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Old 19-06-2014, 00:27
gemma-the-husky
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with odd exceptions, you cant expect countries without decent leagues and internsl competitions to be able to compete with established nations.

I think Ghana was a flash in the pan last time. In general, there is little likelihood of an african nation seriously competing at world cup level.
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Old 19-06-2014, 00:32
DUNDEEBOY
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with odd exceptions, you cant expect countries without decent leagues and internsl competitions to be able to compete with established nations.

I think Ghana was a flash in the pan last time. In general, there is little likelihood of an african nation seriously competing at world cup level.
Didn't pele say they would win a wc by 2000.

A lot of these players play in overseas big leagues though.

I suspect they are well paid by their countries fas as well
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Old 19-06-2014, 00:39
celesti
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Nearly all of the African players at the World Cup do play in established nations and decent competition, there are only a small handful of domestic players amongst the lot.
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Old 19-06-2014, 00:41
Jim_McIntosh
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Ivory Coast look like the African team with the best squad of players. Algeria looked like a really well drilled unit the other night too. Nigeria, Cameroon and Ghana have been poor this time around.

I know very little about African football so I like to see these teams when I get the chance. I expected Egypt to qualify for this having seen their under 21 team a few years ago play really well. Morocco and South Africa are other notable absentees.

Any experts on African football like to hazard a top ten of African nations?
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Old 19-06-2014, 05:08
Alrightmate
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with odd exceptions, you cant expect countries without decent leagues and internsl competitions to be able to compete with established nations.

I think Ghana was a flash in the pan last time. In general, there is little likelihood of an african nation seriously competing at world cup level.
Several African teams have done well at world cups since the 1990s. Progressing to the second round and quarter finals.
Cameroon
Ghana
Senegal
Nigeria

If they reached the stages that they did it's like saying that England can't be expected to compete at that level.
And you may be right.
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Old 19-06-2014, 09:47
Bluescope
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I am really disappointed with the African teams in this world cup. Increasing they are getting better players into the squads as individuals they have a lot of world class talent. Lots of players in top european clubs with great performances and scoring goals.

Stick them in the country teams and the performances are just like night and day. Alex Song can you believe he actually plays for Barcelona ? based on last night he would think it was a pub team. Yaya Toure is one of the best players in the league noted for his ability to control matches. In the world cup he struggled to control the ball, gave it away in dangerous position and could not pass to save his life this against Japan hardly a top side.

The African Teams burst into football 20-30 years ago with their willingness to attack, their open play, they had heart passion just lacking the skill and defensive ability. Move forward 20 years and they have better squads but going backwards. Lost that drive and excitement playing at a world cup, fighting over bonus, fighting each other sometimes, looking clueless in both attack and defence.

I do think it is slightly different for the north African teams Algeria, look well drilled, tactically better and put everything into the game but just lack the talent on the pitch. For the remaining teams I think it is the structure of the FA's for the home nation. Poorly run, changing managers every 5 minutes, interfering into squad, top players running the squads (ETO I am looking at you) rather than the managers. They need to sort out the FA structure to a professional level only then will the team perform and act as a professional teams rather than a string of individuals.
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Old 19-06-2014, 09:51
whedon247
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they can do well in future,cannot write them off

but i have noticed that despite the talent they rarely play as a well oiled team. i see a alot of ball hogging and selfish shots from african teams, maybe i am looking into it too much.

ghana played the best of them all in 1st round, ivory coast have best squad, they are the only 2 i can see doing anything.

dissapointed with nigeria, this is apaprently their best national team in ages. i was expecting some 1994 antics...we live in hope.
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Old 19-06-2014, 09:54
Parthenon
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Didn't pele say they would win a wc by 2000.
You bring that up a lot, but in fairness he said it after watching Nigeria's very impressive youth sides, many of whom were likely much older than he realised.
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Old 19-06-2014, 09:56
snukr
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Didn't pele say they would win a wc by 2000.

A lot of these players play in overseas big leagues though.

I suspect they are well paid by their countries fas as well
They've yet to even reach a semi final which an Asian side managed to do in 2002, two If you count Turkey as an Asian team.
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Old 19-06-2014, 19:39
BigFoot87
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Ivory Coast look like the African team with the best squad of players. Algeria looked like a really well drilled unit the other night too. Nigeria, Cameroon and Ghana have been poor this time around.
I don't think Ghana were that bad vs USA. They deserved the equaliser but then went to sleep and paid the price.

The rest I agree on, Cameroon and Nigeria struggled to do the basics (terrible set pieces etc). and that's annoying for someone like me who wants African teams to do well. Ivory Coast look very decent and Algeria aren't mugs.
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Old 19-06-2014, 20:01
Jim_McIntosh
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I don't think Ghana were that bad vs USA. They deserved the equaliser but then went to sleep and paid the price.

The rest I agree on, Cameroon and Nigeria struggled to do the basics (terrible set pieces etc). and that's annoying for someone like me who wants African teams to do well. Ivory Coast look very decent and Algeria aren't mugs.
True enough. I've watched so much football in the last week that all the teams are starting to blend into one another.

Any African football experts try a top 10 African nations for me? I like to consume knowledge in the form of pop quiz top 10s.
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Old 19-06-2014, 22:32
Makosi's pants
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The Nigerian team of 94 was the best blend of African talent and teamwork that I've seen, then they had to go and get stage fright against Italy... since then, I've seen lots of individual talent but only Senegal in 2002 and especially Ghana in 2010 have really shown the same level of unified teamwork. The depressingly constant backstage grumbles over money and corruption prior to every WC don't help ethier....

Look at the dire state of Cameroon this time around. Fair enough, not the best squad they've ever had, but is headbutting your own teammate really going to help matters?
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Old 19-06-2014, 22:47
jenzie
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african sides haven't progressed in TWENTY YEARS, having players in "better leagues" just doesn't work
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Old 19-06-2014, 23:25
Jokanovic
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There used to be some great African players. Now, aside from Yaya, they are rather ordinary.
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Old 20-06-2014, 01:39
jeffiner1892
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They've yet to even reach a semi final which an Asian side managed to do in 2002, two If you count Turkey as an Asian team.
Ghana were unlucky last time around not to.

(not CHEATED out of it, just unlucky that they lost on penalties)

Egypt are the ones that always surprise me, seem to do really well in the CAN but can't seem to bring that form over to qualifying for the World Cup.
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Old 20-06-2014, 08:10
big mac
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Ghana were unlucky last time around not to.

(not CHEATED out of it, just unlucky that they lost on penalties)

Egypt are the ones that always surprise me, seem to do really well in the CAN but can't seem to bring that form over to qualifying for the World Cup.
Egypt have won the African Nations Cup more than any other team, and they've been consistently successful in that competition for decades, however they rarely qualify for the World Cup. You're right, it's baffling. It's like Germany and Spain who have won the Euro's a record number of times never qualifying.
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Old 22-06-2014, 16:24
Pee
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well things sure look a great deal better than they did when this thread was made. us and Ivory Coast should now progress to the 2nd round, and Ghana have given themselves a good chance too.
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Old 22-06-2014, 21:51
Pee
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and now Algeria are in a great position to advance too.
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Old 22-06-2014, 21:52
yakutz
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Still yet to have an Asian side win a game at this World Cup, but these threads all being made about African teams.
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Old 22-06-2014, 22:19
Boxfresh
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Premature thread. People were a bit too quick to pounce on African teams after slow-ish starts, but most of then have recovered strongly, and there could be up to 4 African teams in the last 16. Hardly going backwards.
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Old 22-06-2014, 22:23
Boxfresh
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Still yet to have an Asian side win a game at this World Cup, but these threads all being made about African teams.
Strainge one isn't it. Maybe Europeans are completely dismissive of Asian teams, so don't view them as enough of a threat to the world order to care how they are performing. The quickness to pounce on African teams has been very telling....people wanted to rll out the old cliches about African teams lacking organisation and so on. The past rwo days have really unpended the storyline though.
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Old 22-06-2014, 22:48
Makosi's pants
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Still yet to have an Asian side win a game at this World Cup, but these threads all being made about African teams.
Firstly, aren't there only two Asian sides at this WC? Secondly, how many Asian superstars can you name of the last twenty years? Now how many African superstars can you name? Clearly the continent has masses of talent. And at least three African countries, Ivory coast, Nigeria and Ghana* consistently produce premier league quality talent. It's not a leap to say that there has been under-achievement. And it's not surprising that quite a few posters who seem to genuinely want better for African football (apart from the usual dubious suspects) jumped in on the back of poor previous results.

Premature thread. People were a bit too quick to pounce on African teams after slow-ish starts, but most of then have recovered strongly, and there could be up to 4 African teams in the last 16. Hardly going backwards.
I hope all four qualify but just look at the world cup betting thread for proof on how unpredictable this tournament is...

*Four African countries. I forgot France
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Old 22-06-2014, 23:18
snukr
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Firstly, aren't there only two Asian sides at this WC? Secondly, how many Asian superstars can you name of the last twenty years? Now how many African superstars can you name? Clearly the continent has masses of talent. And at least three African countries, Ivory coast, Nigeria and Ghana* consistently produce premier league quality talent. It's not a leap to say that there has been under-achievement. And it's not surprising that quite a few posters who seem to genuinely want better for African football (apart from the usual dubious suspects) jumped in on the back of poor previous results.



I hope all four qualify but just look at the world cup betting thread for proof on how unpredictable this tournament is...

*Four African countries. I forgot France
You forgot Iran from the Asian sides who could qualify.
I think only 2 African teams will qualify Algeria and Ivory Coast.
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Old 22-06-2014, 23:43
DUNDEEBOY
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Looking like two will get through, possibly three maybe a long shot at four
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Old 23-06-2014, 00:07
Mandark
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I think African reams have become much better defensively. They used to give away a lot of sloppy goals but now opponents have to work to get goals.
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