[ad_1]
Nigeria (Twitter)
Cape Town – Russia was the worst Soccer World
Cup for Africa in 36 years as no side of the continent progressing through
the knockout stage for the first time since 1982.
READ: Scoring
Goals was the biggest problem of Africa at SWC – Yeye
Since Algeria and Cameroon left the group
In 1982, at least one country in the continent has always visited
phase with direct elimination. Until 2018.
The quintet of Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia,
Nigeria and Senegal have landed in Russia with the mission of emulating, or surpbading,
the three African teams that reached the quarterfinals – Cameroon (1990),
Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010).
For Egypt, it was their first appearance in
the World Cup for 28 years. Morocco was part of it after a gap of 20 years while Tunisia
last qualified in 2006.
Nigeria was making its sixth appearance
and Senegal returned for the first time since its exploits in 2002.
Within two weeks, the five
House. So, what went wrong for the African teams in Russia?
"Nothing, it was just a weak lot.
I'm sure better days are coming, "journalist and African football expert Mark
Gleeson told Al Jazeera. "I do not believe that there is a big crisis but at
there is a lack of talent in African football. "
The Egyptian mainland giants lost all three
group matches, while Morocco drew a draw by courtesy
Spain.
Tunisia lost its opening group
matches to seal an early exit before snatching a win already eliminated
Panama. Nigeria beat Iceland but defeat against Croatia and Argentina sealed
early flight at home.
Senegal caught four points of their
first two group matches after defeating Poland and drawn with Japan. But the
Teranga Lions became the first team in the history of the World Cup to be eliminated
because of their disciplinary history in Russia.
ALSO READ: Trevor Noah Responds to French Ambbadador After Africa's Victory
Comment by SWC – WATCH!
"The results do not lie.
some times, that Africa has the talent and skill to go forefoot with the
best footballers of the world, "the former African footballer of the year from Zambia
Kalusha Bwalya said while admitting that it was a bad exit by the African sides.
"In terms of raw talent, we are at the top
there with the best of them. Africa has promised so much but in the end we have
to count our losses. I am sure that all of Africa is disappointed. We must obtain
down and critically badyze, individually and collectively.
"We should work in harmony.
change what happened now, but we have the obligation to look positively at the
future. "
Emmanuel Amuneke, who played for Nigeria in
1994 World Cup, said that African football had retreated.
The African footballer of the year 1994
even says the most basic facilities needed to improve in Africa for the
continent to succeed globally.
"It's a big setback for Africa
Soccer. If all the African teams had done well, we would not ask
we have these questions, "said Amuneke.
" We had seen a lot of growth and
improvement of African football since the great performance of Cameroon in 1990,
Nigeria in 1994 and Senegal in 2002. Unfortunately, while the rest of the world continues
to grow, Africa has fallen asleep and has failed to improve facilities and its players.
"Football has changed since the past
and will continue to grow and develop. It's up to Africa to adopt
challenges that come with this change. "
& # 39; 2022
before 2026 & # 39;
Africa will again have five teams in Qatar
2022 but his quota will be raised to nine when a 48-team World Cup takes
place in 2026.
And despite a lack of organization and
infrastructure in the field, Bwalya is confident about the future.
"Do not think that it's wise to watch 2026
with an increased number of representation. Our work starts tomorrow because 2022
It's not far. Let us learn to self-criticize and badyze, then we would be better,
come tomorrow.
"We need coherence, tenacity,
belief, ambition and resolution. We come from far away, we had a major setback,
but nothing is impossible. I think we will win. "
Amuneke, who won the Nations Cup and
Olympic football in 1994 and 1996 respectively, believes that the continent
the governing body, CAF, must intervene to strengthen the continent's chances and create
a clear path to help countries excel.
MUST READ: The "True" World Cup Winners in Africa
"We Must Meet the Challenges and
changes. The CAF must develop a plan by making it mandatory
Football badociations need to improve their teams, "said Amuneke.
" Africa should not wait until 2026
start with Qatar 2022 to start solving all the problems. We must make sure that we
do not celebrate the increase in slot machines but that teams that will be at the World Cup
2026 are able to compete.
"We must invest in our football
In addition to tribal and ethnic feelings, take a holistic approach to badysis
our problems, educate our players and bring them into the right mental states for
world Cup.
"If we do not do that, we will fail
again and keep asking the same questions. "
Source link
