African Records At The World Cup

 

 

 

"The fact that Messi has the most ballon d'Or doesn't make him a better player than Ronaldo." "Relax, neither player has won the World Cup." Football conversations are usually incomplete without banters. Such is the case with African sport lovers.

Football is the most popular sport in Africa. The passion for football compared to other sports is so profound that most male Africans grow up kicking the ball. It is a source of livelihood. Many families have been pulled out of poverty through football as it serves as a legitimate escape route. In a diverse country like Nigeria for instance, it is regarded as a strong unifying force. Everyone seems to discard their ethnicity when the Super Eagles have a match.

Big leagues in Europe, in particular the English Premier league boasts massive following in Africa. Many of the continents finest talents ply their trade in these coveted leagues. African footballers are sort after not just for the talent they possess but also for their pace and athleticism.

Meanwhile, football enthusiasts find time to keep themselves up to date with the progress of their favourite teams on regular visits to viewing centres, which are generously dispersed in almost every location from luxury hotels to makeshift shacks.

"Mo Salah is the greatest African to have played in the EPL." "Is Didier Drogba a joke to you?" At the point of viewing, disputations characterised by fierce arguments and playful banters ensue between fans of opposing teams.

Despite the passionate following and endowment of abundant talent no team from Africa has progressed beyond the World Cup quarter final stage. Certain challenges have been observed to be detrimental factors impeding the advancement of African teams at the World Cup. These include; Poor funding, poorly developed domestic leagues, government interference, non-existence of defined structures for football development, lack or limited access to sport facilities, FAs owing or withholding match allowances, to name a few.

The FIFA World Cup is the most watched football event in the world, attracting more than 3 billion viewers around the globe, Africa inclusive. The World Cup is organised every 4 years. 32 teams allotted into groups participate in the tournament. Teams advance from the group stage through the knock out stage to the final. A winner emerges after 4 weeks and is awarded the golden trophy. 5 Teams represent Africa.

Mentioned below are some notable African records at the World Cup;

Thirteen African countries have competed in the FIFA World Cup since Egypt's first participation in 1934. It took 36 years for an African country to qualify for another world cup, Morocco(1970).
 
Qatar 2022 will be Cameroon's 8th Appearance in the final rounds of the World Cup. Highest record for an African Team.

The duo of Cameroon's Rigobert Song and Samuel Eto'o have appeared in 4 World Cups. Song played in 1994, 1998, 2022 and 2010. Eto'o played in 1998, 2002, 2010 and 2014.

Ghana's Asamoah Gyan holds the record for the most goals scored by an African player in the World Cup. He scored a total of 6 goals in 3 consecutive editions; 2006, 2010, 2014. One goal against Czech republic in 2006. 3 goals against Serbia, Australia and USA in 2010. 2 goals against Germany and Portugal in 2014.

Nigeria have the most goals scored by an African team in the World Cup. The Super Eagles have scored 23 goals in all World Cup tournaments since their first participation in 1994.

Nigeria have won 6 World Cup matches. The most win for an African team.

Egypt's goalkeeper, Essam El-Hadany was 45 years 5 months and 10 days old when he started for Egypt against Saudi Arabia in the final group match at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, making him the oldest player to feature in the world cup.

Legendary Roger Milla of Cameroon became the oldest player to score a World Cup goal when Cameroon played against Russia in 1994. He was 42 year 1 month and 10 days old. Russia won by 6-1.

Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o was 17 years 3 months and 7 days old when he featured for Cameroon in 1998, making him the youngest African to appear in a World Cup game.

Only 3 African Countries have advanced to the quarterfinal stage; Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002 and Ghana in 2010.

South Africa hosted the world cup in 2010. The first African country to host the World Cup.

Abdulrahman Fawzi of Egypt is the first African to score at the World Cup in 1934. He scored both goals in a 2-4 loss against Hungary.

Morocco is the first African team to draw a World Cup match. The match ended 1-1 against Bulgaria in 1970.

In 1978, Tunisia won Mexico by 3-1 making them the first African country to win a World Cup match.

Abdelmajid Chetali of Tunisia is the first African coach at the World Cup(1978).

Cameroon is the first African team to reach the quarterfinals in 1990.

In 2014, Nigeria's Stephen Keshi became the first African coach to reach the rounds of 16.

Morocco is the first African Team to reach the round of 16(1986).

Senegal is the first team to be eliminated due to fair play points tiebreaker(2018).

Provided the challenges mentioned earlier are surmounted, do you think African teams can improve on these records, perhaps win the World Cup?