adminStanford Chiwanga Online News Editor
GHANA, Cote d’Ivoire and Cameroon were the African teams billed to do well at the World Cup with bookmakers believing that Nigeria and Algeria were more likely to catch the early flights back home. It was believed that Nigeria and Algeria had more in common than just the last three letters in their names — not so impressive squads.
But the unexpected has happened, the “best” teams in Africa, Ghana, Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire have gone home. The less said about them the better. It is the bottom two teams on the bookmakers’ list of African teams at the World Cup that deserve mention because they are still in Brazil, not as tourists, but because they are among the last 16 countries still participating in World Cup.
The outsiders have shown their fellow highly rated African teams how it should be done. Unlike the three African teams that have gone home, Algeria and Nigeria have proved to be genuine threats and the teams they meet in the last 16 know that they have a stiff competition.
Against all odds, Algeria beat South Korea and Russia and gave Belgium an uncomfortable day. South Korea were mauled 4-2, Russia edged 1-0 and the first game 1-2 defeat to Belgium was forgotten.
Four goals past South Korea made the world look up, holding back Russia’s attacks in the last 30 minutes after scoring what proved to be the winning solitary goal that secured Algeria’s stay at the World Cup, got Africa and the rest of the world on its feet cheering but the most impressive result was making Belgians sweat for their win.
Now they meet the highly fancied Germans and common sense tells us that Algeria’s number is up. Thomas Muller, we are told, will tear the Algeria defence apart, Toni Kroos will make Brahimi, Medjani, Slimani and Bentaleb look ordinary and Mbolhi will grow tired of retrieving the ball from the nets.
But if there is one thing this World Cup has taught us it is that there are no easy games anymore. Mismatches have been few, the favourites have been given a proper game. Spain are now uncomfortably back home, so are Italy and England. Algeria are not going to turn up, roll up and die. You might not expect an upset from this game, but if Algeria maintain their discipline, don’t expect Germany to be comfortable.
Nigeria were in a group where Argentina led by Lionel Messi and Bosnia-Herzegovina led by Edin Dzeko were expected to advance to the last 16. Of the two favourites, one advanced, the other fell by the way side because Nigeria came to the party.
After a nil all stalemate against Iran the knives were out for Nigeria with many saying that by failing to beat Iran, Nigeria had lost the plot. No one expected what followed. The team that was predicted to finish second to Argentina, Bosnia were beaten 1-0 thanks to a sucker punch goal from Peter Odemwingie.
But if you thought that victory was remarkable, how wrong you were. It was the loss to Argentina that won Nigeria a few more plaudits. Nigeria gave as they got. For every Argentina raid, Nigeria’s every incursion was just as punishing.
For almost every goal that Argentina scored, Nigeria also scored. Messi scored first and Nigeria equalised through the boot of Ahmed Musa. The Argentina captain needed less than three minutes to finish Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama’s clean sheet in Brazil, slamming in the rebound after Angel Di Maria’s shot bounced off the post. Nigeria replied within a minute as Musa cut in from the left and beat Sergio Romero with a curling shot toward the far post.
Nearing halftime, it was the Messi show again. First he tested Enyeama with a 25-metre free kick that the goalkeeper struggled to push to a corner. Having found his aim, Messi was ice cold when Nigeria gave up another free kick just moments later from a slightly shorter distance.
The second half saw Musa taking advantage of confusion in the Argentine defence to level the scores. Argentina then scored through the knee of Rojo. Messi then missed a couple or more chances, Musa did like was. It was as if he was daring Messi to score so that he could score as well.
The game ended 3-2 in favour of Argentina. They were just lucky and as history has proved, a team with Messi tends to get all the luck. However, defeat for Nigeria was not disgraceful. They had prepared to play not to cower like a rabbit in the headlights.
Even Messi acknowledged this: “We played against a team that wanted to play,” he said.
Bantu Rovers assistant coach, Mandla Mpofu, is of the view that Cameroon, Ghana and the Ivory Coast went home early because they were prone to damaging errors.
“The African teams that that have been knocked out were clumsy in their play, they conceded avoidable goals. Technically all the African teams at the World Cup were among the best but defensive errors and conceding possession to their opponents resulted in them losing. There was also lack of team work, they were relying on individual brilliancy.
“On the other hand, Nigeria and Algeria have no stars, its team work. They attack as a team and defend as a team. Everyone knows his task in the team that is why they qualified. Of all the teams the Ivory Coast was the most gifted but these two are still in the tournament because they worked hard and smart,” said Mpofu.
Former Zimbabwe Saints great Jimmy Phiri believes that Algeria and Nigeria are in the last 16 because they were not afraid.
“Ghana could have qualified but in their last game they chose to mark Cristiano Ronaldo and to play a physical game. That was their downfall, they should have played football. They are capable of that and they have the players and it boggles the mind why they abandoned their normal play. The only time they played was against Germany and the USA.
“Cameroon are out because there was no cohesion whatsoever in that team. There were a bunch of individuals and no combination. The Ivory Coast was unlucky, they were determined but the strength of their opponents and the fact that Yaya and Kolo Toure were mourning the death of their brother, meant that they were playing halfheartedly.
“Algeria and Nigeria are where they are because they were daring. They were not afraid, they attacked with the belief that their opponents were no better than them. That is the thing about the World Cup, the difference between the winners and the losers. You can only win if you disrespect your opponents. Respect gets you nowhere,” said Phiri.
Online Reporter