The Sunday Mail
AT least two parts of the African dream continue to wallow in the world of make-believe after the fantastic shows by Algeria and Nigeria in qualifying into the last 16 at Brazil 2014.
What started as a gigantic and flourishing dream for this soccer-crazy continent was forcefully plunged into a bewildering nightmare following the exit of Cameroon, Ghana, and Cote d’Ivoire.
Well, until Algeria and Nigeria came to the rescue!
The ill-discipline and shameful acts of some of the Indomitable Lions and Black Stars squad members sent a grim tale as our game was reduced to an abominable showpiece by their actions.
Cameroon’s players fought amongst themselves during the 0-4 disaster against Croatia and Ghana’s players threatened not to take part in their crucial and final group match against Portugal unless they were paid US$3 million in cash, which was then hurriedly put together by their government back home and flown in a chartered cargo plane on the eve of the match.
And the result? The Black Stars put up a despicable show – with the exception of skipper Asamoah Gyan and ’keeper Futuwada Daoud – and lost 1-2 to Portugal. One could tell from their body language that they were a disunited bunch that had probably already given up hope following the dismissal of their two colleagues – Sulley Muntari and Kevin Prince Boateng – in the build-up to that chaotic bonus dispute.
At least Cote d’Ivoire, who were harshly done by Ecuadorian referee, Carlos Vera, who awarded that controversial penalty to Greece right at the end, fought until the last piece of action.
Algeria and Nigeria, though, to some credit, were astounding. Both sides refused to be intimidated by the technically superior opponents Russia and Argentina respectively as they lit up the flickering African flame on their way into the last 16. But the big question is: Are some of our African teams really good enough in terms of mental and tactical discipline on and off the pitch and flair when it comes to the highest stage of them all?
The answer is a big NO!
I think the egos of some of those foreign-based players, like Ghana’s Muntari and Boateng and Cameroon’s Alex Song and Benoit Assou-Ekotto have been the ultimate downfall of most, if not all African teams at the World Cup tournaments.
You just have to cast your memory back to recent finals to realise what I’m talking about. Are our players talented enough to match the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar?
Yes, of course! Just look at Yaya Toure, Gyan, Sofiane Feghouli, Samuel Eto’o and Vincent Enyeama and you’ll see what I mean.
So, for as long as we lie to ourselves that we can bring the World Cup to Africa every four years but fail to change our habits before, during and after the tournament, it will always remain a pipe dream.
May the Super Eagles and Desert Foxes, who have been the shining pebbles on the Brazilian beaches under the marvellous tact and strict discipline of mentors Steven “The Big Boss” Keshi and Vahid “Vaal” Halilhodzic respectively, fare gallantly in their next showdowns against France and Germany respectively.
After the exit of Spain, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, England, Italy and Portugal, I’m sure you’ll all join me in bowing respectfully, cap in arm, to say “thank you so much” to the following greats, whom we will probably never watch again at the World Cup finals: Eto’o (Cameroon); Didier Drogba, Didier Zokora, Salomon Kalou (Cote d’Ivoire); Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard (England); Gianluigi Buffon, Andrea Pirlo (Italy) and Portugal’s Ronaldo.
Guys, your exploits at the highest stage of football were ravishingly hypnotic!
* * *
And now, to the Luis Suarez debacle.
No doubt that the Uruguayan striking superstar is an entertainer par excellence when he goes bearing down in the opposition penalty box.
But my word, just what is wrong with him mentally?
His latest “munch” on the shoulder of Italian defender, Giorgio Chiellini, resulted in him being banned for four months from any football activity and a further nine matches away from his Liverpool side.
There have been mixed reactions to this Fifa ban, with his fellow countrymen lashing out at the soccer world’s disciplinary committee ruling, arguing that it was Chiellini who provoked their hero.
Many others, especially from Zimbabwe, have suggested that the ban was too lenient and even suggesting that he should have been banned for life!
What do you think?
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