in the technical crew.”

The former AC Reggiana midfielder adds that the teams must learn from the mistakes of 2010 by improving on their tactics and learning quickly to adapt to the high altitude of South America.

Another former international, Jonathan Akpoborie, says it will be farfetched to see the teams play differently in Brazil.

“They are in the same generation as those that played at the 2010 World Cup. Except for Nigeria, I don’t see the other teams coming up with something different in Brazil,” Akpoborie says.

“I’ll love to see at least two African teams in the semi-finals but I don’t see them winning the tournament in Brazil.

“I think Nigeria will stand out among them all because there are several attacking options available in the team. But if the Super Eagles must challenge like champions, they must do something about the defence. The weaknesses were obvious in their friendly against Italy.”

Friday Ekpo, however, sees the generational angle as an advantage for the teams in Brazil. He expects the teams to have the edge over their counterparts who are fielding completely new players at the World Cup.

“The fact that they were there in 2010 will give them the required experience to perform better next year. Ghana almost made it to the semi-final but (Luiz) Suarez stopped them; this time around they’ll know how desperate opponents are to reach the final,” Ekpo, a former Nigeria midfielder, says.

“It’s difficult to make predictions ahead of the World Cup, it’s not like club football. But I think the teams are good enough to make it as far as the semi-finals in Brazil. In fact, it’s not impossible for an African team to win the tournament.”