Changes African Football Must Make To Become Competitive At A World Cup

It’s certainly a case of some nations or continents typically faring better at World Cups than others. And, in some instances, you could suggest there’s room for improvement where nations from Africa are concerned. But what changes can African football, in general, make to ensure more competitive appearances from countries from the continent at the World Cups?

Improve domestic football leagues and pyramids

It may seem obvious, but improvements to leagues operating in Africa will naturally ensure that nations then go on to perform better on the international stage when using players from said leagues. An example of this was when improvements were made to Algerian football leagues, which naturally led to Algeria performing better at international level. A way to document progress and to see where changes can be made for the better is via data. The vast amount of data in the sport has given rise to not only a near infinite amount of choice when , but very specific ways in which footballers can improve every aspect of their game, which can be an indicator of how leagues are faring.

 

Export the best players to top leagues

Of course, you naturally want the best players to play in your leagues, but African domestic divisions have a ceiling which can hold players back in some respects. And, as we have seen so many times before with great African players, when they head elsewhere and find a home in some of the top leagues on the planet, when they turn out at international level, they can prove to be the difference between success and failure. And, when you get several players who do this who play for the same nation, it will ultimately mean that when World Cups come around, are going to have a raft of stars that allow them to be competitive against some of the best nations involved.

Hire the best managers and coaching staff

Again, it may seem obvious, but hiring the best managers and coaching staff is going to make a massive difference. And it should also apply at domestic level, as this will improve players who can then go on to represent African nations internationally. And there should also be a desire to bring top managers in to guide national sides too. Another benefit of bringing and coaches, primarily from abroad, is that they will know what it takes to make domestic teams successful in terms of infrastructure, facilities, culture and so on. This could help to deliver progress in the long term, which will pay dividends at future World Cups.

There is no doubting the qualities that African football possesses, but there is certainly room for improvement. And while some of the suggestions may seem obvious, implementing them sooner rather than later will ultimately lead to brighter days when heading to World Cups and competing against the world’s best outfits, which is what every African dream of seeing.