By Hakeem Babalola
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
The African Continent is hosting the most glamorous sport in the world for the first time in the tournament history. South Africa
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
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 Africa which defeated Guatemala
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 World Cup.
The 27th African Nations Cup held in Angola Ghana was the runner up while Nigeria
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
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 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 | |||
2006 | |||
2002 | |||
1998 | |||
1994 | |||
1990 | |||
1986 | |||
1982 | |||
1978 | |||
1974 | |||
1970 | |||
1966 | |||
1962 | |||
1958 | |||
1954 | |||
1950 | |||
1946 | Not held | WW-II | |
1942 | Not held | WW-II | |
1938 | |||
1934 | |||
1930 |
*Babalola is US-African Staff Correspondent in Eastern Europe based in
