adminCAMEROON are yet to score at this World Cup but two of their Indomitable Lions have been on target.
The challenge is that they both play for European countries.
One of them, Breel Emboli of Switzerland, actually scored the goal that beat the Indomitable Lions in Qatar yesterday.
The other, Kylian Mbappe, was on target for defending champions France.
Timothy Weah, whose father is the President of Liberia and one Africa’s greatest players, scored for the United States.
He is playing, and scoring, at a stage where his legendary father didn’t make an appearance, despite George Weah’s unquestionable talent, which won him the Ballon d’Or.
So, by the time the Cameroon/Switzerland game ended yesterday, three players, who trace their roots in Africa, had been on target in Qatar.
None of the four African nations had managed to score a goal.
The World Cup has never been kind to Africa.
Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana are the only three African sides who have reached the quarters to date, having done so in the 1990, 2002 and 2010 editions, respectively.
Tunisia and Morocco both drew 0-0 in their World Cup openers against Denmark and Croatia. Senegal and Cameroon opened their campaigns with defeats to the Netherlands and Switzerland.
In a recent interview with the BBC, former Chelsea star Drogba shared his theory as to why teams from the continent appear to struggle on football’s biggest stage.
“When you look at the game [Senegal’s 2-0 loss to the Netherlands on Monday], [Sadio] Mane on his own couldn’t have done much better than what we saw,” the veteran said.
“It’s very difficult for African teams because you’ve got individuals.
“They’re very good in their clubs, especially those playing in Europe.
“But when they come together, it becomes more difficult for the manager to find the right system.
“To play the right guys at the right position, to keep that intensity that is required when you play at that kind of level.” – Sports Reporter/KickOff.com
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter