Senegal’s Ismaila Sarr reacts to the side’s elimination
Photo Getty for FIFA.com

Richard Fleming is a veteran corresponding of the BBC having covered World Cups and European Championships. He now works for the Colorado Rapids in MLS as their play by play announcer, and is a regular columnist on Prost.

Pele was wrong; African football is going backwards

by Richard Fleming

In 1990, following the success of Morocco in 1986 and Cameroon in 1990, Pele predicted that an African team was going to win the World Cup by the year 2000. That hasn’t happened and on the evidence of the Group Stages in Russia, isn’t going to happen for some time.

A learned friend of mine wrote the following within the first week of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. What happened?

First there was the thrilling entry of Roger Milla and his Lions into Italia 90, and one of the World Cup’s best-ever games, Cameroon v England. I watched that match at University of the West Indies in Jamaica, and the sight of the dreadlocked Cyrille Makanaky bossing it made us fall in love with the Indomitable Lions.

Then came the charismatic swagger of the Super Eagles of Daniel Amokachi, Sunday Oliseh and Jay-Jay Okocha. We had high hopes for Africa football, but it has gone backwards big time.

Tunisia were pathetic in their opener, and England should have beaten them silly. Nigeria are unrecognizable. Egypt may have been a tad unlucky. The Black Stars didn’t qualify. This World Cup, not one African side looks remotely world class. Senegal briefly raised hopes with that win over Poland but they too have failed to emerge from the Group Stages. Egypt and Morocco limped out without a win between them. Tunisia lost all three games, while Nigeria at least failed to emerge from a tougher than average Group D.

Not only have things not improved for Africa since FIFA Awarded them five places, you could argue that they have gone backwards.

In 2014, Africa’s 15 games brought 12 points and two qualifiers into the knockout rounds. In 2010 the 18 games brought 14 points – and one qualifier. In 2006 the 15 matches brought 12 points  – and one qualifier. In 2002 the 15 matches brought 15 points  – and one qualifier. In 1998 the 15 matches brought 15 points  – and one qualifier.

Twenty years later, they have eleven, four points less than that , and their worst ever since given five places. Strikingly that number could have been worse but for Tunisia’s 2-1 over the competition’s worst side hapless Panama in the last game.

So what did happen?

Here’s a selection of the thoughts I received from colleagues familiar with the game on the African continent.:

“I did the African Cup of Nations in ‘98 – Ghana beat Tunisia 2-0 in their opening game & were absolutely brilliant. They had Abedi Pele, Kuffour, Ofori-Quaye, Lamptey etc. I thought they could not only win the CAN (Africa Cup of Nations) but go on to the WC in 02 and give it a shake.

“They then fell out over money, lost their next 2 games & went home! I think money (& federations who are disorganized and/or corrupt), has a fair bit to do with it.”

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“Makanaky, Tataw, Omam-Biyick, Nkono of Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions in 1990. Fenidi, Eguavon, Keshi, Amokachi, Yekini, Amunike of the Super Eagles. These current guys can’t seem to show a lot of heart to carry many nations along. Ghana Black Stars … well, I apologize on behalf of all my folks.”

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“As for why the promise of Italia ‘90 was not fulfilled, I’m no expert, but I suspect – as mentioned above – there are several factors, including money, organization, corruption, logistics, ethnic/communal divisions, and lack of world-class coaches.”

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“One reason Senegal are doing well, I feel, is the homegrown coach, that too one with such a bond to the national side. One drawback of so many top young African players playing in Europe seems to be that they have the flair coached out of them, in favor of fitting into a system.

“The new-age African player is more John Obi Mikel and less Jay-Jay Okocha. As an Okocha devotee, I think that’s a crying shame. Cameroon and Nigeria won nothing, but how they entertained. I think having more homegrown coaches will mean organization without the loss of the flair that made African football unique.”

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“Just glance at the age-group competitions of the last 25 years. The FIFA U-20 World Cup has been won by Ghana (2009), with Senegal, Mali, Egypt, and Morocco reaching the last four within this time-frame.

Nigeria won Olympic gold in 1996. Cameroon claimed first in 2000. The Super Eagles have since picked up a silver (2008) and a bronze (2016).”

Having covered five Africa Cup of Nations and seen first-hand the chaos that often surrounds the preparation, my finger would be pointed at national associations as to why the continent has failed to kick-on from the early promise of the 1990s, or why the talent at age-group level is unable to reproduce in a senior setting.

My experience has shown that Africa’s failing is not straight forward. The talent is most certainly there, but there has too often been a poisonous mix which serves to undermine. It is rows over bonuses, political interference, in-fighting, ethnic divisions, poor preparation, and – yes – there has been corruption.

Africa played 18 games not 15 in the 2010 World Cup

There is clearly a disconnect.

Whether that be development of players emerging from successful age-group teams, or between senior stars and their national association. Players have come to expect a certain standard from time in Europe. Far too often, the shambles surrounding international duty led to Europe-based players quitting the national side (often temporarily), or failing to answer call-ups altogether.

So the question ‘when do you think an African nation will win the World Cup?’ will continue to be asked.

Sadly, that outcome seems more unlikely now than it was 25 years ago. The world has moved on. Despite continuing to produce wonderful individuals, it could be argued that Africa has gone backwards. The graph certainly appears to suggest so.

In my follow up article, I’ll look more deeply about why this might be.