Rare joy. . . Gervinho scored the consolation goal as Ivory Coast lost 2-1 to Colombia on Thursday.
The African teams at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil have had a torrid first round, resulting with one of them, Cameroon, getting knocked out after the second wave of matches in Group A.
A horribly ill-disciplined and disjointed Cameroon lost 4-0 to a determined Croatia on Wednesday night. The central Africans had lost their opening match 1-0 to Japan, which means they are without points or goals ahead of their last match against Brazil on June 23 in Brasilia.
West Africans Ghana and Nigeria also had jittery starts, with Nigeria looking amateurish when drawing 0-0 against outsiders Iran. The Super Eagles have a such to redeem themselves in their remaining two matches. Ghana lost their opener, though their overall showing was far more decent. There's also hope, despite obvious heavy odds against the African teams.
Algeria also lost their opener to tournament's darkhorses Belgium, who came from behind to snatch a late victory from their substitutes. Ivory Coast were the only team from the continent to start with a victory, 2-1 over a determined Japan. Last night the Elephants fell 2-1 to Colombia but their cause to advance out of Group C was strengthened by Greece and Japan cancelling each other out playing to a 0-0 draw.
Despite the overall poor start by Africa, the five teams which went to Brazil remain the best representation from the continent. I cannot think of another African country which could be said was unlucky not to qualify for Brazil 2014. The shortcomings of the five teams which are there - including howlers such as Ghana letting in a 32 second goal against the US and Cameroonian players clashing onfield - represent everything that is wrong about African football. These shortcomings range from tactical errors, poor approach and general poor discipline which has kept the progress of African football on hold for many years now.
Africa still has a long way to go to provide meaningful challenge at the world cup.
The appointment of foreign coaches with no known achievement, such as Germany's Volker Finke of Cameroon, is not helping our cause on the continent. But the biggest contribution to change lies with attitude of the players; professionalism cannot be substituted at this level. My wish is that African players dump their crazy hairstyles and adopt a more mean look and approach to the game. I wish our players save their elaborate dance routines after scoring goals to the end of the match. At that time they have every right to celebrate a good outing.
Similarly, the national federations in Africa must start playing ball. The mayhem that preceded Cameroon's departure for Brazil often repeats itself around the continent as national associations' executives play hard ball when it is time to reward the players. You wonder why there are no cash problems when these executives book themselves five star trips to venues of international competition, such as the World Cup or Olympic Games.
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