{"id":1240357,"date":"2022-11-01T08:51:02","date_gmt":"2022-11-01T08:51:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/11\/01\/is-africa-heading-for-world-cup-humiliation\/"},"modified":"2022-11-01T08:51:02","modified_gmt":"2022-11-01T08:51:02","slug":"is-africa-heading-for-world-cup-humiliation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/11\/01\/is-africa-heading-for-world-cup-humiliation\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Africa heading for world cup humiliation? –"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"JOHANNESBURG,
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JULY 02: Asamoah Gyan of Ghana reacts as he misses a late penalty kick in extra time to win the match during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Quarter Final match between Uruguay and Ghana at the Soccer City stadium on July 2, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Cameron Spencer\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Africans at the just-ended international break<\/strong><\/p>\n

The last international football break represented an opportunity for Africa\u2019s\u00a0FIFA World Cup-bound quintet to finalise their preparations for the tournament in Qatar and lay down a blueprint for progression to the knockout stages.<\/p>\n

But Africa\u2019s five qualifiers endured a gruelling week, winning four of their 10 combined matches \u2013 only one against an opponent ranked inside FIFA\u2019s top 80 \u2013 and each was left with clear issues that require attention before the global showpiece.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Indeed, for Ghana, Senegal and Cameroon, the optimism that greeted their group-stage draw earlier in the year has been replaced by hard-nosed realism, and the prospect of another miserable performance for Africa\u2019s sides at the tournament cannot be ignored.<\/p>\n

Despite some glorious efforts by African teams in the past, the continent\u2019s recent record at the tournament has been poor.<\/p>\n

Only in Brazil 2014 did more than one side feature in knockout stages, and Russia 2018 was the continent\u2019s worst combined performance yet \u2014 as none of the five qualifiers progressed out of the groups.<\/p>\n

African teams have won only 10 of their past 47 matches combined at the tournament proper, and the spectre of another poor showing \u2014 even a repeat of 2018\u2019s first-round eliminations \u2014 looms large.<\/p>\n

We present a status report for each of Africa\u2019s five Qatar-bound teams, including the key areas they need to improve.<\/p>\n

MOROCCO<\/strong><\/p>\n

Top of the class after the international break, Morocco were one of only two teams to have gone unbeaten, and the only side of the five to have improved on their previous international performances this year.<\/p>\n

Replacing Vahid Halilhodzic with Walid Regragui \u2014 untested at this level but accomplished in his homeland \u2014 remains a gamble, but the early evidence suggests the new man has overseen a major boost in morale, and the\u00a02-0 victory over Chile\u00a0in Barcelona was the outstanding performance by any African qualifier this week.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no shortage of top-end talent in this squad \u2014 this has never been in doubt \u2014 but Halilhodzic\u2019s old-school approach failed to get the best out of Morocco\u2019s creatives, with\u00a0Amine Harit\u00a0ostracised and\u00a0Hakim Ziyech\u00a0opting to retire from international football in February.<\/p>\n

Ziyech\u2019s return was everything an impatient Morocco will have been seeking, as he struck up a sound interplay with\u00a0Sofiane Boufal\u00a0and the duo created a plethora of goalscoring chances.<\/p>\n

The returning\u00a0Noussair Mazraoui\u00a0slipped in at left-back, complementing\u00a0Achraf Hakimi\u00a0on the other flank and solving another problem that Vahid had created, and Morocco look the most dangerous and cohesive of Africa\u2019s teams \u2014 \u2013 as they did before Russia 2018.<\/p>\n

However, there\u2019s still room for improvement.<\/p>\n

Striker\u00a0Youssef En-Nesyri\u00a0still looks a shadow of his former self, bringing his barren run in front of goal in LaLiga to the international game, and improvement is needed if he\u2019s to lead the line in Qatar.<\/p>\n

Similarly, 32-year-old\u00a0Romain Saiss\u2019s creaking performance \u2014 he was caught out of position on several occasions \u2014 will generate some consternation considering fellow centre-back\u00a0Nayef Aguerd\u00a0is already a doubt for the tournament.<\/p>\n

Improve both ends of the team, and Morocco can realistically hope to sneak out of a balanced Group F.<\/p>\n

SENEGAL<\/strong><\/p>\n

Senegal were the other African team to go unbeaten this window, following up a\u00a0routine victory against Bolivia\u00a0with a\u00a0respectful 1-1 draw with Iran.<\/p>\n

It was hardly an international break to set the pulses racing, but it could have been much worse considering\u00a0Edouard Mendy\u2019s injury-enforced absence and the loss of several other key players from the Africa Cup of Nations-winning squad due to injury, lack of game time or being without a club.<\/p>\n

Head coach Aliou Cisse complained at the conclusion of the window about his side\u2019s inability to put away chances, and, indeed, this is a key area that needs to be improved considering Senegal\u2019s workmanlike midfield can\u2019t be relied upon to create an excess of chances against tougher teams at the World Cup.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is efficiency we need to work on more,\u201d Cisse said after the draw with Iran. \u201cWe see the ratio of chances we created, and we can say that we should have scored a second goal. This is a crux of our work, and when you have chances in football, you need to bury them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sadio Mane\u00a0scored a penalty against Bolivia, ending his six-game run without a goal, but the likes of\u00a0Ismaila Sarr\u00a0cannot afford to be similarly profligate against more ominous foes.<\/p>\n

Senegal have lost just one full international match in the past two years \u2014 the World Cup qualifying playoff first leg against\u00a0Egypt\u00a0\u2014 and they remain well placed to advance from Group A.<\/p>\n

GHANA<\/strong><\/p>\n

This has been a topsy-turvy year for Ghana, and the rollercoaster shows no sign of settling as we approach the World Cup.<\/p>\n

A disastrous Africa Cup of Nations campaign preceded the controlled, composed playoff victory over\u00a0Nigeria, but the Black Stars have struggled to kick-on despite the addition of several dual-nationality players who have boosted the quality of the starting XI.<\/p>\n

Thomas Partey\u2019s withdrawal from the team minutes before the kick-off against\u00a0Brazil\u00a0was a reminder of his fragility, and his absence doubtless influenced the West African\u2019s disastrous first half in which they were 3-0 down inside 40 minutes.<\/p>\n

His return to London meant that a valuable opportunity to configure this new-look team around Partey has been lost, although it could prove to be useful exercise if the\u00a0Arsenal\u00a0man\u2019s injury concerns flare up ahead of the World Cup.<\/p>\n

Ghana improved in the second half\u00a0against Brazil, with\u00a0Mohammed Salisu\u00a0bolstering the defence, and\u00a0Inaki Williams\u00a0and\u00a0Tariq Lamptey\u00a0each making their debut, before going on to\u00a0beat lowly Nicaragua.<\/p>\n

Otto Addo acknowledged after the Brazil game that he\u2019d made mistakes in the way he\u2019d set the team up, perhaps hinting that he would adopt a back three for the World Cup, and it remains to be seen whether Ghana have enough time to integrate their new faces.<\/p>\n

The one key positive from the Nicaragua game was the burgeoning relationship between in-form\u00a0Mohammed Kudus\u00a0and Williams, but can they do it against more demanding opposition?<\/p>\n

After this week, Ghana appear to be long shots to squeeze their way past\u00a0Portugal,\u00a0Uruguay\u00a0and\u00a0South Korea\u00a0in Qatar.<\/p>\n

TUNISIA<\/strong><\/p>\n

This was a difficult international break for Tunisia, for whom any positives that could be taken from the narrow victory over Comoros were overshadowed by their rout at the hands of Brazil.<\/p>\n

The vibrancy of the Selecao\u2019s performance and the appalling racist abuse aimed at\u00a0Richarlison\u00a0couldn\u2019t entirely detract from a woeful Tunisia display as the North Africans conceded four goals in 40 minutes and\u00a0ultimately lost 5-1.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s an unwanted scoreline on the eve of a major tournament.<\/p>\n

Tunisia, like Ghana, will be grateful that Brazil eased off after the break, although a 42nd-minute red card for\u00a0Dylan Bronn\u00a0certainly left the second half feeling like a training match that was little use to either side.<\/p>\n

At least seven of the starters against the South Americans would have been expected to start their World Cup opener, although that XI displayed worryingly little of the \u2018grinta\u2019 that has traditionally given Tunisia hope they can trouble stronger sides.<\/p>\n

Ali Maaloul,\u00a0Bilel Ifa\u00a0and\u00a0Bechir Ben Said\u00a0will likely come back into the defence for the World Cup opener against\u00a0Denmark, while\u00a0Wahbi Khazri,\u00a0Naim Sliti\u00a0and\u00a0Taha Khenissi\u00a0should boost the attack, but there\u2019s a sense that man-for-man Tunisia are short of the talent required to escape the group.<\/p>\n

They certainly need to maintain composure and concentration better against\u00a0France\u00a0than they managed against Brazil on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

CAMEROON<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cameroon, like Ghana, have struggled to build on their triumphant World Cup playoff success, and they are still to convince that they can be more than the sum of their parts.<\/p>\n

The International break was particularly a testing week for the Indomitable Lions, who surely would have been relieved to turn the attention back to events on the pitch following FECAFOOT\u2019s controversial break from Le Coq Sportif that has dominated Cameroon\u2019s backpages since the start of July.<\/p>\n

The French brand, Le Coq Sportif (equipment supplier) indicated in a letter dated July 11 that if the president of the Cameroon Football Federation stubbornly persists in ending his contract with Cameroon, it will not hesitate to initiate legal proceedings against him.<\/p>\n

However, after their latest two fixtures \u2014 both defeats \u2014 they may now be hoping for some juicy off-field controversy to detract from this side\u2019s limitations!<\/p>\n

FA President Samuel Eto\u2019o may have declared after the\u00a0defeat by World No. 77 Uzbekistan\u00a0that Cameroon were still planning to reach the World Cup final, but there was little evidence to suggest they can take points from\u00a0Switzerland,\u00a0Serbia\u00a0or Brazil.<\/p>\n

Uzbekistan beat them 2-0 & South Korea beat the 1-0<\/p>\n

Cameroon conceded 3 goals in two games at the International break<\/p>\n

Nicolas Nkoulou\u2019s international return was riddled with errors, fullbacks\u00a0Nouhou Tolo\u00a0and\u00a0Collins Fai\u00a0struggled to impose themselves,\u00a0Bryan Mbeumo\u00a0appeared short of self-belief, and\u00a0Vincent Aboubakar\u00a0was effectively neutralised.<\/p>\n

Olivier Ntcham offered some encouragement on debut, and Mbeumo improved in the\u00a0defeat by South Korea, although coach Rigobert Song will be desperate to welcome\u00a0Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa\u00a0back into the midfield.<\/p>\n

The likes of\u00a0Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting\u00a0and\u00a0Karl Toko Ekambi\u00a0\u2014 both absent this window \u2014 will also add depth, experience and a goal threat, but Eto\u2019o\u2019s aim for Cameroon to remain in the tournament until Dec. 18 is laughable.<\/p>\n

LATEST FIFA WORLD RANKINGS \u2013 AFRICA<\/strong><\/p>\n

RELEASED ON OCTOBER 6<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. SENEGAL (18th in the World)\u2026 they\u2019re going to World Cup<\/p>\n

2. MOROCCO (22nd in the World)\u2026 they\u2019re going to World Cup<\/p>\n

3. TUNISIA (30th<\/sup> in the World)\u2026 they\u2019re going to World Cup<\/p>\n

4. NIGERIA \u2013 (32nd<\/sup> in the World) Not going to World Cup<\/p>\n

5. ALGERIA (37th<\/sup> in the World)\u2026 Not going to World Cup<\/p>\n

6. EGYPT (39th<\/sup> in the world)\u2026 Not going to World Cup<\/p>\n

7. CAMEROON (43rd<\/sup> in the World)\u2026 they\u2019re going to World Cup<\/p>\n

11. GHANA (61st<\/sup> in the World)\u2026 They\u2019re going to World cup<\/p>\n

Ghana remain the lowest-ranked side among the Country that qualified for this year\u2019s World Cup<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is our lowest so far\u2026 heading to the World Cup.<\/p>\n

2006 \u2013 When Ghana qualified for their first World Cup, they were 48th<\/sup> on the ranking<\/p>\n

2010 \u2013 They were 14th<\/sup> on the ranking<\/p>\n

2014 \u2013 They were 38th<\/sup> on the ranking<\/p>\n

2022 \u2013 Ghana is ranked 61st<\/sup> ahead of the World Cup<\/p>\n

BLACK STARS FIFA RANKING AGAINST OPPONENTS IN GROUP H<\/strong><\/p>\n

Portugal \u2013 9th<\/sup><\/p>\n

Uruguay \u2013 14th<\/sup><\/p>\n

South Korea \u2013 28th<\/sup><\/p>\n

Ghana \u2013 61st<\/sup><\/p>\n

THE AFRICA RANKING IN FULL<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. Senegal (18)<\/p>\n

2. Morocco (22) \ud83d\udd3c<\/p>\n

3. Tunisia (30)<\/p>\n

4. Nigeria (32) \ud83d\udd3b<\/p>\n

5. Algeria (37) \ud83d\udd3c<\/p>\n

6. Egypt (39)<\/p>\n

7. Cameroon (43) \ud83d\udd3b<\/p>\n

8. Mali (46)<\/p>\n

9. Ivory Coast (48)<\/p>\n

10. Burkina Faso (54)<\/p>\n

11. Ghana (61)<\/p>\n

12. South Africa (67)<\/p>\n

13. Cape Verde (71) \ud83d\udd3c<\/p>\n

14. DR Congo (73) \ud83d\udd3b<\/p>\n

15. Gabon (81)<\/p>\n

16. Guinea (83)<\/p>\n

17. Zambia (88)<\/p>\n

18. Uganda (89)<\/p>\n

19. Benin (91)<\/p>\n

20. Equatorial Guinea (98)<\/p>\n

21. Congo (100)<\/p>\n

22. Kenya (101)<\/p>\n

23. Madagascar (102)<\/p>\n

24. Mauritania (103)<\/p>\n

25. Mozambique (103)<\/p>\n

26. Namibia (115) \ud83d\udd3c<\/p>\n

27. Guinea-Bissau (116)<\/p>\n

28. Sierra Leone (117) \ud83d\udd3b<\/p>\n

29. Angola (119)<\/p>\n

30. Libya (120)<\/p>\n

31. Niger (121)<\/p>\n

32. Malawi (124)<\/p>\n

33. Zimbabwe (125)<\/p>\n

34. Gambia (126)<\/p>\n

35. Togo (127)<\/p>\n

36. Sudan (128)<\/p>\n

37. Comoros (129)<\/p>\n

38. Tanzania (130)<\/p>\n

39. Central African Republic (132)<\/p>\n

40. Rwanda (137)<\/p>\n

41. Ethiopia (138)<\/p>\n

42. Burundi (141)<\/p>\n

43. Eswatini (143)<\/p>\n

44. Lesotho (147)<\/p>\n

45. Botswana (148)<\/p>\n

46. Liberia (150)<\/p>\n

47. South Sudan (165)<\/p>\n

48. Mauritius (180)<\/p>\n

49. Chad (181)<\/p>\n

50. S\u00e3o Tom\u00e9 and Pr\u00edncipe (186)<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n