SAY NO TO RACISM IN FOOTBALL

by SANCHO ZAMORANO

Egypt were the first African country to qualify for a World Cup in the second edition of the tournament in 1934. They were knocked out in first round by Hungary after losing 4-2. The tournament was held in Italy. The African side star man was their striker Abdulrahman Fawzi who the first African player to net at a World Cup. He scored two goals in the first round loss to Hungary.

After a lengthy absence from the global showpiece by an African team, in 1970 an African nation qualified to compete in Mexico and it was the first one which an African nation was guaranteed of a place at the finals. By the way, it was the first World Cup to be broadcast in colour. The Atlas Lions made the grade to dance with the best of the world. The Moroccan player who stood above the rest was their evergreen striker Houmane Jarir who netted Morocco’s only goal of the tournament against West Germany in the first round loss.

West Germany were the host in 1974. Africa sole representative was Zaire (now DRC) .The first nation from the sub-saharan region to qualify to the World Cup after beating Morocco and Zambia in the qualifiers. The then President of Zaire, Mobutu Sese Seko was a football fanatic, so he gave hefty incentives to the Leopards players to do well at their maiden appearance. Zaire national team faired dismally in West Germany but one or two players showed few glimpses of artistry at the tournament namely Kembo Uba-Kembo. Kembo a striker who had an eye for goal, hence they nicknamed him ‘Monsieur But’ (Mr Goals) for his scoring feats for both the country and the then African club competitions powerhouse As Villa Club, the most popular club in Zaire then. There was Ndaye Mulamba too who was a tear-away winger and a tricky customer on his day.

1978 showpiece this time returned to South America and the host was Argentina. Tunisia qualified for the tournament. The Carthage Eagles gave a good account of themselves by notching Africa’s first ever win at a World Cup by beating the CONCACAF representatives Mexico by 3 goals to 1.The conductor of the orchestra for the Tunisians at the tournament was their elegant midfielder Tarek Diab who showed brightly throughout the group stage .

1982 showpiece in Spain saw Africa being represented by two teams after a great performance by Tunisia in the previous World Cup. This time Cameroon from West Africa made their maiden appearance and so was the Algerian Desert Foxes. Both nations gave splendid performances at the World Cup. Algeria beat the highly rated West Germany who were current European champions at the time to become the first African national team to beat a European opponent by 2 goals to 1. Cameroon too showed so much promise but eventually bowed out of the tournament after drawing all their group games. To pick the ultimate star of the show from both African representatives will be a tall order as both teams had array of stars. Cameroon had Skipper Theophile Abega, Roger Milla and arguably the finest goalkeeper ever to come out of the African continent Thomas Nkono and defense kingpin Emmanuel Kunde, however the Algerian midfield magician who mesmerized the Germans Lakhdar Belloumi who was the reigning African Footballer of the year takes the nod as the star from Africa at Spain ‘82. Belloumi is famous for inventing the “blind pass”.

Mexico were the hosts again in 1986 after hosting the world’s most prestigious tournament 16 years earlier in 1970.North African giants Morocco and Algeria booked the two tickets to the showpiece. Morocco became the first African nation to reach the knock out stages after stunning the Portuguese 3-1, drawing with England and losing 1 nil against West Germany. Algeria’s aging side failed to replicate the form of Spain ‘82 despite returning to the showpiece with the bulk of the players from the previous tournament. This time, the Moroccan goalkeeper Badou Zaki and Abdelrazzak Khairi stood out for the Atlas Lions.

Italia ‘90 , Africa was represented by the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon and the Pharaohs of Egypt who were making a long awaited return to the global showpiece after becoming the first African country to qualify in 1934. Mohamed El Khatib, Hany Ramzy the libero, were the stars for the Egyptian side.

The Indomitable Lions came to the tournament guns blazing and set alight the greatest football tournament on earth by shocking the then title holders Argentina led by the irreplaceable maestro Diego Armando Maradona courtesy of a headed goal by Oman Biyik.

They reached the knock out stage up to the 1/4 finals only to lose controversially to England. Italia ‘90 belonged to the evergreen Roger Milla who at 39 was the oldest player at the tournament. Milla scored four memorable goals. The corner flag dance swinging his waist became the number 1 goals celebration at the showpiece.

The first World Cup outside Europe and South America, USA ‘94 was dubbed Gloryland. Africa had 3 representatives (a) The Super Eagles of Nigeria (b) The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon (c) The Atlas Lions of Morocco.

The number of African representatives were increased after the Italia ‘90 all thanks to the fine run by the roaring Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. The Super Eagles who were crowned African Champions earlier in the year were the African continent’s hope. They were pitted in same group as Argentina who had recalled their talisman Diego Armando Maradona from international football wilderness, Hristo Stochkoiv inspired Bulgaria and the Greek merchants. Nigeria won two matches that took them to the second round to play against the Azzuri of Italy. The Super Eagles were clipped their big wings by the Italians who were inspired by the ponytail Roberto Baggio who scored two late goals in the match despite playing most of the match with 10 men after Gianfranco Zola was sent to an early shower by the referee.

Cameroon on the other hand failed to replicate the Italia ‘90 exploits, though that gunslinger Roger Milla scored in match against the Russians in which they were clobbered 6 -1.Morocco, the 3rd African team in tournament were just competitive aided by their talisman Mustapha Hadji. The stand out performer for the African sides was the giant Super Eagles striker Rashid Yekini whose famous goal celebration clinging to the nets after scoring a vital goal in the group stages caught the imagination of the fans all across the World.

The 1998 tournament came to Europe and the French hosted the tournament after they had missed the USA ‘94 edition after failing to qualify. In France, the Super Eagles of Nigeria who were now dominant force in Africa and the world after winning the gold medal at Atalanta ‘96 – became a favoured team for many neutrals. Austin Jay-Jay Okocha and Sunday Oliseh were the protagonists alongside Taribo West.

Morocco too, the debutants Bafana Bafana of South Africa and the perennial campaigners Cameroon had decent outings. The representatives from Africa had become 4 at this ‘98 tournament. Patrick Mboma of Cameroon, Yossef Chipo of Morocco, the late John “Shoes” Mosheou of South Africa, Austin “Jay Jay “ Okocha were the key individual players whose national teams were built around. None rose to the occasion during the tournament, bar a few individual brilliant performances by the mercurial ball juggler Okocha of Nigeria. All but 1 African representatives bowed out in the group stages. Nigeria, again failed to live up to expectations as they could not fly high above the determined Danes who comfortably beat then by 4 goals to 1 in the round of 16. As for the stand out performer during the 98 World Cup - we give it to the Nigerian midfield dynamo ‘Jay Jay ‘ Okocha.

The 2002 World Cup was the first to be held in Asia and also the first to be co-hosted. South Korea and Japan teamed up to host the World and Africa’s flag was flown by five countries (a) Nigeria (b) Tunisia (c) Cameroon (d) South African and (e) Senegal who were making their debut appearance at the World Cup.

The debutants Lions of Terranga roared and emulated Morocco, Cameroon and Nigeria to reach the knock out stage. They were the second country from Africa to reach the 1/4 finals, the rest were swept aside in the group stages . Senegal produced one of the greatest shocks in the World Cup history by beating the defending champions France 1-0 in the first match of the tournament. Papa Bouba Diop scored the solitary goal. As the tournament progressed, the Lions of Terranga’s confidence grew till they bottled up in the 1/4 finals against Turkey.

El Hadji Diouf, Papa Diop, Lamine Diatta, Ferdinand Coly, Omar Daf, Goalkeeper Tony Siylva, Alliou Cisse (captain) were outstanding for the Senegalese. The nimble footed Khalilou Fadiga was unstoppable though many pundits gave the nod to Hadji Diof and winger Henry Camara.

There was a great shock in African zone World Cup qualifications for the 2006 World Cup. Unheralded teams Togo and Angola surprised even themselves by reaching the global showpiece hosted by Germany in 2006. Ghana, an African powerhouse who had never made it to the World Cup did qualify, so did the Elephants of Ivory Coast and Tunisia who were the only previous attendees of the showpiece.

Angola had their Skipper Fabrice Akwa, Togo had Emmanuel Adebayo, Ivory Coast had Didier Drogba, Ghana had Stephen Appiah and Tunisia’s Rayid Bouazizi. 2006 World Cup, African teams melted upon arrival and none progressed to the round of 16. Difficult to be pick who was the outstanding African player at this 2006 World Cup but Drogba, Kalou, Zokora and Jean Jacquie Tizie played well.

In 2010, the unthinkable happened, FIFA obliged to their promise to spread the most beautiful game to everyone in the world. It was the turn of Africa and the most developed African nation South Africa hosted the biggest football tournament on earth. African representatives were Ghana for the second time on the trot, Ivory Coast second appearance too, Nigeria fourth appearance, Cameroon fifth appearance, Algeria 3rd appearance and SA the 2nd appearance.

Much was expected from the African five representatives as they were fishing in a familiar territory but only Ghana’s Black Stars progressed to the knock out stages. They became the 3rd African nation to reach the 1/4 finals only to be dented to reach the last four by unforgettable events that happened in the last minute of the extra time of the 1/4 final match against Uruguay.

The infamous Luis Suarez hand ball on the touchline to deny Dominic Adiyaah’s goal bound effort and the resultant penalty miss by their striker Asamoah Gyan. It was a heartbreaking ending to a fine run by the West African on home soil.

The outstanding African player at this World Cup without doubt was the marauding and ever present Black Stars striker Asamoah Gyan nicknamed the Baby Jet. Despite the penalty miss he was outstanding throughout the campaign for Ghana.

The home of football in the world is England, but the custodians of the world’s most beautiful game are the Brazilians.

Oh, by the way the phrase ‘The most beautiful game ‘ was Brazilian Pele’s famous quote. For the second time the World Cup tournament returned to Brazil and the 5th of South America after Uruguay hosted the first one in 1930, Brazil 1950 Chile (1962), Argentina 1978 and 2014 in Brazil.

Africa representatives were Ghana for the 3rd time on the trot, Ivory Coast 3rd time, Nigeria 5th time, Algeria 4th time, and Cameroon 6th time. Algeria’s Desert Foxes and the Nigerian Super Eagles were the only ones who reached the knock out Nigeria lost to France 2 nil and Algeria lost to Germany by 2 goals to 1 in extra time. African players who showed flashes of brilliance include Gyan, Atsu, Slimani, Badu, Gervino and Victor Moses.

2018 in Russia, Nigeria became the most African nation to qualify to the world cup for the 6th time, Morocco, Senegal, Egypt and Tunisia. The five nations carrying the African hopes were dusted aside and none reached the knock out stage. Like the 2006 edition in Germany it was difficult to pick the most outstanding individual player from Africa at ‘18 Russia.

2022 Qatar World Cup, the first one to be played in November and December because of the climatic condition in the heart of the middle east, the first one in the Arab world. Our Editor-in-Chief, Tawanda Muzamwese attended the showpiece courtesy of the Pass Magazine. African representatives were Morocco, Senegal, Cameroon, Ghana and Tunisia. All the African sides gave a good account of themselves only to be let down by the usual trait that has affected the African football. Discontent in the Indomitable Lions camp was their biggest let down in a tournament that they prepared well under the leadership of the FECAFOOT firebrand President Samuel Etoo. Hakim Ziyech, Yassine Bonou, Hakimi, Vincent Aboubacar, Choupo Moting, Boulaye Dia and Ismailla Sarr showed great abilities. All African side posted fairly good results in the group stages but came short to reach the round of 16 bar Morocco who broke the barrier to reach the Semi-Finals.