The World Cup Report Card

As the dust settles and we look back on an event-filled World Cup in South Africa. The fall-out from the World Cup still reverberates around the football world. To some pundits, South Africa 2010 was a tournament to forget while to others, the memories are simply those to relish. Besides the constant drones of the ubiquitous Vuvuzelas, the dodgy flight of the Jabulani ball and suspect officiating, the on-field and off-pitch actions were more than enough to intrigue the most cynical of football fans.
This is a report based on the performance of participating teams at the Mundial and teams will be scored on merit. I will analyse teams in the six football confederations.


Confederation of Africa Football (CAF)
Africa produced 6 teams in South Africa 2010 including Algeria, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and host South Africa.

Algeria
The Fennecs were the only African team managed by an indigenous coach at the World Cup. The Algerians lost what on paper seems to be their easiest group game 0-1 to Slovenia. A morale-boosting goalless draw against a faltering England side gave the Desert Foxes renewed hope; needing only a win against the United States to qualify for the Second Round. Despite a brave performance against the Americans, Algeria slumped to a 0-1 defeat courtesy a late goal from Landon Donovan.
A combination of indiscipline and lack of ambition put paid to the Algerian challenge. The Desert Foxes finished bottom of Group C with one point and didn’t score a goal in 270 minutes of football.

Report Card: E – Poor
There is room for improvement in future tournaments. If the Fennecs had maintained cool heads and worked as a team, perhaps they would have done better. Returning to the World Cup after 24 years is an achievement on its own and even greater considering the route the Algerians took to the World Cup.

Cameroon
Once a powerhouse of African football, South Africa 2010 is one World Cup the Indomitable Lions will like to forget in a hurry. Despite making it to the Quarter-finals in Italy 20 years ago, a first round exit has been the default setting for the Lions who missed out of qualification four years ago.
Rumours of divisions in the Lions rank were rife prior to the World Cup with team captain, Samuel Eto’o, offering to withdraw from the World Cup after severe criticisms back in Cameroon. The Lions lost their opening game 0-1 to a well-organised Japanese side; many pundits expected the Lions to triumph over the Blue Samurai but were outwitted by the Asians. A 0-1 loss to Demark effectively ended Cameroon’s progress at the Mundial. Cameroon concluded a dismal outing in South Africa when they were beaten 2-1 by the Netherlands. Cameroon finished bottom of Group E without a point and only one goal scored.

Report Card: F – Failed
It was a horror show for the Lions in South Africa after missing out of the 2006 edition. Coach Paul Le Guen was heavily criticised for his team selection and all wasn’t well in the Lions camp. Rumours of a Rigobert Song-led faction in dispute with a Samuel Eto’o-led group were flying about. Internal wrangling conspired to thwart Cameroon’s effort off the pitch, while poor finishing was the bane of the once Indomitable Lions. The Lions have a lot to prove to their countrymen and fans worldwide. I expect a resurgent Cameroonian team in the coming years and I reckon Brazil 2014 wouldn’t be a bad start.

Cote d’Ivoire
Once touted as ‘the African team’ to win the tournament in South Africa, the Ivoirians did not have the best preparations for the World Cup. After replacing Vahid Halilhodzic with Sven Goran Ericsson, the Swede barely had four weeks to prepare his team for the greatest football showpiece on earth. Despite breaking his right arm in a pre-world cup friendly against Japan, striker Didier Drogba was selected by Ericsson in his 23-man squad. The talismanic striker never captured his top form in the ‘Group of Death.’ Falling 1-3 to Dunga’s Brazil after a drab goalless draw against the Portuguese, the Ivoirians needed to score bagful of goals against North Korea in the final group game while banking on the Brazilians to see off the Portuguese. The Elephants 3-0 defeat of North Korea was rendered academic as Brazil and Portugal settled for a draw thereby knocking out the Ivory Coast.

Report Card: D – Satisfactory
Despite being branded as Africa’s best team, the Ivoirians failed to sparkle at the Mundial. Perhaps had Didier Drogba was fit the Elephants quest would have been a lot different. The Elephants were good but not good enough when it mattered most. Making back-to-back appearances at the World Cup itself is a great achievement; a place in the second round in Brazil 2014 will be considered as progress for the Ivory Coast.

Ghana
Arguably Africa's best team in south Afica. Making it all the way to the quarter-finals in only their second appearance at the World cup; the Black Stars carried not only the hopes of a nation but that of a continent. The Ghanaian team with a blend of youth and experience came out almost unscathed from Group D including Germany, Serbia and Australia. The Black Stars got their World Cup campaign off to a good start with a 1-0 win over Serbia, the Ghanaians were forced to a one-all draw by Australia before succumbing 0-1 to Germany in the final group game. Ghana finished second in that group and booked a date with the U.S.A. in the Round of 16. The Ghanaians needed an extra time goal to see off the American challenge with a 2-1 win thereby setting up a quarter-final showdown with Uruguay.
Making history as the third African nation to reach the last eight, the Black Stars sights were set on a place in the Semi-finals. Ghana took a well-deserved lead courtesy a wonder-strike from Sulley Muntari, Diego Forlan will go on to restore parity for Uruguay and for consecutive games the Black Stars were involved in extra time. Ghana were eliminated after a penalty shoot-out but the extra time was mired in controversy as the Black Stars wasted a glorious chance to progress into the semi-finals. In the last minute of extra time Asamoah Gyan hit the woodwork from the spot after Luis Suarez had handled the ball on the goal line.

Report Card: B – Very Good
Despite missing talismanic midfielder, Michael Essien, the Black Stars exceeded their previous performance at the Mundial by advancing to the quarter-finals. The team was a balance of youth and experience. The sky is the limit for this group of players and they are already looking forward to the next Mundial.

Nigeria
Once a force to reckon with in world football, Nigeria’s return to the World Cup ended like their last appearance in Korea/Japan 2002; with one point and bottom of the group. Much has been said of the Super Eagles who often than not flatter to deceive. A catalogue of misdemeanour and poor management scuppered the chances of the Eagles. A 0-1 loss to Diego Maradona’s Argentina in the group's opener was followed by a shock 1-2 loss to Greece having played that game with ten men for over an hour after Sani Kaita saw red for petulance. Despite back-to-back losses, the Eagles were still poised for a slot in the round of 16. Needing a win by any margin against the South Koreans, all the Eagles could muster was a diappointing 2-2 draw. Once again the Eagles failed to make it out of the group stage of the World cup and recriminations of their South Africa misadventure have been widely publicised.

Report Card: F – Failed
Appointing a new coach only a few months before the World Cup wasn’t the best of preparations. Lars Lagerback barely had three weeks to familiarise himself with his team, more friendly game were played on paper than on the pitch as the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) failed to provide quality friendly games. Poor finishing and lack of discipline put paid to Nigeria’s chances at the World Cup. The NFF needs restructuring and the Super Eagles need revamping. A temporary withdrawal of the Super Eagles from football by the President of Nigeria was a clear warning to those running the affairs of the game in Nigeria. One can only hope the ‘new-look’ Eagles will vie for honours in the nearest future as Nigeria boasts of a huge pool of young players and there will never be a shortage of talents for the Super Eagles.

South Africa
It seems only like yesterday when Bafana Bafana were involved in the opening game of the 2010 Mundial. The South African were held to a 1-1 draw by Mexico in that opener, in total contrast to the opening game, ‘The Boys, The Boys’ were drubbed 3-0 by eventual semi-finalists Uruguay severely denting the host nations hope of progress to the second round. Needing a handful of goals against a pathetic France side in discord, Bafana Bafana managed an impressive 2-1 win against the French. The host nation missed out of the second round only on goal difference leaving millions of home fans devastated and inconsolable.

Report Card: C+ - Good
Despite being the only host nation o to make it to the second round of the World cup, the host team did put up a good performance and the future looks bright for this crop of players. Continuity is essential for future success of Bafana Bafana, and as Carlos Alberto Pereira retires from football South Africa enters another phase in its football history.