Africa hopes high for improved World Cup showing

ABUJA – African pride is at stake at next year’s World Cup in Brazil with four of the continent’s five qualifiers out to make amends for flopping at South Africa 2010.

Ghana were the continent’s standard bearers four years ago, the Black Stars reaching the quarter-finals to equal Africa’s best ever World Cup performance by Cameroon in 1990 and Senegal in 2002.

But Nigeria, Cameroon, Algeria, and the Ivory Coast all failed to reach the last 16 and they now have a second chance to improve on their forgettable campaigns in South Africa, where the hosts also failed to escape the group stage.

While they all have something to prove, Ghana coach Akwasi Appiah believes the Black Stars are ready to take Brazil by storm.

“What we have to do is to prepare well and make a mark at the World Cup. I am confident we can cause a sensation,” he predicted.

“This time around teams will be wary of Ghana as a threat and it will be tough, but I trust my boys and we will be ready for the challenges come June 2014.”

Appiah became the first local coach to qualify Ghana to a World Cup as the country’s two previous appearances were secured by foreign coaches.

And not surprisingly after their 7-3 aggregate play-off win over Egypt the Ghana Football Association (GFA) have now shelved a reported plan to appoint a foreign coach.

The Black Stars will be a stronger force in Brazil than they were three years ago as they will now have Chelsea ace Michael Essien, who missed 2010 through injury, as well as some exciting additions like Christian Atsu, Majeed Waris and Mubarak Wakaso.

Fatau Dauda from South African club Orlando Pirates has helped with their goalkeeping problems, while they now boast several options to score goals besides skipper Asamoah Gyan.

Unlike Ghana, African champions Nigeria have never lacked fire power, but they have continued to struggle playing as a team.

Fenerbache striker Emmanuel Emenike has proved to be a reliable goal poacher since he top scored at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, while Ahmed Musa, Obinna Nsofor, Victor Moses and Brown Ideye have weighed in with their own fair share of goals.

Coach Stephen Keshi has once again an array of stars to call upon for the World Cup outside the squad of players who qualified the country to Brazil 2014.

However, Nigeria’s biggest undoing remains getting these different individual talents to play as a unit, but Keshi will have a longer training camp before the World Cup to blend his team.

They would also need to work on a suspect defence, and that may well explain why Keshi has said he is open to a return of experienced skipper Joseph Yobo, who has been frozen out since the Nations Cup.

“We have a group of talented players and I expect us to go a long way in Brazil next year,” said Celtic defender Efe Ambrose.

“We will shine in Brazil because I know we can play a lot better than we have done so far.”

Cameroon skipper Samuel Eto’o is also predicting the Indomitable Lions can better their last eight place in 1990.

“We may not win the World Cup, but we can do better than what Ghana did three years ago (World Cup quarter-final),” promised the Chelsea striker.

Cameroon posted their poorest World Cup run in South Africa, where they lost all three games to finish bottom of a group that had the Netherlands, Japan and Denmark.

This is most certainly not the best Cameroonian side ever, but they are mentally strong and determined to defy their critics.

And if the Cameroon Football Federation can steer clear of high-profile dramas and focus on preparing the team adequately, they would most certainly improve on their last showing.

Ivory Coast will pray for luck at the draw after being done no favours at their previous two World Cups.

The country’s ‘Golden Generation’ led by skipper Didier Drogba has another shot at international glory after it again fell short of winning the Nations Cup in February.The Ivorians boast a top-class midfield and attack, but will again struggle to keep out the goals as their defence led by Liverpool ace Kolo Toure has continued to struggle.

Algeria, World Cup finalists in 1982, 1986 and 2010, will again be the only team from north Africa at Brazil 2014.

At South Africa 2010, they lost two games and held England to a draw, but failed to score a goal.