The Good, Bad and the Ugly of the 2014 World Cup: African Perspective

Official Mascot

Every FIFA World Cup tournament since its inception in 1930 is filled with beautiful memories as well as woeful unforgettable ones and the just ended World Cup in Brazil was no different.  

For many football pundits and supporters, especially Brazilian fans, the 7-1 demolishing their country suffered at the hands of the Germans, but wait! I don’t mean to remind Brazilians of this nightmare.

However, on the African side, there are equally good, bad and ugly moments at the world cup that will forever be in the history books of world football for generations yet unborn. Here is a look at the Good, the Bad and the Ugly of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Algeria Squad

The Good

For the first time in  
the FIFA World Cup tournament, two African Nations, Algeria and Nigeria qualified to the second round of the global football fiesta. 

These countries were given the dog chance of progressing from the group, but they defied the odds and made their respective countries and the African continent proud again at the world cup. 

Algeria achieved this feat for the first time whiles Nigeria was making it the second time to have qualified to the next round since 1998.

Again, the thrilling and exciting match between the Ghana and Germany which FIFA rated it as the best match in the tournament will forever be in the minds of Ghanaians. Had it not been some selfish play, the Black Stars would have gotten the maximum points in that crucial encounter.

The real Bruce Lee

The Bad 

Poor defending cost the downfall of African teams who participated at the World Cup. Since none of the teams was making its debut at the tournament, one would have expected the African teams to have done their home work well before the competition. 

But they entered the tourney with less preparation concerning all departments of the game, especially their defensive set up.

Even Cameroon was fortunate to have benefited from two “legal” goals which were disallowed by the referee in their opening game against Mexico, but they still managed to lose the match by a lone goal.

On the side of the Elephants of Ivory Coast, many football connoisseurs were hoping that this time around they would be able to qualify to the second round for the first time. But again, they were in the news for the wrong reasons. 

Could this possibly be the end of the team’s golden generation who failed to win a silver ware?

Again, after many warnings thrown at the door steps of the Black Stars by the Coach of USA Jurgen Klinsmann, Ghanaians thought it was just a mere talk coaches are fond of firing to their opponents. Indeed the Americans deserved the victory. 

On the field of play, their players were more determined and hungry for victory more than our gallant Black Stars. You could be yearning for the Black Stars to beat USA in future tournaments to wipe away the disappointment they caused the nation. It is possible, but this time football has changed. 
Either than that the Brazilians would not have suffered two defeats in a row… sorry! I promised not to go there again.

Ghana's "Jet Li", Muntari shows
USA player, Jones where power lies

Ugly

I think with respect to this, the Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez appeared in the Ghana camp. 

However, this time it was for the right reasons. Apart from biting, Suarez is also noted for using his hand on the field of play. Maybe he might have taught Kwasi Nyantakyi how to use his hands in times of chaos outside the pitch. 

In case you have forgotten, GFA president used his hand to save Mr. Moses Parker from further harm when Sulley Muntari threw a glass at him (Parker). Ugly scene righ; but Mr. Nyantakyi might have taken his lessons seriously from Suarez.

Every Ghanaian knew that we had taken footballers to play at the world cup to make our country proud again. But we never knew there was “Bruce Lee” or better still "Jet Li" among the players. 

Moses Parker is also noted to giving punches without missing the target. Can I call him Van Damme? How interesting and disappointing it was. To some people, it was fun to them because it was a long time they saw well cultured gentlemen exchanging series of punches to the extent that one finished the first round of the fray with blood oozing from his mouth.

Moses Parker, Ghana's Van Damme

Who said the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon were the only African side who disgraced themselves at the world cup? The sending of $3m over the pacific to Brazil, the exchange of punches between “Jet Li” and “Van Damme” and the appearance fees saga were not the only events that marred Black Stars Journey in Brazil. 

But over 200 Ghanaian football fans who have refused to return home and are seeking the Brazilian government to grant them asylum further put Ghana in a bad spotlight.

Here at home, we are encountering similar incidents. Not all of us supported that football retreat organized under the auspices of the Minister of Sports Hon. Mahama Ayariga. 

But come to think of it! The confrontation between Kwasi Nyantakyi and Harry Zakour during the football retreat points to the fact that we have still not learnt our lessons after disgracing our beautiful country in Brazil.

Upon all these development, I still plead that we must rally behind the Black Stars to succeed in future tournaments.          

AFRICAN PERFORMANCES AT THE FIFA WORLD CUP

Many soccer fans on the African continent will find it difficult to understand why the performance of African teams at the FIFA world cup has been nothing good to write about since its inception in 1930 where Uruguay hosted and won the maiden tournament.

Prior to the era where FIFA only gave a single slot to now where the African qualifying region has secured five slots, no African country has made it to the semi-finals stage. The story has always been “we nearly made it”.

In the 1990 world cup, Cameroon nearly secured a semi-final ticket in their quarter-final game against England, but two penalties awarded to the latter dashed the dreams of the Africans. Many Africans were not enthused by the two penalties awarded to the English, but a clear view of the situation suggests the referee was right. 

However, four years later it was a disaster for the Indomitable Lions as they failed to qualify from the group.

In 2002, The Teranga Lions of Senegal took Africa and the world by storm as they emerged runners-up in that same year Africa cup of Nations. They defied all odds to beat the then defending champions France by a lone goal in the 2002 FIFA world cup which was co-hosted by South Korea-Japan. 

Again, the story still remained; Senegal nearly made it to the semi-finals. In their quarter finals game against Turkey, the Teranga Lions scored but was disallowed only for their hearts to be broken in the last minute of second half of extra-time.

In 2006 world cup in Germany, Ghana chalked success in the football circles as being the only African side to be part of the second round. 

Again, as the African story at the world cup had remained; the mighty hand of Suarez denied the Black Stars for semi-final berth which could have been the best ever performance by any African team at the 2010 world cup in South Africa.

As the 2014 FIFA world cup in Brazil is ongoing, the same song is being sung by Africans. One of the main reasons responsible for our inability to doing well is poor defending and lack of concentration. 

In the Black Stars game against the United States, bad defending contributed for our defeat. Ivory Coast’s second goal they conceded against South American side Columbia is also as a result of this. Algeria too cannot be ruled out from bad defending.

The bane of Cameroon at the 2014 FIFA world cup is as a result of indiscipline among players and lack of cohesion. It was disappointing when Totternham Hotspur's defender Assou Ekoto head butted his team mate Benjamin Mukandjo after the Croatian game where they lost by 4-0. 

This coupled with the silly red card attracted by Barcelona midfielder Alexander Song really cost his team.

It has always been the mindset of many African players that no African team had ever been part of the last four; thus they enter the competition aiming to go to semi-finals. Argentine soccer legend Diego Amando Maradona said in an interview that he had a dream: to play at the world cup and to win it. Such mentality clearly surpasses the mindset of African.

Winning the world cup by any African side is achievable, but we have to put our houses in order first before thinking of such a dream. We should be ready to deal with indiscipline in our teams, bad defending, disunity and the will power to assign the head coaching job to an African as few nations have done. This will open the way for African teams to perform at the world cup.

LET’S CRITICISE KWASI APPIAH CONSTRUCTIVELY

Black Stars Coach, Dr. Kwasi Appiah

Many soccer fans, pundits and connoisseurs of the football fraternity heavily poured their hearts out on the head coach of the Black Stars Dr. James Kwasi Appiah and the technical team after they lost their opening FIFA world cup 2014 game to the United States as most believed the coach’s poor selection contributed to the defeat.

Some criticisms from a section of Ghanaian journalists and various soccer analysts after the match were basically out of contest as some said they could even manage the team better than the coach.

Criticisms are good, but doing it constructively and in a healthy manner enables him to evaluate his shortfalls, learn from his previous mistakes to enable him come out with something unique afterwards. Baseless criticisms such as the post match comments bring the morale of the team down; have psychological disadvantage on the boys and subsequently give the opponents a competitive edge.

However, our second group G encounter against the DFB- Team of Germany clearly sent strong signals to his critics which has vindicated his capacity as being a good coach; hence, the need to criticize him constructively which will help to bring the best from him.

He might have made some tactical mistakes in our first game, but he was quick to rectify the situation before the German match which has earned the country respect. Losing to the United States of America should not be a worry to Ghanaians because some football power houses such as the defending champions Spain are already out of the competition with a game to spur.

At this crucial point, what the head coach needs most is our total support and encouragement considering that he put on a different attire during the second match as compared to that of US where he worn suit. This situation suggests clearly that there was pressure on him to win the game. Another record would have been made if the Stars had beaten the Germans as Algeria remains the only African side to beat them 2-1 at the world cup.

Already, the west and even our local media are somehow silent on the records chalked by our danger man Asamoah Gyan at the world cup. He is the only African player now to score in three successions at the world’s most prestigious tournament and has also equaled the record set by legendary Cameroonian star, Roger Milla for scoring 5 world cup goals.

Majority of soccer fans I spoke with after the match admitted that the Black Stars played exceptionally well and were unlucky not to have had a win. They were also optimistic the team would qualify for the second round and progress to make the nation proud once again.

World Cup Preview: Germany vs. Ghana

If revenge is anything to go by, then the Black Stars must have only one thing at the back of their minds,- winning tonight encounter- in to brighten their chances of qualifying to the second round in the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

At 19 hours GMT, Fortaleza will be the venue to host tonight crucial encounter as the Black Stars lost their opening group game to the United States whiles Germany comfortable sits on top after trashing Portugal in their first game.

Already tipped to progress from the group by pundits and connoisseurs of the football fraternity worldwide, the Germans are aware that since the 2006 world cup where they hosted, they had found it difficult to winning their second group games. Thus, this time around, they are leaving no stone unturned. In the FIFA 2006 soccer fiesta, they struggled to beat Poland by a lone goal whiles in South Africa 2010, they lost to the side Ghana had beaten in the opening game, Serbia by the same goal margin.

Apart from the battle on the pitch, there will be family reunion as the two half brothers, Kevin Prince Boateng and Jerome Boateng will get the opportunity to play and meet each other after their first international meeting on the pitch in the last tourney.

A lot of Ghanaians were not enthused with the selection brought up by the head coach Kwasi Appiah in our first game. This time around many soccer fans are yearning for a good selection to at least salvage a draw. Many of the fans I have spoken with, have lost hope in the team’s prospects whiles few die hard supporters still believe the Black Stars will go for the ultimate.

On paper, the Black Stars are considered losers, but the fact that Costa Rica has beaten two former world champions, Uruguay and Italy, sends strong signals to the Germans to be wary of the Black Stars. In South Africa 2010 for instance, the Germans had to beat Ghana in the last group game to qualify for the knock-out stage of the tournament.

The black Stars on the other hand, know that only a win makes their chances brighter of a second round berth in the competition as they quest to make Ghana and the rest of Africa proud once again. The streets of Accra are somehow calm as compared to the first game where many thought the stars would win.

Another defeat to the Black Stars does not only mean the stars may not progress, but a record of downturn in the economic activities in the country as football is seen as the passion of the nation. Knowing this at the back of their minds, many Ghanaian soccer loving fans believe the stars must go for the kill to fuel our passion. Go Black Stars, go for win.

             

WORLD CUP: Did Multimedia serve their interests rather than its audience?

 Majority of users of Multimedia’s Multi TV could be disappointed as the media giant failed to secure the Brazil 2014 FIFA world cup viewing rights t which could have enabled its viewers enjoy the matches on their decoders.

There are a number of areas in the country where getting good signals of stations such as Ghana Television (GTV) and others showing the matches is very difficult.  So, an option, perhaps the only way some people might get to watch these memorable matches live and in crystal clear pictures is on Multi-TV.

Unfortunately, some viewers in such situation have to watch the matches at friends’ places who use DSTV or get clear pictures of stations viewing the matches because such stations on the Multi-TV “Digi-boxes” are off.

Many are the people in some parts of Weija in Accra I spoke with were really disappointed in the Multimedia group for failing to view the matches on their Joy Sports channel. Yesterday for instance, a caller vented his spleen concerning this issue during the hottest sports show, “Fire for Fire” on Adom TV and he was immediately taken off.

Another TV on the Multi-TV decoder, Kesben TV also telecast about four matches and stopped after they had informed the audience they were doing all they can to show “all” matches live.

What I seek to put across is that, Multi-TV should have prioritized telecasting the world cup matches before thinking of sending their contingents to Brazil. For instance, two days after the Black Stars have lost their opening match to the United States, Joy Sports and Joy News showed a preview of the match and how fans were preparing for the big game (I stand for correction). So far as we lost, a preview for that particular game at that time may not do us any good.

This piece is not meant to ridicule anyone or any organization but to put forward what some people feel in their disappointment for not getting the world cup matches to watch on their Muti-TV decoder.

Costa Rica: The Giant killers

After beating Luis Suarez’s Uruguay where may soccer pundits were shocked after the full time, Costa Rica have taking the lead in group D in the ongoing FIFA world cup by beaten The Azurees of Italy by a lone goal and ensuring that the chances of England to qualify for the second round becomes a dream.

Their marks man Bryan Ruiz broke the deadlock on the 44th minute as he headed the ball home to ensure that his country gets a ticket to the second round. The former Fulham striker watched his effort hit the crossbar and bounced over the line as goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was beaten to the ball. Goal-line technology confirmed the decision.

Italian striker Mario Balotelli had several chances before the half hour mark but could not barry the ball. This means that the Costa Ricans now sits on top of the group with six points followed by Italy and Uruguay with three points apiece. England is seen wallowing at the bottom of the group with no point with a game to spur.

The Costa Ricans entered the world’s most prestigious tournaments from the CONCACAF region as many connoisseurs of the game saw them as the minows. However, their last group game against The Three Lions will be a mere formality as England has nothing to prove.