The god of soccer refused to bless Africa as Ghanaian Asamoah Gyan missed the last minute penalty kick that could have put the West African nation in a world cup history.
The Uruguay defender, Luis Suarez had held Dominic Adiyiah's header on the line in the final seconds which could have given the Black Stars the 2-1 win to book a place in the Africa's first ever world cup semi-final.
Asamoah last minute miss no doubt will be recorded as the greatest miss of all time, and may probably hunt the young Asamoah till his last day on earth.
If Asamoah had scored the last minute penalty kick, Ghana would have recorded another history as the first African nation to qualify for the world cup semi-final.
But in anyway Ghana has become the third African nation to ever reach the quarter final of the world cup. Cameroon did it in 1990 in Italy when they were beaten by England. And Senegal did it in 2002 pulling a huge upset by defeating world and European champions France in the opening game.
Also it could be recorded that Ghana was the first African nation to win the under-20 world cup.
Africans all over the world including Nelson Mandela appeared to be behind Ghana and had hopefully put their hearts on the former Gold Coast nation who was the first to gain independence among peers from the brutish British.
Although defeated, Ghana was not in any way disgraced as the West African nation could have won the game if not for that another hand of god by Luis Suarez who got a straight red card for his cheat – at the last kick.
Ghana is the only African nation among six that have participated in this year's world cup to progress to the quarter final. Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, South Africa, Tunisia were all eliminated at the group stage.
Obviously the so-called god of soccer has led Africa down - again – just like in every aspect of the latter's endeavour. Otherwise, the bright young Black Stars would have won that match. What a shame…what a shame on the god of soccer who unfairly given it to Uruguay.
Oh yes, the match will be remembered for Asamoah’s miss. Though sad and angry, Africans couldn’t help but console the sobbing Asamoah who had helped beat America with his skillful determination staggering goal.
Uruguay’s victory can be described as ironic. The game was eventually decided by penalty kicks which could have ousted the South American nation which won on 5-3 on the aggregate.
Uruguay like Ghana was hoping to make history before the titillating quarter final. But unlike Ghana, Uruguay is the first nation to ever win the world cup in 1930 as host beating Argentina 4-2; and won it again in 1950 by upsetting Brazil, the host nation 2-1
Ghana’s lost to Uruguay in that quarter final was simply another conspiracy theory against Africa by the god of soccer. Period!
The Black Stars continue their struggle to progress in the ongoing world cup in South Africa when they defeated the United States of America by 2 goals to 1 in the second stage of the competition.
Ghana scored first early in the match through Prince Boateng who ran from the center to beat two American defenders before netting a powerful shot.
America equalized in the second half through a sport kick taken by Donovan in the 62nd minute.
The match went into the extra time. And Asamoah Gyan pounced at the start of extra-time to give the African side the winning goal.
Ghana will now meet Uruguay which defeated South Korea in the quarter final on July 2 at 20.30.
Though beaten by a lone goal by Germany in their final group stage match, Ghana has progressed to the last sixteen in the ongoing world cup in South Africa.
The Black Stars which featured mostly young stars, won one match, drew one and lost one. Their first match against Serbia in which the enterprising young stars won by a lone goal eventually the decider for their qualification.
The second match against Australia ended 1-1 which together left them with four points with two goals in favor and two goals against. This gave them the advantage over Australia who also has four points, but with three goals in favor and six against. Serbia, which earlier defeated Germany by 1-0, is in the fourth position.
With this qualification, Ghana is the only African team that makes it to the next stage to face United States of America which top group C on Saturday 26 June.
Although the host nation, South Africa, defeated France by two goals to one, it was not enough to see the Bafana Bafana youngsters through to the second phase, having lost to Mexico and drew their first match against Uruguay
Cameroon, the first team in the tournament to be eliminated, performed below expectation, losing all three matches in group E.
Nigeria also performed woefully as the Super Eagles lost two matches and drew one in group B. So is Algeria which collected one point in group C.
Ivory Coast's four points in group G is not enough to see the Drogba led team to the next stage having lost to Brazil, beat North Korea 3-0 and drew with Portugal which has the highest number of goals by defeating North Korea 7-0.
A group of African cultural promoters entertained Hungarian audience to commemorate the ongoing football fiesta in South Africa at the weekend before the group E match involving Brazil and Ivory Coastread more
I can even forgive Godwin Odiye whose own goal against Tunisia in the 1978 world cup in Lagos prevented us from hoisting our flag but not this Sani Kaita whose senseless behaviour helped Greece beat Nigeria read more
For one month starting from Friday 11 June to Sunday 11 July, millions of football fans and lovers across the world will be glued to TV or be physically present in South Africa to witness another football fiesta popularly called the World Cup. Apart from its usual glamour, the event will be recording a historical moment. read more
A group of African cultural promoters entertained Hungarian audience at the Europark Segafredo Kávéház in Budapest on June 20 to mark the ongoing football festival known as the World Cup in South Africa.
The event which was organized by the Mahatma Gandhi Human Rights Movement is part of several activities in commemoration of 2010 World Cup taking place for the first time in Africa since the first tournament in Uruguay in 1930.
The group which comprises of Dava Gin, Festus Ihaza, Okoh Peter, Frank, Tony Papa and Juanita the only female, rendered some African tunes mixed with English to draw the audience who was obviously captivated by Juanita's body movement - along.
The cultural event lasted twenty minutes after which the audience glued to the large screen to watch Brazil/Ivory Coast group G match in which Brazil won by three goals to one.
For one month starting from Friday 11 June to Sunday 11 July, millions of football fans and lovers across the world will be glued to TV or be physically present in South Africa to witness another football fiesta popularly called the World Cup. Apart from its usual glamour, the event will be recording a historical moment.
The African Continent is hosting the most glamorous sport in the world for the first time in the tournament history. South Africa, home of Nelson Mandela, the man who spent 27 years in prison because of the then apartheid that segregated the country, was chosen ahead of other African countries.
Mandela who had strongly opposed the segregation system was arrested and jailed by the then Racist Boers of President Verwoerd led apartheid government in 1962 but released on 11 February 1990 to become the first democratically elected president of Africa’s only Rainbow Nation.
There’s no need to contest the politics that heralded the choice of South Africa for the fiesta. What is important is the fact that an African country was finally chosen to host the prestigious competition organized every four years since the first tournament in 1930, except in 1942 and 1946 when it was not contested because of World War11.
The ultimate question on the lips of many Africans probably is this: Can any of the five African teams participating in the competition do the continent proud by winning the coveted trophy? It seems impossible judging from their previous outings in the competition; even from recent friendly matches preceding the tournament. With the exception of South Africawhich defeated Guatemala 5 goals to nil, others either lost or drew or narrowly won their friendly matches.
Algeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory Coast and South Africa are representing Africa. Only Cameroon has once reached the quarter finals in 1990 in Italy. Nigeria came close to the quarter finals in 1994 in America but foolishly lost to the much experienced Italians by two goals to one in the second phase of the tournament. Since then, African teams have been trying but never reached the quarter finals.
If recent friendly matches are a yardstick to measure the fitness and mental readiness of African teams, then perhaps one may put hope on the host nation – South Africa – which has won most of its friendly matches convincingly beating Denmark, Thailand, Colombia, Japan and Guatemala along the way. But there are many African footballers plying their trade abroad, especially in Europe, each African National team has not been formidable enough to withstand the rigor of winning the WorldCup.
The 27th African Nations Cup held in Angola earlier in January could be described as another poor outing for the African teams. The competition was won by the Egyptian National team which did not qualify for the World Cup. Most teams representing the continent simply played below expectations. Ghana was the runner up while Nigeria clinched the third position.
Although football is not like mathematics (in which 1+1 = 2) which often contributes immensely to its intrigue, many analysts will not bet their money on African teams to win the trophy. There are reasons for this. First, many African players are good individually but often unable to connect when it comes to the national team.
Another point worth mentioning is the inclusion of what analysts have been describing as tired legs. For instance, the inclusion of players like Nwankwo Kanu, John Utaka and Yakubu Aiyegbeni in the Nigerian national team is being strongly criticized by the press in that country.Kanu especially was on the reserve bench of his Portsmouth Club in most part of last season. Utaka and Aiyegbeni have not been able to score as many goals as expected.
The issue of foreign coach is another take as African teams are concerned. Only Algeria is being coached by indigenous coach, an indication that African national teams do not believe in their own football coaches. The argument seems to be that, since African teams cannot win the World Cup either with indigenous or foreign coaches, why not keep using the indigenous coaches until one day when they will be able to do the magic.
Now let us look at the number of times when the continent that hosted the tournament actually won the trophy. In 2006, 1998, 1990, 1982, 1974, 1966, 1954, 1938, and 1934 it was hosted by Europeans and won by European teams. Similarly, in 1930, 1950, 1962, 1970, 1978, 1986, it was hosted by South Americans and was won by South American teams. Obviously, the World Cup has been dominated by two continents: Europe and South America.
Host countries have won the cup six times: Uruguay in 1930, Italy in 1934, England in 1966, West Germany in 1974, Argentina in 1978, and France in 1998. Finally, it won’t be a bad prediction to suggest that the 2010 World Cup in South Africa will go to either Europe or South America.
However, what may be difficult to predict at the moment is the particular country between these two continents that will snatch the coveted cup. No matter what happens, enjoy the game for the good of the game.
A list of past World Cup football tournaments including the winner and runners-up of the competition and the host nations
Year
Winner
Runner-up
Host Nation
2010
South Africa
2006
Italy
France
Germany
2002
Brazil
Germany
Japan / Korea
1998
France
Brazil
France
1994
Brazil
Italy
USA
1990
West Germany
Argentina
Italy
1986
Argentina
West Germany
Mexico
1982
Italy
West Germany
Spain
1978
Argentina
Holland
Argentina
1974
West Germany
Holland
West Germany
1970
Brazil
Italy
Mexico
1966
England
West Germany
England
1962
Brazil
Czechoslovakia
Chile
1958
Brazil
Sweden
Sweden
1954
West Germany
Hungary
Switzerland
1950
Uruguay
Brazil
Brazil
1946
Not held
WW-II
1942
Not held
WW-II
1938
Italy
Hungary
France
1934
Italy
Czechoslovakia
Italy
1930
Uruguay
Argentina
Uruguay
*Babalola is US-African Staff Correspondent in Eastern Europe based in Budapest, Hungary
