There has been an unmistakable glass ceiling over Africa in soccer World Cups.
By reaching the quarterfinals at the 1990 World Cup, Cameroon set a benchmark that has yet to be surpassed. Senegal and Ghana also reached the quarter-finals, in 2002 and 2010 respectively, but the continent’s history on the world stage has been one of relative underperformance.
Fueled by Roger Milla’s spinning hips and fearless athleticism, Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions were the shining light of the 1990 World Cup in Italy. Victories over champions Argentina, Romania and Colombia set the bar high and, for the first time, an African team achieved three World Cup victories.
That performance was widely expected to herald a new era of achievement. It also seemed to justify Pele’s claim that an African team would win the World Cup in 2000.
However, that prediction would ultimately fall short.
But in 2002, Senegal bet on the grand prize. Amid a barrage of falling seeds from the start, the team prevailed by beating reigning champions France to become the first African team to go through a World Cup group stage unbeaten.
Eventually, fatigue and a golden goal undid them, but that success launched the mainstream appeal of Senegalese football.
In 2010, Ghana was the only one of the six representatives to advance from the group stage in South Africa.
Combining the experience of their debut in 2006 with the promise of their 2009 U-20 World Cup-winning team, the Black Stars played organized and disciplined football and, after victories over Serbia and the United States, came within a handball for a place in the semifinals
So has all that promise and hope gone?
The inability of African teams to cross this ruby is related to the continent’s economic disadvantages relative to Europe and South America.
According to World Population Review, based on gross national income per capita (as of 2020), nine of the 10 poorest countries in the world are in Africa.
This creates a snowball effect that affects the potential of the continent, restricting development, allowing corruption and impeding professionalism.
Africa’s World Cup exits have been plagued by scandals, mainly over unpaid wages, which have led to opprobrium and derailed the approach.
“Politics is too involved in football,” former DR Congo international Gabriel Zakuani told Al Jazeera.
“With African countries, it plays a very important role, especially for the local players who depend on those bonuses. If that doesn’t happen, the focus turns away from soccer. So that’s something to take care of before you get to the World Cup or a major tournament.”
Another big talking point is the limited number of places given to Africa for the World Cup.
For a continent comprising 54 member nations, it only gets five slots, and that, too, only since 1998.
By comparison, Europe, with 55 eligible nations, gets 13, and South America, with just 10 nations, gets between four and five.
From a purely probabilistic point of view, this severely reduces the chances that Africa will leave a good impression. It also means that Africa’s qualification for the World Cup is one of the most difficult to negotiate.
In the late 2000s, Egypt strangely failed to make it to the 2006 and 2010 editions, despite winning three consecutive Africa Cups of Nations and defeating Italy in the 2009 Confederations Cup.
This year, Nigeria and the Ivory Coast, both multiple African champions, will miss out in addition to Egypt and Algeria.
Following his team’s removal from the tally, South Africa coach Hugo Broos expressed a popular sentiment on the continent: “It’s not fair, it’s easier for good teams from Europe to qualify for the World Cup than [good teams] in Africa.” Broos told SA The Citizen newspaper.
promising lions
Cameroon, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia and Ghana will represent Africa in the World Cup in Qatar.
All five have previously appeared at soccer’s biggest event. Cameroon, Morocco and Senegal reached the round of 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year.
Tournament experience won’t be in short supply, and neither will star power.
Reigning African champions Senegal boast Sadio Mane, Cameroon’s Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa has been one of the best midfielders in the Italian top flight, Ghana’s diaspora recruitment campaign will see them field the likes of Iñaki Williams and Tariq Lamptey, as well as Mohammed from Ajax. Kudus and Thomas Partey from Arsenal, and Moroccan winger Achraf Hakimi is one of the best players in the world in his position.
According to 1994 African Footballer of the Year Emmanuel Amuneke, Senegal and Morocco represent the continent’s best chance of success in the Middle East.
“All five teams have been tested enough in recent friendlies and they know they have to get out of the group first before thinking about a semi-final ticket,” Amuneke said. “One step at a time will do. The tournament in Qatar is a great opportunity for the African teams to fix what happened in Russia when neither team advanced to the second round.”
His optimism is shared by Zakuani, who was even more optimistic about Senegal’s prospects.
“I think there is always a wild card in World Cups,” Zakuani said. “I want Senegal to reach the semifinals. A lot of people may look at me like I’m crazy, but for me, Senegal is the team that can surprise everyone this time.
“The five African teams will definitely be out there to compete. I don’t think they are there to make up the numbers. There is a lot of promise and talent.”
It helps that Senegal have the most forgiving draw, having been drawn with hosts Qatar, Ecuador and the Netherlands in Group A.
Morocco, Cameroon, Tunisia and Ghana all have daunting groups to navigate, with Belgium, Brazil, champions France and Portugal seeded in their respective groups.
The challenge facing representatives from Africa has never been more difficult. If they’re going to break that glass ceiling, they’ll certainly have to earn it.
