Jewels in African crowns not shining yet

SOCCER ANALYST:The form of top-class African players has not been transferred into team performances

PELE got it wrong. The great Brazilian told us the Africans would have banked a World Cup by 2002. Eight years on and while individually they are now consistently producing some of the best strikers and central midfielders in the world, this has not be transferred into consistent team performances on the main stage.

The most obvious change in European football these past 20 years has been the influx of African players to the best leagues. And the rest – from the Faroes down to Israel. Even in Ireland, Joseph N’do has made a significant impact for the numerous clubs he has been at. N’do played for Cameroon in Korea/Japan and started his Irish odyssey with St Pat’s. He is currently at Sligo Rovers.

But let’s go back up to the elite tier where the likes of Michael Essien, Samuel Eto’o, Didier Drogba and the Toure brothers are constantly funnelled into link countries like France and Belgium, and Germany due to their immigration laws, by a busy network of agents.

The West African nations (this brackets the Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana and Cameroon) are where the most valuable jewels are coming from.

Progress is evident in Fifa’s underage tournaments but the labyrinth of political wrangling and in-fighting at association level tends to stymie any cohesive progress through to the senior grade. This is the inherent flaw in the African system.

Even with the advantage of the tournament being held in South Africa, constant political interference in the decision making process remains standard practice and detrimental to any progress.

In purely footballing terms, the return of so many players from Champions League clubs to their national set-ups should enhance tactical awareness, team discipline and responsibility but the jigsaw remains incomplete.

What is required to win a World Cup? We will be asking this question until July 11th. Every time we think we know someone like Switzerland or Serbia tell us something different.

Maybe the Ivory Coast can make a massive West African statement. If only they were not cursed with the group of death. Still, they held Portugal in a display of organisation and discipline (largely without Drogba). The Chelsea attacker, the Toure brothers, Zokora, Kalou and Eboue are world-class players who will relish a crack at Brazil tomorrow.

Sven-Goran Eriksson latest gig is full of potential and maybe, just maybe, his laid back style is the way to do it but the Ivory Coast’s draw is vicious. Even if they escape the group it will be tough.

Ghana’s display against Serbia (again, a tough group) in the first game gave reason for optimism that they could repeat their 2006 progress but Serbia’s 1-0 defeat of Germany makes this a really tight call. For years they have had excellent youth teams. Winning a World youth championship at under-20 last year having previously won it at under-17.

Disarray at administration level and high turnover of coaches (Common in Africa although both do sound familiar), makes the current manager, Milovan Rajevac, Ghana’s 10th in six years. This can only stunt the emergence of these pools of talent.

The uncertainty also forces players to prioritise their club career above international football. Rajevac has pulled together a strong squad from 10 countries around Europe and even without the injured Essien they could progress providing they clean out a poor Australian outfit today.

South Africa, even with the experience of former Brazilian coach Carlos Albert Parreira and the passion of a nation (and the vuvuzela), were shown up once Uruguay did some investigating of the standard of player in their team. Most of them are based at home in a sub-standard league so they lack big-time competition and this was painfully apparent in the 3-0 defeat to Diego Forlan’s Uruguay. Only a miracle can save them now.

Cameroon, with five appearances at the tournament since 1982, have a regular pool of talent and consistent football culture.

But their display against Japan was abysmal and the natural exuberance I associated with their previous teams is non-existent. It doesn’t bode well against Denmark tonight.

In Paul Le Guen they have an experienced hand on tiller but he appears to be struggling to motivate a squad that is scattered across Europe. Their supposed leader Eto’o produced a toothless display on the right wing. This is in marked contrast to his excellence and discipline for Jose Mourinho during Inter Milan’s successful champions league campaign.

Nigeria, another regular qualifier, whose previous best was the second round in 1994 and 1998, were unlikely to trouble Argentina. They were unlucky to lose to Greece with 10 men.

The short-term quick fix with the appointment of the clever Swede Lars Lagerbäck was too little too late.

The dilemma for European coaches installed at short notice is to combine the natural talent and exhibitionism of African culture with discipline and organisation. Not an easy task in a few months.

It is all well and good getting motivated for a World Cup – but the foundations must be laid years in advance to make a sustained impact. The players expect a high level of professionalism and planning, that they have become accustomed to at foreign clubs but, sadly, this is not replicated when they return to Africa.

There are just too many of those “it’s like training in a car park” moments. The balls and bibs are always being left behind, seemingly.

Long-term strategic planning is not yet evident.

There will be one bolter from the pack but I don’t think anything lasting will happen this summer.