Angola’s hosting of the biennial tournament might not have been the most impressive showdown of preeminent soccer skills and African aptitude. Neither was it a match-up to the two previous editions of the African Cup of Nations in Egypt and Ghana nor was it as stirring an event for Africa’s display of growth in the popular sport. But a bet would be worthy of the case that it was an avenue to assess the five countries that had earned the bragging rights and tickets to the mundial to be hosted in our own, South Africa. Here, Isaac Koufie-Amartey looks at how the countries have fared thus far in their quest to hear the vuvuzela’s, fine-looking beaches and beautiful tourist sites.
GHANA
Ghanaian football is usually as thespian as it is unpredictable, and when it comes to the World Cup the picture is no different. The local folks would take not a single dose of convincing on why their noble country couldn’t earn the rights to be represented, a large lump of the masses would seek for some heads to roll with the top hierarchy of the football association almost succumbing to the strenuous pressure. Ghana had an almost impressive outing at the last World Cup in Germany after being placed in the same group with Italy, Czech Republic and U.S.A with the pundits touting the group ‘’Group of Death’’ . Yet, Ghana squeaked into the second round, but got a hiding from the Brazilians. Again it found itself stuck in another hellish group with West African neighbors Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Togo (pulled out after a shocking and tragic incident in Cabinda) when the 29th edition of the nations cup came calling. The connoisseurs, big talkers and the betting syndicates rubbished off any real impact by the Ghanaian team in the tournament with injuries to key and experienced players like John Mensah, Laryea Kingston and John Painstil and squad exclusions with respect to Sulley Muntari, Junior Agogo, Quincy Owusu-Abeyie and Derek Boateng. Fact then! But the a little-over 11,000 dollar’s-a-week earning Milovan Rajevac and his unproven chaps staked a claim in Ghana’s own right as one of Africa’s noble soccer power houses by winning the silver medal. A rather unconvincing display against the Didier-Drogba-lead Ivory Coast, northern neighbours Burkina Faso, host nation Angola and old nemesis Nigeria but one sure of a poignant standing ovation against Egypt but lost. Good soccer skills and beautiful soccer artistry they didn’t show a glimpse of until the grand finale but displayed tactical discipline, a knack for holding unto a solitary lead and proving the unconstructive critics wrong when the need arises. Angola 2010 sure was an avenue well taken and platform well grasped. Some critics have called for the Black Star coaches exit citing reasons that he plays an orthodox tactical game. But that has worked in the Serbian’s way thus far. Milovan Rajevac was a surprise appointment for a country that had been promised a world-class manager when the search team was sent on job, but he has made a very positive start to his first international coaching role. He has stuck against the odds, fought tooth-and-nil to instil discpline in his team, dismissed thoughts of him not being the man at the helm of affairs and put up a giant face against suggestions that he look a pale shadow of the man needed to work out the top influences. But Angola 2010 was an even more enlightening platform to duck the waters and proved has the balls to keep to a team he feels can do the job. He's insisted that he sure would bring back Sulley Muntari and the other excluded members of the team if only the showed enough passion and zeal to play out his tactics. But wouldnt that destroy the cohesion and the team ethics that was exhibited by the rather young team. Michael Essien, bring an extra bite, Sulley Muntari sets on the table a terrifying free-kick expertise, Quincy Owusu-Abeyie some exciting surging runs, Dereck Boateng, a grit in the middle of the park, John Painstil, a defense cover and John Mensah, a pillar at the back. But the question of the lips of all and sundry, is would Milo sacrifice this names and stick to his team? Supposing Kevin Boateng, get the nod of FIFA to switch nationality and Mario Barwuah Balotelli, decide to feature for his native country, would they walk straight into the team? South Africa looks a distinct chance of announcing their presence on the soccer globe as was in Germany. But only Serbia, Germany and Australia stands between a nation-wide jamboree and pure, unadulterated sorrow.
CAMEROON
Three days, 2000 guests and a reported 250,000 Euros of wining and dining to usher in a new coach looks rather stupid in certain terms. Three months on however, surprised would be the world if the most outraged Cameroon still harbours any grudges. A rather brilliant campaign, Guen has helped achieve. Cameroon’s ticket to South Africa though could in fine terms be said to have been presented on a silver platter following a 2-nil victory over Morocco in Fez. And the reason is simple. In any other World Cup year Gabon would apt have qualified ahead of Cameroon. Leading the Indomitable Lions by 5 points after two games, with a home game against the shambolic Lions threatening, the Gabonese lost their president Omar Bongo and asked FIFA for a postponement of the game. The world body obliged, and it was the Cameroonians that held the moment bringing in French coach Paul Le Guen who promptly restored the Lions' pride and led them to four straight wins, including two against the Gabonese, and earned them the group's ticket. Angola proved why the Indomitable Lions were only lucky to have had the world cup honour. A rather ruinous display of soccer against the same Gabonese squad where they lost by a goal to nil was only in truth that the now Samuel Eto’o-led Lions were past their noble glory and heights. They would re-group though to beat Zambia 3-2 before coming from behind twice to draw 2-2 with Tunisia to find their way into the quarter-finals from Group D. Losing out to Zambia on goal difference for top of the group, they were drawn against the Egyptians ultimately losing 3-1 after extra time. But as well as new questions emerge over their performances in Angola, new options have emerged as a cohort of youngsters scrap to break their way into the team. Georges Mandjeck, 21, who plies his trade in the German Bundesliga for Kaiserslautern has shown talent in an attacking midfield role, Alexander Song, who has cemented a starting role in Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal, has proven to be the new nucleus of the Lions team and Landry N'Guemo, the Celtic ace midfielder, who has shown immense talent in the SPL. If there is a platform to prove they haven’t lost a jot of the quality, South Africa looks a finer option but a friendly against Italy in March looks a shining, stepping stone.
NIGERIA
There is just something unsung about Nigerian football at the moment that makes even triumph feel like chalk for lunch. Every time the Eagles play, most soccer pundits more likely come off hissing and swearing at the poor displays from a nation capable of producing so much more. In an age of globalization and branding, Nigeria's football circles have taken a huge beating. You only have to listen to, or read the views of fans and critics that are not blindly Nigerian, to know. After earning a ticket to represent Africa in South Africa in very strange circumstances, they again lived up to what most soccer followers have termed “semi-final specialists”. They lacked the cutting edge, the older generation of players laying out lackluster performances, a technical bench bereft of control over tactical discipline and players not showing enough passion and zeal to win the green and white colours. Peter Odemwingie has shown some brilliance yet hasn’t staged a strong case to pull the final strings. Nigeria cries for a playmaker, a strong, an intelligent center forward and a defensive pillar that can put the brakes on and foil the tactics of the opposing teams. Nwankwo Kanu, Obafemi Martins and Yakubu Aiyegbeni have received flakes for their slack showings. The technical bench not been spared the incurring wrath. Just a few days after Shuaibu Amodu had led the Nigerians to a third place finish though, was he been given the boot. The former Orlando Pirates coach, was often was described in Nigerian circles as a "siddon-look coach" who, for most of the 90 minutes, stays glued to his chair, always looking morose when he is not dozing off. Winning or losing, his mood and countenance are always the same. The Nigeria Football Federation's short-list is topped by Dutchman Guus Hiddink, Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal, Frenchman Bruno Metsu, former Ghana coach, Ratomir Djukovic and former England caretaker coach Peter Taylor. Hiddink is currently the coach of Russia, Metsu led Senegal to the 2002 World Cup and Djukovic guided Ghana to the 2006 World Cup. The choice looks to be falling down the shoes of former Chelsea care-taker coach Guus Hiddink. Albeit extremely reluctantly. He carries the positive ego to cart the team along in strange circumstances and has the extremely important tactical urge over the other short-listed coaches. Whether he can transform the falling eagles into the winsome side they were on the continent a couple of years ago, looks the multi-million question. The NFF though has the final shout on who gets the nod! South Africa, in its budding beauty, looks a stage to state a claim for 130 million Nigerians after being sloppy in Angola.
ALGERIA
Rarely has such rhetoric acts been more appropriate for a football match as Algeria earned an imperative ticket albeit a smouldering bitterness that still lingers today between them and Egypt. Because of past history, the game was a tinderbox waiting to go off with tickets selling like gold dusts but it was Algeria who had the last laugh and with a laugh that still lingers on after a great performance at the just-ended African Cup of Nations. Rabah Saadane has shown some guts to axe certain key players and blended his new team with the youth exuberance that the younger generation brings on board. Nadir Belhadj, who plies his trade in the Barclays Premier League with Portsmouth, tall, rugged Rangers center-half Madjid Bougherra and captain Yazid Mansouri who plays for Lorient have shown great skill at the top level with Blackpool’s Hameur Bouazza and Djamel Abdoun of Nantes in the French Ligue One playing with grits and pure passion. They might have lost their heads at certain stages in the competition like losing 3-0 against Malawi in Luanda but they have shown to be a team that can be counted on at the defining moments. Only England, Slovenia and the United States stand between them and glory. South Africa, again a breeding ground for convincing statements.
IVORY COAST
Talk of talent, and they share it across the team. Of character, and they have players who have graced pitches at the highest level. Cases of brilliance, and you wouldn’t be in a world of oblivion traits of the soccer skills. What a team on paper. Rather shambolic that they haven’t been the best on the pitch. Didier Drogba and his team of Elephants are the African team all and sundry is mouthing about, and no one wants to meet. And for good reasons too, with Drogba, the Toure brothers, Kalou, Zokora, Eboue, Kone, Gervinho all playing regularly in some of the world's biggest teams. Even Capello, the Three Lions coach thinks they are a startling prospect. After a clinical dispatch of their opponents in the qualifiers, the Ivorians look in great shape to put Africa's stamp of drama on the tournament in 2010.With a Kaka-led Brazilian army, a Portugal team looking to redeem some lost pride and led by the infamous now Empiro Armani-class act Cristiano Ronaldo and a surging Japanese team, Ivory Coast must go beyond a wit of their strength. Certain pundits have argued that Ivory Coast are not the best team from Africa that they’re merely the most fashionable with their constellation of stars with an almost strong case that their exit from the Cup of Nations was not astonishing and did not come out of the blue. Best looking team on paper? Yes. Great side on the pitch. A spotless no. Vahid Halilhodžić's side looks a poor shadow of a team who has almost all of the world touting them as a dark horse for the upcoming World Cup in South Africa. They have a huge workload on their shoulders. Didier Drogba is hot, Yaya Toure very exciting, Salomon Kalou full of pace... but do they have the urge? Another looming stage? South Africa tells it all.
In all Africa, has never had it better. All five teams that graced Angola 2010 teams are latent second rounder’s, and feeding on each other with a vuvuzela-ed crowd deafening them on, Africa appears in an enormous position to go where it has never been. And if you think that the mass of expectations will get to them, be warned, African players shine best when the fuss is on them.
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