GAME AND GLORY

THE FIFA WORLD CUP, FROM JUNE 11 TO JULY 19, PROMISES TO BE A SPECTACLE OF GLOBAL TALENT WHERE SEVERAL AFRICAN NATIONS ARE POISED TO LEAVE THEIR MARK. THE QUESTION IS: HOW FAR WILL THEY GO?

- by Mark Gleeson

An expanded field of 48 teams for this year’s World Cup could prove a boon for African football, with 10 countries from the continent competing at the tournament in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

It is a 100% increase in representation from the last finals in Qatar four years ago, where Morocco elevated the African precedent, becoming the region's first side to reach the final four.

Now there are hopes that Africa might go one bracket further, and even go on to lift the trophy.

Realistically, the odds are heavily stacked against such a phenomenon unfolding, but there is an increasingly positive sentiment about a breakthrough for one of the African national teams.

Ivory Coast, Morocco and Senegal are most likely to have a chance to upset the established order at the tournament, which has been going since 1930 but only ever had winners from Europe and South America.

“If I lose even a second of my belief that I can win the World Cup with Senegal, I will step down,” said Senegal coach Pape Bouna Thiaw in the buildup to the finals, which get underway in Mexico City on June 11 with the co-hosts taking on South Africa.

Ironically, when South Africa hosted the 2010 World Cup, they kicked off the tournament at Johannesburg’s Soccer City with a 1-1 draw against the Mexicans, which started a four-week party that, for many, remains the most vibrant and entertaining World Cup, off the pitch at least.

Algeria, Cabo Verde, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Egypt, and Tunisia round up the continent’s inbound contingent, with the heavyweight pair of Cameroon, who have been to an African-record eight previous World Cups, and Nigeria failing to qualify.

Historically, African sides competing at the World Cup were headlined with one or two established stars and a backing cast that varied greatly in ability. A lack of depth meant they were never able to consistently compete.