THE FADING ERA OF UNDERDOGS IN AFRICAN FOOTBALL

There’s a wind of change blowing over African football. Results that hitherto looked impossible have been recorded in the 34^th African Nations Cup, in Cote d’Ivoire. It did not start so recently, but even some of the surprise results of the past were viewed as an exception, and never has such results been so common in a single competition. For example, when Comoros beat the Black Stars of Ghana during the last African Nations Cup, to get to the group of 16 stages, it seemed to many as a bad day for the Ghanaian national team, but with events at the AFCON2023, it has become clear that several African national teams are experiencing a positive transition. Past records don’t count but only stand as a legacy and not the reality on the football field. That’s the situation amongst African teams and their supporters who now face the reality of watching the so-called smaller teams overwhelming their once-regarded stronger national teams!

 THE ERA OF GIANT KILLERS 

So far, several landmark football results have been recorded and this has made a very positive impression about the development of football across the continent. Cape Verde, took the first position in a group comprising of Egypt, Ghana, and Mozambique, whilst Equatorial Guinea also took the pole position in group A which has Nigeria, hosts Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea Bissau. Mauritania, a nation with virtually no record of football achievement apart from their qualification for the AFCON, surprised themselves by beating AFCON2019 winners, Algeria, 1-0 to qualify for the group phase of AFCON2023. With this result, Algeria exited the competition, with Angola, Burkina Faso, and Mauritania qualifying from the same group. This same result also confirmed the exit of Ghana, one of Africa’s representatives in the Qatar FIFA World Cup 2021. In retrospect, Mauritania’s win was their first-ever victory in an AFCON match, but it was no fluke!

On the personal side for the players, surprises are also springing up. Journeyman, Emiliano Nsue, playing with a lowly third division club in Spain, leads thegoal scorers’ chart with five goals from three matches, in a pack that has established attackers such as African Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen, of Nigeria, Saido Mane of Senegal, Riyad Mahrez, of Algeria and Mohammed Kudus of Ghana.

 

 

THE REASONS FOR THE DYNAMIC EVOLUTION

Looking at the squad of all the AFCON2023 participants, there’s a huge influence of foreign-based professional footballers playing in the more developed leagues of Europe and Asia. Every country has the benefits of huge exposure to modern techniques of football and has greatly reduced the imbalance between these teams. There’s also the prevalence of coaches with both local and international experience, managing these countries. For example, French-born Amir Abdou, as coach of Comoros, defeated Ghana in the  AFCON2021 and has also helped Mauritania (he joined them as coach in 2022) overcome Algeria inthe AFCON2023.

With the benefits of the wide broadcasts of these matches across the entire world, African players have the opportunity to showcase their worth and get better bargains in their contract transactions and the opportunity to get into better clubs. The current situation signals a positive growth for African football and it’s expected to continue for a long time!

AFCON2023 SHOWCASING THE GROWTH OF AFRICAN FOOTBALL

 

 The 34^th African Nations Cup started on the 13^th of January with much thrill, fanfare, and excitement in Cote d’Ivoire. The results so far have shown the extent to which football has evolved in Africa within the past two decades. Twenty-four nations are participating in this tournament, but with the outcome of the results at this stage of the competition, there appears to be an immense growth amongst African nations to the extent that there’s an absolute drop in the gap between the so-called ‘soccer greats’ of African football and the ‘assumed minnows’!

 

THE EVENTS THAT IMPACTED AFRICAN FOOTBALL

The growth of modern football has evolved with diverse twists but nothing has been more far-reaching than the democratization of football with the outcome of the Bosman ruling, the founding of the European Union, and their attendant effects on enhancing the revenue potential of the game.  This assertion does not disregard the role of the regulators of world football, the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA), especially during the era of Presidents Joao Havelange and Joseph Sepp Blatter. Their shrewd business sagacity brought huge revenues from broadcast rights in FIFA Competitions and monumental collaborations with several conglomerates. The era of the former, as President, brought the introduction of the age-grade world cup competitions, namely the U-20(1977) and U-17(1985). These competitions were targeted to bring development to football in every continent and they adopted a catch-them-young strategy in developing nations. Whilst the first U-20 World Cup was hosted in Tunisia, the U-17 was hosted in China, both countries, being developing football nations of that era. These policies were further strengthened with the disbursement of development grants to help these nations build capacity in training, coaching, and building infrastructure.

INDICES OF DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICAN FOOTBALL

Within the past two decades, the effect on African football has been tremendous. With the outcome of the Bosman rule, Africa became a hunting ground for skilled footballers for most clubs in Europe. With this exposure to better remuneration, training facilities, and technical coaching skills, these players became adept with the intricacies of modern football and their performances have continued to grow by the day!

Apart from the FIFA World Cup competition which no African nation has won, they have won every other international competition and individual honors for players. George Opong Weah won the Balloon D’or in 1995, Finidi George and Kanu Nwankwo, won the European Champions League with Ajax Amsterdam, same with John Mikel Obi, with Chelsea FC, of England….the list is endless.

The current results at the AFCON2023 have produced several unimaginable outcomes that clearly show the closing gap between these nations. The matches below would have been a myth a decade ago, but this reality gives an insight into how this gap has closed. Most African nations have their skilled footballers plying their trade outside their country but in more developed leagues with better facilities and financial remuneration.

See: matches

Cape Verde 2-1 Ghana
Egypt 2-2 Mozambique
Equatorial Guinea 1-1 Nigeria
Cote d'Ivoire 2-0 Guinea-Bissau

Tunisia 0-1 Namibia

Mozambique 0- 3 Cape Verde

 

Football has been transformed to become an occupation with huge revenue rewards. Amidst the ineptitude of several African governments, it has lifted several African families from acute poverty, giving them a new lease of life. Every African player who has crafted a football career for themselves stands a good chance of building a more secure life and that remains an attraction for several African youths. This factor remains the greatest incentive that has enhanced African football's evolution and will remain so for a long time! However, more still needs to be done to strengthen the local leagues to make it attractive to others and continue to produce rare talents for the diaspora.

 

N.B:

At the point of publishing this article, Cape Verde, a nation considered a minnow of African football has become the first team to qualify in the group of 16.

AFCON2023: AFRICAN REFEREES ENHANCING THE INTEGRITY OF VAR

The growth of football within the past century has witnessed several changes in its rules and regulations. The need to make it more attractive, safe, and health-friendly has remained the motive for these changes. Some of these modifications especially during the past three decades were tested and reversed in some cases, such as the sudden death rule, and in other cases, such as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) rules, that was ratified. The (VAR), a modern technological innovation was put on mock trial for over an entire football season before its adoption and despite the outcry about its conflicting application in recent times, its use at the AFCON2023 competition in Cote d’Ivoire has been so far, commendable.

WHAT IS VAR?

Simply put, it involves the use of live television/video monitors to review the infractions during live football matches. It is managed by a human video assistant referee. Its use covers the following:

See: 4 categories covered by VAR

After several mock trials to solve refereeing errors, in 2018, the video assistant referee system was introduced, into the rules and regulations of football. It marked an important evolution to solve several irredeemable match outcomes which has caused pain to several fans and prevented football teams and players from achieving the results for their efforts. The entire nation of Northern Ireland was brought into mourning through Thierry Henry’s goal scored by hand. This goal prevented them from participating in the 2010 World Cup to the benefit of France. Luiz Diaz's goal for Liverpool against Tottenham Hotspur FC in the week 5 of the 2013/24 English Premier League, could have turned the outcome of the match, but the almighty VAR, thought otherwise. The conflicting interpretation of football rules and regulations, using VAR has also become another worrisome action. The wide broadcast of the English Premier League has begun to make VAR lose much of its integrity, resulting from its inconsistencies.

So far, the use of the VAR at the AFCON2023 has been impeccable and makes questionable its conflicting application in the English Premier League. With the better organized football league in England and the rest of Europe against the reverse situation, wherein African referees ply their trade in their country's football leagues where in most cases, VAR has not been put to use, it becomes evident that as enunciated elsewhere, there could be other reasons why its application is questionable in England!

The huge financial investments involved in modern football have made the outcomes of matches of great importance and the introduction of VAR was done to reduce the refereeing errors to a very marginal ratio. Could the money power of the betting industry be involved in the conflicting application of VAR? This question is important since the greatest outcry about its inconsistencies arises from the English Premier League, which is the biggest football league in the World!

African referees and their supporting VAR teams could be creating another revenue path for themselves if their impeccable performances continue throughout the entire competition. Engaging them in part-time work in the EPL might not be out of place but it would certainly amount to job losses for their counterparts in England, which the English Premier League Management would unlikely want to patronize.  

PLAYER POWER & SUPER EAGLES VICTORY AGAINST COTE D'IVOIRE

A day after Nigeria’s victory over Cote d’Ivoire at the AFCON2023, Nigeria’s Coach Jose Peseiro posted the quote below on his Twitter handle @JosePeseiro

 

"Yesterday we won an excellent match against Côte d'Ivoire, supported by a strategic plan that was impeccably executed, by the quality, intelligence, determination, and mutual help of our boys. It's up to us to keep our FOCUS on training, rest, and nutrition in order to beat Guinea Bissau"

 

THE POSSIBLE RESURGENCE OF THE SUPER EAGLES

After struggling to a 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea in their first match of the AFCON 2023, players of Nigeria's Super Eagles were reported to have held a no-holds-barred meeting to articulate the way forward in their quest to win the AFCON 2023 title. Playing against the hosts, Cote d’Ivoire in their second match on the 18th of January 2023, the team came out differently! Though not firing at their full potential, the Eagles subdued and snuffed life out from the Elephants of Cote d'Ivoire. The Super Eagles won 0-1, through a penalty converted by Captain William Troost-Ekong. They broke the jinx of the Super Eagles always losing crucial matches whenever they adorn their all-white Jersey and beat the Ivoirians at home for the first time. The boys showed they have the grit to squeeze out results and overwhelm severe pressure! Calvin Bassey, Ola Aina, and Stanley Nwabali showed their inestimable passion to excel whilst getting some support from their colleagues. Possibly, they have come to the realization that their indisputable legacy in Nigerian football folklore, can only be realized through good results that would attract the love and absolute support of the Nigerian football supporters and not otherwise!

 

For a nation boasting a huge collection of skilled football players plying their trade in some of the best leagues in the world, the dilemma of seeing the Super Eagles stumble and crumble even against the least opposition has remained a painful reality for every Nigerian football supporter.

 

 

THE ROLE OF PLAYER POWER

The striking reality about their performance was that it showed the success of the players meeting before the Cote d’Ivoire match, as we also witnessed a remarkable change in their tactical approach hitherto noticed since the Peseiro era began. The fluidity of their play, aggressiveness to subdue the opposition, and resilience to succeed was far better than their performance against Equatorial Guinea and most of their past matches.

 

The capability of football players to take their destinies into their hands, support and/or undermine their coach is well reported in World Football. As articulated by coach Peseiro in the above tweet, the support of the Super Eagles players was a game-changer that positively enhanced Nigeria's chances in the AFCON 2023. Hopefully, they shall further improve in their subsequent matches and their realization could be a turning point in the fortunes of Nigerian football.

With a single group match remaining in their group, the Super Eagles stand a very good chance of qualifying for the next round and their continued success in the AFCON2023 would be a lasting testimony to confirm that the victory over CIV was not a fluke.

 

 

 

Victor Osimhen Needs to do More!

Victor Osimhen, Napoli FC of Italy and the Super Eagles of Nigeria super striker and current African Footballer of the Year, affirmed his passion for winning the ongoing Confederation of African Football Nations Cup Competition (AFCON), with the statement below, in an interview at Abidjan. This bundle of talent remains Nigeria’s most treasured talent at the moment and his football achievements within a decade has begun to rival that of Nigeria’s best footballers in history.

“I have done that with Napoli, I have made history, but no matter what I do, no matter how many goals I have scored, to be able to win the AFCON, I would go a long way in my life but probably when I do that I am done,” 

Osimhen launched himself into the global stage by helping Nigeria’s U-17 team, win the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2015. He finished the tournament as the Golden Boot and Silver Ball winner. Before then, he had won the Golden Boot award for the African U-17 tournament and also won the African Best Youth Player award.

Within the past year, he helped Napoli FC to win their first league title after thirty-three years, won the CAF African Best Player award, and got an honorable mention amongst the best shortlist in the Balloon D’or.

See: Victor Osimhen’s individual honors to date

Osimhen can never be counted amongst the average footballers who plied their trade, just to make a living. He stands tall amongst the Gen-Z footballers who have achieved much but like fellow African football star, George Opong Weah, he can go further to win multiple laurels in different leagues and aspire for other awards to entrench his football legacy.

As realistic as Osimhen’s recent ambition might be about winning the AFCON with Nigeria, at 25 years of age, he still has more to offer to football and stands to achieve more laurels with consistent form and focus. He recently acknowledged his interest in playing outside the Italian league and rejected an enormous offer to the Saudi Roshn League in the summer, this shows his passion remains strong and the expectation is that apart from winning trophies in other leagues, he could also aspire for the European Champions League and the Balloon D’or.

With his young age and current form as one of the World’s most lethal strikers, Osimhen would easily get into a bigger club in Europe to make his chances of winning bigger laurels possible. That dream is achievable and should be his current focus.

The evolution of sports and other professions is founded upon the inspirational contributions of various personalities. Personalities such as Albert Einstein(Science), Bill Gates(Technology), Nelson Mandela(Leadership), Edson Arantes de Nascimento(Football), Johan Cruyff(Modern football Coaching), Mohammed Ali(Boxing), among so many others, were leading lights in their endeavors and their contributions remain the factors upon which Victor Osimhen’s passion for football is founded. Growing to become another world great is an achievable dream and like is often said, that by aspiring to hit the moon, even if he ends up in the sky, his contributions would be more valuable than his current status. Whatever decision he chooses, Osimhen is already a world great but can achieve more!

 

AFCON2023: A DAY OF RECKONING FOR NIGERIA’s SUPER EAGLES

AFCON2023 started yesterday 23rd January 2023 at the Alassane Quattara Stadium with so much pomp and pageantry. There was an astounding display of the African spirit and culture. Nigerian musician Yemi Alade brought her exhilarating artistry of song and dance to the stage and dazzled the crowd. The first match between hosts Cote D’Ivoire and Guinea Bissau lived up to its billing. Cote D’Ivoire won and has set the right frame towards qualification for the next round.

WHO WINS NIGERIA vs EQUATORIAL GUINEA

This afternoon, Nigeria would lock horns with Equatorial Guinea. It stands to be an exciting match though on paper, Nigeria is expected to win the match. Since 2008, both teams have met three times, with Nigeria, winning always. The Super Eagles have won the AFCON thrice, namely in 1980, 1994, and 2013. They are currently the highest placed on the AFCON medals table, considering the cumulative silver and bronze medals they have won in the competition. Unlike Equatorial Guinea, the Super Eagles are blessed with several established players, plying their trade in the big leagues of Europe. They include the current African footballer of the year, Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy), Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan FC, Italy), Ademola Lukeman (Atalanta FC, Italy), Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest FC, England), Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England amongst several others. They have also lost several other players such as Victor Boniface, Bayer Leverkusen FC, Germany, Sadiq Umar, Real Sociedad FC, Spain et al.

THE EXPECTATIONS FROM BOTH SIDES

As always, there’s a huge expectation from the Super Eagles to perform very well and that immense pressure would remain the biggest battle for the Ahmed Musa-led Super Eagles, to overcome. Despite qualification for the AFCON2023, Coach Jose Peseiro has not been able to build a formidable team comparable to the quality of players available to the team. Their cumulative win-to-loss ratio since his assumption, has been abysmal, whilst there has been an unending clamor for him to improve the entire defence, especially the goalkeeping department.

Compared to the Super Eagles, Equatorial Guinea remains a team searching for recognition both in African and World football. They have participated in the AFCON three times, namely in 2012, 2015 and 2021. They got to the semi-final in 2015, and this remains their highest achievement. Despite having players in the European leagues, they still remain underachievers and have not achieved anything worth comparing with Nigeria’s long list of football successes. As the first match for both teams, the expectation is that both teams would do their utmost to ensure that they get a good result to enhance their quest for qualification to the next round. Despite bookmakers’ expectations for the Super Eagles’ victory, it does not deny Equatorial Guinea’s capacity to cause an upset in today’s match and until the final whistle is blown they’d remain a threat. At the AFCON2021, in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea surprised then defending champions, Algeria, 1-0 and this victory got them to the quarter final phase. They would want to achieve same heroics and the Super Eagles must beware!