I have always taken an interest in the football progress of African nations, ever since Morocco surprisingly won England's group in the Mexico World Cup of 1986. I was eleven years of age then. Four years later, much to the dismay of my Dad and brothers, I was even supporting Cameroon in their World Cup Quarter-Final against the Three Lions.
I have always supported my home country England ever since. Although I make no apologies in stating my main football passion is in the club game. My support for Cameroon that night twenty four years ago is difficult to explain in some quarters. Maybe my heart was not completely with England due to the number of non-Liverpool players in the set up.
I can certainly say that what that Cameroon team did do was cement a love of the African game I still retain to this very day. Decent African teams since the Cameroon class of 1990 have always tried to play football positively. Going back to that Cameroon team, there was never a dull moment. I would also here point to the Cameroonian indiscipline as well as Roger Milla's brilliance!
In every World Cup since 1986, an African side has always progressed to the second round. That record continued in Brazil 2014 courtesy of Nigeria's progress from Group F. In fact Algeria's qualification means this is the first time in which two African nations have made the last 16. Should the Super Eagles of Nigeria beat the French and the Desert Foxes of Algeria overcome the Germans, then there will be an all African Quarter-Final.
Realistically, Nigeria are defensively well organised. That is a credit to their Coach Stephen Keshi, who appears to be attracting interest from other national sides. Although the Super Eagles will benefit from a lack of expectation with many commentators fancying the French, I would be pleasantly surprised if either team can become the fourth African World Cup Quarter-Finalist in 2014.
I am finding more and more that African sides will deliver when expectations are low, with Algeria this year being a case in point. But they don't deliver when they suddenly become the fancied side, as illustrated by Nigeria's exit in the last 16 of France 98 at the hands of Denmark. In watching this World Cup and the previous two, I have found myself wondering nervously if any African teams will even get past the group stage!
As the group stage of Brazil 2014 drew to a close on 26 June, Africa could have seen three of it's representatives progress ahead of the final matches involving Ghana and Algeria. The historic success of Algeria progressing for the first time in their history must not mask the fact that both Nigeria this year and Ghana in 2010 lost their final group matches, and only progressed when results elsewhere went their way.
At this moment in time out of all the continental football confederations, Africa is only performing better than Asia and Oceania. The decision by CAF to alter it's football calendar to ensure that the African Cup of Nations no longer takes place in a World Cup year is positive. But more stability is needed from national associations. This business of African teams turning up at tournaments with outstanding matters of a monetary nature, must quite frankly stop.
As I have said, any further progression from Nigeria or Algeria in Brazil 2014 would be a pleasant surprise. But there is the more important debate the whole world has now gone quiet on. That debate is of course if an African team can at some stage win the World Cup? My answer would still be a potential yes. If this continent can produce players of the calibre of Yaya Toure and Samuel Eto'o, and then see all it's teams struggle at a World Cup, then this continent is I am afraid underachieving!
I have always supported my home country England ever since. Although I make no apologies in stating my main football passion is in the club game. My support for Cameroon that night twenty four years ago is difficult to explain in some quarters. Maybe my heart was not completely with England due to the number of non-Liverpool players in the set up.
I can certainly say that what that Cameroon team did do was cement a love of the African game I still retain to this very day. Decent African teams since the Cameroon class of 1990 have always tried to play football positively. Going back to that Cameroon team, there was never a dull moment. I would also here point to the Cameroonian indiscipline as well as Roger Milla's brilliance!
In every World Cup since 1986, an African side has always progressed to the second round. That record continued in Brazil 2014 courtesy of Nigeria's progress from Group F. In fact Algeria's qualification means this is the first time in which two African nations have made the last 16. Should the Super Eagles of Nigeria beat the French and the Desert Foxes of Algeria overcome the Germans, then there will be an all African Quarter-Final.
Realistically, Nigeria are defensively well organised. That is a credit to their Coach Stephen Keshi, who appears to be attracting interest from other national sides. Although the Super Eagles will benefit from a lack of expectation with many commentators fancying the French, I would be pleasantly surprised if either team can become the fourth African World Cup Quarter-Finalist in 2014.
I am finding more and more that African sides will deliver when expectations are low, with Algeria this year being a case in point. But they don't deliver when they suddenly become the fancied side, as illustrated by Nigeria's exit in the last 16 of France 98 at the hands of Denmark. In watching this World Cup and the previous two, I have found myself wondering nervously if any African teams will even get past the group stage!
As the group stage of Brazil 2014 drew to a close on 26 June, Africa could have seen three of it's representatives progress ahead of the final matches involving Ghana and Algeria. The historic success of Algeria progressing for the first time in their history must not mask the fact that both Nigeria this year and Ghana in 2010 lost their final group matches, and only progressed when results elsewhere went their way.
At this moment in time out of all the continental football confederations, Africa is only performing better than Asia and Oceania. The decision by CAF to alter it's football calendar to ensure that the African Cup of Nations no longer takes place in a World Cup year is positive. But more stability is needed from national associations. This business of African teams turning up at tournaments with outstanding matters of a monetary nature, must quite frankly stop.
As I have said, any further progression from Nigeria or Algeria in Brazil 2014 would be a pleasant surprise. But there is the more important debate the whole world has now gone quiet on. That debate is of course if an African team can at some stage win the World Cup? My answer would still be a potential yes. If this continent can produce players of the calibre of Yaya Toure and Samuel Eto'o, and then see all it's teams struggle at a World Cup, then this continent is I am afraid underachieving!
