• Latest
Has African Football Finally Come Of Age?

Has African Football Finally Come Of Age?

2 months ago
GIOSUE BELLAGAMBI JOINS SALFORD CITY FC

GIOSUE BELLAGAMBI JOINS SALFORD CITY FC

6 days ago
Uganda Netball in Turmoil: Federation Suspends National Women’s Super League

Uganda Netball in Turmoil: Federation Suspends National Women’s Super League

1 week ago
Waterfalls T20 men’s edition bowls off in Lugogo

Waterfalls T20 men’s edition bowls off in Lugogo

2 weeks ago
The Cranes so close and yet so far

The Cranes so close and yet so far

2 weeks ago
UGANDA CRANES TO CHANGE BASE

UGANDA CRANES TO CHANGE BASE

3 weeks ago
FUBA turn to Spanish Antuna for Gazelles

FUBA turn to Spanish Antuna for Gazelles

3 weeks ago
PIRATES DATE HEATHENS AT KING’S PARK IN THE 2023 NILE SPECIAL RUGBY PREMIER LEAGUE

PIRATES DATE HEATHENS AT KING’S PARK IN THE 2023 NILE SPECIAL RUGBY PREMIER LEAGUE

4 weeks ago
Dodgers Academy graduate Nicholas Alumai lands Scholarship in USA

Dodgers Academy graduate Nicholas Alumai lands Scholarship in USA

4 weeks ago
Next Media’s Jermaine Egesa to Commentate at The 2022 Championship of African Nations

Next Media’s Jermaine Egesa to Commentate at The 2022 Championship of African Nations

4 weeks ago
NBS Sport, Uganda Rugby Union Launch 2022/23 Nile Special Uganda Rugby Premier League Season Broadcast

NBS Sport, Uganda Rugby Union Launch 2022/23 Nile Special Uganda Rugby Premier League Season Broadcast

4 weeks ago
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
  • Home
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Rugby
  • Motorsport
  • Formula 1
  • Boxing
  • Golf
  • Cycling
  • Tennis
  • Our Team
No Result
View All Result
NBS Sport
  • Home
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Rugby
  • Motorsport
  • Formula 1
  • Boxing
  • Golf
  • Cycling
  • Tennis
  • Our Team
No Result
View All Result
NBS Sport
No Result
View All Result
Home Football

Has African Football Finally Come Of Age?

Lubega Shaban by Lubega Shaban
December 15, 2022
in Football
0 0
0
Has African Football Finally Come Of Age?
11
VIEWS

The sound of the final whistle at the Al Bayt Stadium was met by an unusually satisfied reaction by the team that lost on the day. The fans of Morocco and most neutrals inside the 68,000-seater arena continued singing and chanting after the Atlas Lions were finally awoken from their dreams.

Morocco was the last African nation standing after the other four could not get past the second round with three of them eliminated at the group stage. After the first round of games an all too familiar script looked to be playing out for African football fans. Five games played, three losses, two draws and only Ghana putting the ball in the back of the net in a defeat by Portugal.

ADVERTISEMENT

 

Senegal is one of the five nations that represented Africa at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. (PHOTOS/COURTESY)

However, as Qatar 2022 draws to a close, the outlook looks very different. Every single team from the continent went on to win a game in its group for the first time in history, two teams made it out of the group stages – a joint record – and Morocco became the first African nation to reach the last four where they would eventually fall.

The man at the helm of the Atlas Lions’ success is a Moroccan born tactician Walid Regragui surprisingly he holds both Moroccan and French citizenship.

For decades, Africa has produced some of the best players to grace the beautiful game, but that hasn’t always been the case for the continent’s coaches. A lack of proper infrastructure for the development of coaches, coupled with next to no opportunities afforded to them at the highest level has meant that historically African nations have more often than not been led by European managers.

In African footballing circles, these coaches are often referred to – less than flatteringly – as “plumbers.” But the trend of African nations employing foreign managers is changing. For the first time in history, all five of the African countries at the World Cup were coached by home nationals and all enjoyed some success to varying degrees.

Aliou Cisse coached Senegal in Qatar.

Before the tournament, Samuel Eto’o who is the president of the Cameroonian Football Association made a rather outlandish prediction that all five African countries would make it out of their groups and the final would be contested between Morocco and Cameroon.

He was widely ridiculed for that statement, but his tongue-in-cheek comments were more about changing the way his nation and continent see themselves. But if countries want to improve on Africa’s record-breaking performance during Qatar 2022 at the next World Cup where nine teams from Africa will compete, then that positive mindset has to be maintained.

But if those nations that did not qualify such as Nigeria, Algeria, Ivory Coast and Egypt want to build on the success seen in Qatar, they will have to think about following the example of the five nations that made the continent proud.

There is still much work to do but after decades of African frustration and disappointment on the world stage, Qatar 2022 could be the turning point to transform the continent’s fortunes and for one of its teams to win the World Cup.

Tags: FIFA WORLD CUPMOROCCO
ShareTweetSendSendShare
Next Post
Referee Kalibala John banned for 15 years for match fixing

Referee Kalibala John banned for 15 years for match fixing

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Connect with us

  • 87.1k Followers
  • 23.7k Followers
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
CHESS: FIDE master Pido takes on world challenge

CHESS: FIDE master Pido takes on world challenge

June 13, 2022
Uganda Government in talks with Manchester United about a sponsorship deal

Uganda Government in talks with Manchester United about a sponsorship deal

September 7, 2022
The English Premier League is home at NBS SPORT

The English Premier League is home at NBS SPORT

August 5, 2022
NBS Pressbox Makes Its Much Anticipated Maiden Show Worth The Wait

NBS Pressbox Makes Its Much Anticipated Maiden Show Worth The Wait

June 15, 2022
CHESS: FIDE master Pido takes on world challenge

CHESS: FIDE master Pido takes on world challenge

1
NBS Pressbox Makes Its Much Anticipated Maiden Show Worth The Wait

NBS Pressbox Makes Its Much Anticipated Maiden Show Worth The Wait

1
Crested Cranes fly high at CECAFA

Crested Cranes fly high at CECAFA

0
Stanbic Uganda Cup: BUL, Vipers to crack up Masindi

Stanbic Uganda Cup: BUL, Vipers to crack up Masindi

0
GIOSUE BELLAGAMBI JOINS SALFORD CITY FC

GIOSUE BELLAGAMBI JOINS SALFORD CITY FC

February 1, 2023
Uganda Netball in Turmoil: Federation Suspends National Women’s Super League

Uganda Netball in Turmoil: Federation Suspends National Women’s Super League

January 30, 2023
Waterfalls T20 men’s edition bowls off in Lugogo

Waterfalls T20 men’s edition bowls off in Lugogo

January 26, 2023
The Cranes so close and yet so far

The Cranes so close and yet so far

January 23, 2023

Recommended

GIOSUE BELLAGAMBI JOINS SALFORD CITY FC

GIOSUE BELLAGAMBI JOINS SALFORD CITY FC

February 1, 2023
Uganda Netball in Turmoil: Federation Suspends National Women’s Super League

Uganda Netball in Turmoil: Federation Suspends National Women’s Super League

January 30, 2023
Waterfalls T20 men’s edition bowls off in Lugogo

Waterfalls T20 men’s edition bowls off in Lugogo

January 26, 2023
The Cranes so close and yet so far

The Cranes so close and yet so far

January 23, 2023
NBS Sport

© 2022 NBS Sport - Developed and maintained by Hillcom EA.

Navigate Site

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Rugby
  • Motorsport
  • Formula 1
  • Boxing
  • Golf
  • Cycling
  • Tennis
  • Our Team

© 2022 NBS Sport - Developed and maintained by Hillcom EA.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In