African teams eye next step: winning the World Cup

OHANNESBURG (AP)—Now that an African country has won the right to host the World Cup, the next step is for one of the continent’s teams to win the trophy.

Whether that day will come on July 11 in South Africa is uncertain, but some certainly think the opportunity is there for the taking.

“When I say this people laugh, but I believe it,” former Ghana great Abedi Pele said. “But here in Africa we will definitely have one team that will go far—and when I say go far, I mean as far as getting the trophy.”

Including host South Africa, the continent will have six teams competing at the World Cup this year against traditional powers such as Brazil, Italy and Germany. But not all Africans think Cameroon, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana and Algeria can win this time around.

Former African Player of the Year Patrick Mboma of Cameroon is skeptical because of the nature of African soccer management.

“You are forgetting that these players hail from African soccer federations, hence there is a lot of disorganization,” Mboma said. “That’s why Africa will always fall short of glory.”

Former England coach Steve McClaren, however, believes it’s just a matter of time before an African team succeeds on soccer’s biggest stage.

“In the future, an African team can win the World Cup,” McClaren told The Associated Press. “Whether that will be World Cup 2010, it is hard to predict.”

Five of Africa’s six World Cup qualifiers will get a chance to showcase their ability at this month’s African Cup of Nations in Angola. Players including Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba and midfielder Michael Essien, and Cameroon forward Samuel Eto’o will be representing their countries at the 16-team tournament. South Africa failed to qualify.

African teams have never before reached the semifinals at a World Cup, but Cameroon made the quarterfinals in 1990 and Senegal matched that in 2002.

But more than mere sporting glory, African soccer confederation president Issa Hayatou is looking at the World Cup in South Africa to help the continent achieve economic development.

“This World Cup will inspire hope and aspiration throughout Africa,” Hayatou said.