Andy Kusi-Appiah is the founder of SkillFocus, an Ottawa-based soccer development program for elite athletes, and has also served as head coach for elite teams in both Ontario and Quebec (1995-2010). He is also the co-founder and CEO of the Canadian Education Management Agency. Andy was the senior advisor on diversity issues to Mayor Bob Chiarelli, and has also served on numerous advisory committees and Task forces at the City of Ottawa. Andy is a professor at Carleton University.
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AFRICA’S WORLD CUP OF SOCCER: BRAZIL, 2014
by
Andy Kusi-Appiah
(Lifelong association football observer & student)
The World Cup of football is upon us, and once again, the excitement is phenomenal. As Bill Shankly (former manager of Liverpool FC, EPL) put it: “Some people believe that football is a matter of life and death. I am very disappointed with that attitude, it is much, much more important than that!” In How Soccer Explains the World, Franklin Foer characterizes the game of football; “as a lens through which to view the pressing issues of our age, from the clash of civilizations to the global economy.” In world football today, Africa has made tremendous strides, and 2014 is viewed as the defining moment. Historically, Africa was never represented in the world cup until 1974 when Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) became the first African nation to participate in it. However, Zaire’s contribution in 1974 was disastrous, and they returned to Africa with zero goals and conceded 14 goals. This year’s tournament in Brazil will welcome five deserving African teams – Algeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Nigeria (Afcon champions). Côte d’Ivoire is ranked first among African nations by FIFA.
Algeria:
Algeria is no ‘stranger’ to world class football, together with Cameroon, they are the nations that brought respectability to Africa (after the debacle of 1974). With a blend of youthful and experienced players in the squad this year, Algerians are optimistic that the team will go far. However, in Group H, Algeria will be playing against Belgium, Russia and South Korea and on current form alone, Belgium is in a class by itself. They can count on star players like Christian Benteke (Aston Villa, EPL), Edwin Hazard (Chelsea, EPL), Moussa Dembele (Totenham Hotspurs, EPL), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City, EPL), and with a shrewd tactician like Marc Wilmots, it would be difficult to rule Belgium out of top spot in Group H. Russia is also on the ascendancy, and backed by a tactical master piece in Fabio Capello (he makes a cool 9 million Euros a year) denying them a landing in the 1/16th group stage would be unrealistic. I will stick my neck out and unequivocally state that Algeria will not make it out of the group stages.
Cameroon:
Cameroon is the team that put Africa on the map of world football, and they did so by becoming the first African nation to reach the quarter-finals (a feat that has been equalled only by Senegal and Ghana). However, the shield of invincibility ended with the 1990 squad. Hopefully the Cameroon of yester-year will be resurrected again under the captain-ship of Samuel Eto’o of Chelsea (EPL). This year, the Lions are in Group A, drawing Mexico, Croatia and the hosts, Brazil. In spite of their array of stars [Benoit Assou-Ekotto (QPR, Championship, England), Alex Song (Barcelona, La Liga), Samuel Eto’o (Chelsea, EPL), and Pierre Webo (Fernabache, Turkey)], I see Cameroon struggling to qualify for the next stage of the competition, unless they are able to take all three points at stake in their first game against a Mexican side which has failed to live up to expectation in the run up to the World Cup.
Côte d’Ivoire
Côte d’Ivoire enters its 3rd consecutive world cup with a point to prove since their earlier stints ended in disappointment. This year, I expect them to win Group C, with Colombia finishing second (but Colombia can upstage them). Colombia has quietly banished the demons that led to their disastrous World Cup 20 years ago. Currently, Colombia are the ‘dark horses of South American football and they are entering the global event with arguably one of the best tacticians around in Jose Pekerman, and a well drilled side starring players who ply their trade in the best leagues in Europe. Apart from super star Ramadel Falcao, Colombia can also count on a whole range of stars in their own right who can do a job even without Falcao. Côte d’Ivoire also has a blend of experienced players (such as Kolo and Yahya Toure, Drogba, Chiek Tiote, Gervinho, etc) and young players who will help them move past the group stage. The problem is that none of their goalies (Tizie, Kopa Barry and Yeboah) are above average and this, coupled with a sometimes shaky defense, may limit their progress.
Ghana:
Ghana is in the “Group of Death” (Group G), after drawing Portugal, USA and Germany, and they have a 50/50 chance of making it out of the group. However as Simon Burnton eloquently puts it: “inevitably, one thing about the Group of Death is that one of the big teams involved gets so scared about being in the Group of Death that they play really badly, meaning not only that they go home in disappointment and disgrace, but that the group turns out not to be so very troublesome after all.” (Simon Burnton, The Guardian, 2009). Ghana may be a beneficiary of some sloppy play by other members of the “Group of Death”. For Ghana to realistically progress in this tournament, they need to do 3 things namely; first, rely more on their youth, secondly, sort out the goalkeeping issue, and thirdly, Ghana should develop a concept of attacking in large numbers, as opposed to depending only on counter attack and set pieces.
Nigeria:
Nigeria is the most likely team from Africa to reach the semi finals. In Group F, Argentina is the only team that can worry them. Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran will not pose a threat to their chances. Chelsea’s Mikel Obi is Nigeria’s star man in midfield and his partnership with Ogenyi Onazi of Lazio, will shield a strong defense ably marshalled by Efe Ambrose (Celtic). In attack, Nigeria can count on players like Emmanuel Emenike (Fernabache),Victor Moses (Liverpool), and Newcastle United Shola Amoebi. Nigeria also has a reliable and experienced goalkeeper in Enyeama. Nigeria is poised to make waves with experienced and well travelled Stephen Keshi at the helm.