We all know the talent is there, Africa produces very good young talent and alot of them too. Especially now, with countries like Ghana, Togo, Angola, Mali, etc. improving, how good could the continent of Africa be? right now I would say they are third behind Europe and South America but if they develop decent leagues in Africa and maybe other countries develop young talent too and try getting rid of the corruption too (easier said than done), they should close the gap between the second best contient and the third best.

First African nations have to fix their economical and social problems before they can start worrying about producing better talent for their national teams.

That aside though, What they need to do is build academies such as ivory coast asec abidjan and spot their best talents and bring them to theses academies. All over africa, kids are playing on dirt with deflated ball and no shoes. If you can give them facilities and proper coaching from a young age the way the europeans do, then we would be ok.

I agree that if the soccer resources/academies were better in Africa (as good or just below European standards) Africa could possibly match Europe...the real question is, is it plausible? could it happen?

i agree with y'all. many african teams would be decent if some players didn't change thier nationality.

I think they would be more than decent, they would become real threats.

I think he is talking about sides like DR Congo...who can have lost players like Makalele.....I disagree about the academy statement though....at least in Nigeria...the kids have enough talent....and the academies...are decent enough to produce loads of good players....however...organization is key....the FAs and the leagues must do their job...as Ive said....it is important that players can make their living in Africa...until 18 or 19......instead of going to fringe leagues in Europe or the Arab world never to be seen again.

Yeah I think if all those players stayed, I am talking about the African born players, Africa will make it three powerhouse continents.

If all those African players stayed then African football wouldn't be much different from what it is now. It's the facilities that makes the difference

You're telling me Africa as a whole wouldnt improve if ALL of them stayed? Although I agree that the facilities made them what they are right now.

I think an African team will win World Cup 2010. Probably Ivory Coast or Nigeria.

Thats the best chance they have.

From what I heard from Piet de Visser (one of the greatest scouts in the world) the continent is to corrupted to develop a healthy football structure.
And probaly will be for the next 2 decades.
To bad becouse the potientiol to have a couple of powerhouses (say 3 of Camaroon, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa)

I don't exactly understand how a scout could decide how corrupt African football is.....considering he has no actual knowledge of the way they run......Italy's league is a joke...and look at their national team.....it is more of a case of organization than corruption.....countries like Cameroon.....who have proven themselves on the world's biggest stage...cannot even boast a proper venue for their national team.....but really....if we are talking about suceeding in international play....we don't have far to go....Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana, etc........boast teams to rival any Euro or South American teams.....if you are talking about the state of football within Africa...then yes.....we have a loooooong way to go.

I agree with olu...how good our continent can be has to do more with how the men in suits administer our game. No doubt we are bursting to the seams with talent, but the organisational side of it leaves much to be desired. Just look at what happened to Togo...to think that the team actually boarded the plane to Germany with issues of bonuses unresolved says a lot about the sort of cronies we have running our game. The organisational aspect will have to change or our potential to make a real mark on the global football scene will remain just that - potential.

Togo angered me greatly....their actions brought back bad memories for Africa.....after all this fighting...and scrapping for all the money...they could get.....what did they receive....0 points....1 goal...and a free ride home.....I realise that as a Nigerian...I really don't have room to talk.....don't they say that someone in a glass house shouldn't throw stones?.....but sometimes criticism needs to be dealt...Their antics......brought back the naive...and selfish tags...from the days of 6-0 beatings for Zaire.....and as it seems that Africa is on the verge of something so very special....we are pulled down into shame once again...once again...this is just my opinion



Another thing that I believe is often overlooked.....is that we need to treat the players like people and not livestock....maybe then they stay in Africa....you cannot expect them to show up for a match in Lesotho....if you can't help them with simple visa issues....now...I am very tired....and maybe that is why I am so annoyed right now...but anyway....my cot is calling....

Just watch the French NT, that's Africa's potential.
A World Cup winning side.
But of course like many of you stated that's not plausible because teams like Togo are putting money before passion. I think that South Africa 2010 looks very promising, IMO if an African side doesnt get to the Semis then, they never will (unless it's held in Africa again).
If teams don't cease that opportunity then we might as well be where we are now as a World Cup challenging continent.
Just off topic, I hope FIFA allows 5 African nations apart from South Africa, that should give us higher odds,lol, 6/32 (I'm not even sure I'm a right odd maker).

The home advantage will make no difference to African teams. The believe is not there thats the problem. If you want to win the world cup you have to believe you can then only you can play 100%. Ivory Coast is the only nation that has realistic chance of winning the cup apart from that Lord have mercy. They couldn't even make to the last 16 in the last world cup with that squad. Shame.


By the way the next-next world is 2014, it is kinda hard to predict that long, dont ya think.

There is always one African country that comes out and just rips through teams with a quality that no one knew they had. In 02 it was Senegal, in 06 it was Ghana. That along with IC's ever growing confidence in their ability as a team and the emergence of Egypt is a true power in football means Africa has a really good chance of doing something in 2010. We will have to see which minnow African team will make their mark on the world stage in 2010. The only one i can truely think of right now would be Malie. If they can get a decent coach and get the right tactics for their team, then they have a good chance of doing something.

they were in the same group as argentina and holland man. and they both narrowly won 2-1

It might help to make the domestic leagues better.

In terms of domestic leagues, North Africa is in a different class than the rest of the continent. Last year, seven of the eight quarter-finalists of the Champions League were from North Africa. The four semi-finalists were from North Africa. Furthermore, the two finalists of the Confederation Cup were North Africans as well. It has been proven that the Egyptian League consists of players that can compete with others from top European clubs. In 2006 and 2008, the vast majority of the Egyptian national team were local players, and yet they were the champions of Africa in the two occasions. Yet, I agree that the leagues in other parts of Africa need to be strengthened. Perhaps a major problem is that European clubs buy the hot prospects in Africa at a very young age.

The Africans has all the attributes to be world class and i guess we could be better in next years, the problem that is slowing the progress is the amount of players refusing to play for their country and prefer their teams and other countries, a good example of that will be the France U21 team:
1-Younes Kaboul
2-Charles N'Zogbia
3-Mouhamadou Dabo
4-Hatem Ben Arfa
5-Karim Benzema
6-Razak Boukari
7-Issiar Dia
8-Karim El Mourabet
9-Moussa Sow
10-Samir Nasri
11-Abou Diaby
12-Yassin Moutaouakil
all those and i'm sure there is more are from African descent.

Refusing to play for their country? You make it sound as if there committing treason.

Correct me if im wrong, but most of those players weren't even born in Africa. What right does Africa have to claim them?

As for Africa winning anything and being developed. There are European nations who have been stong and developed for decades and havent even come close to wining the big one. Netherlands, Spain and Portugal just to name 3.

So i would hold my breath just yet.

I'll be biased and say that Nigeria have a good chance of doing something if A. A Good manager is brought in, and B. The U17players who've moved on to big clubs develop and fulfill their potential.

Bar Kolo Toure, Yobo is easily the best defender in Africa, but unlike Toure, he hasn't got a quality CB next to him, and has to be the 2 CBs on his own most of the time. Luckily he always shows up. But with Kinglsey Udoh joining Atletico, hopefully a strong partnership can be formed in the near future.

Other than that, Lukman Haruna and Ibrahim Rabiu's development (at Monaco and Sporting respectfully) will be key, as Nigeria really needs a better combination of steel, and genius in midfield.

Only 2 African teams will be a threat at WC 2010 IMO, and they're Ghana and Nigeria.

Let's not make predictions from now about the World Cup because you never know how the draw for the qualifications will look like. A retarded draw like the last one where Egypt, Cameroon and Cote d'Ivoire were together would certainly decrease Africa's chances in the World Cup. Let's just hope the superpowers are kept apart. Egypt, Ghana, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire and Nigeria must be separated. I would also love it if Egypt gets separated from the North Africans. I wouldn't mind Senegal or Mali. Let's just wait for the seedings and then make wishes .


He just meant that Africa does have the potential and this potential is represented by the players he listed.

Ah, of course. You're right. I think this is will be the best chance for an African side to do something big in a World Cup. Another chance like this won't come for a long long while IMO. Luckily, this opportunity has coincided with an increased spread of quality.

That is good and bad in a way. The increase in quality means there is more competition which will raise the level of play by the Africans, but at the same time it could mean tht some of the giant teams in Africa will get knocked out by a smaller competitive African nation who has no experience at the WC.

It is true that this happened in 2006 but I can swear that it won't happen in 2010. I think that some of the giants, such as Nigeria, got complacent in the 2006 qualifications as their groups were quite easy, but this mistake won't be repeated simply because there won't be easy groups this time.

So does these means they are Europeans ?

The most special thing in Africans is there physical strength in the field and that is something Africa gave to them not Europe, While north African are technically better and have more ball skills.

Africa is a poor continent and there are tons of problems here and football is a game that brings smile to our faces, u could not imagine the happiness of a Ghanian when he see player like Essien playing for Chelsea and he is watching them and wants them to win and develop to come back and play for Ghanian NT and most of the Africans has a dream of taking the WC and comes Europe and deprive us from some of our players whose descents are Africans.

take an example player like Hatem Ben Arfa or should i say "7atem ben 3rfa" that is how u spell his name right, how can he play for a country when they can not say his name right.

Imagine if Africa was the rich the country and Europe was the poor one and Europeans immigrates to Africa for better living, what would be ur feeling when u see a player whose descents are from ur country and he is amazing but he plays for Nigeria or any other African team.

Yes it does. Same as Zico and Lionel Messi are South American. Despite being white and clearly having European heritage(as do many South Americans). Thats how the world works.



Europe coming in and depriving you of players?

Look, the people who you are talking about arnt Immagrents, they were born in Europe. Same as the all white South African team that won the rugby world cup weren't immagrents, they were Africans. You have a case with people like Kalou who were born and grew up in Africa and want to play for a European team. But not players like Samir Nasri who were born in France and have probably never even been to Africa

So basically what you believe in is that your roots don't mean a shit? In your eyes a guy like Karim El Ahmadi would be wrong because he choose Morocco above Holland?

People are not what papers says, they are what they really are.

I never said anything remotely like that. And thats purely down to Karim El Ahmadi who he wants to play for. Whether the unlikely possibility of him getting picked on a regular bases for the Dutch national team is the reason he wants to play for Morocco is another thing....but thats irrelevant.

What you have to understand is the vast majority of people pick their place of birth over their roots. That applies to the all white South African team, the pretty much all white Argentinean team as well as blacks playing for European nations.




Sure thing Louis Farrakhan.