Will African stars burn bright?

Source: Getty ImagesChelsea's Didier Drogba

2010 is a momentous year for African football.

Not only is there another African Nations Cup in January, but football's biggest prize, the World Cup, arrives in South Africa in June.

Back in 1977 none other than the legendary Pele backed an African team to take the World Cup by 2000. Admittedly, that was ambitious, but now 10 years later, all those Afrophiles are again touting the challenge of the continent's best.

For the first time ever Africa has a quota of six nations. Along with hosts South Africa, there are Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Ghana and Algeria. Is it expecting too much for one of these not only to go beyond the quarter finals, something no African side has managed, but all the way to the final winners podium?

An early indication of the strength of their challenge will be gauged at this month's Nations Cup in Angola. Much is predicted of Ivory Coast and Ghana with all the big name players, and their match up in Group B is eagerly anticipated.

Expect Cameroon to progress, too, with Samuel Eto'o leading the charge. Nigeria, not the super power they once were, should get through Group C, with the holders Egypt.

Egypt, knocked out of the last World Cup in a tense play off with Algeria, will be out to prove a point, and there is every chance that the two North Africans could again meet in the latter stages. Their animosity was evident in the awful violence that surrounded the Cairo play off, and also in the scenes of wild celebration that signalled Algeria's win in Sudan.

Observers of the African game will be very familiar with the passionate nationalism that football provides, and there is no doubt the local fans love the game. African players are increasingly featuring in European football at a high level. Thus greater professionalism and tactical awareness is added to the already technically gifted array of talents coming out of Africa.

Many pundits follow Pele's conviction that it is only a matter of time before the World Cup is won by a third continental representative.

However, there are detractors that believe the ultimate African glory will remain a bridge too far for many generations yet, even though the competition is on home soil now.

Strange as it may seem, but it is the Nations Cup that arguably may well be holding African football back. The argument stems from the timing of the bi-annual affair. Always held in January and February, this collides with the major European leagues. For a month clubs have no option but to release their prize African stars, and this enforced period of unavailability at a crucial stage of domestic seasons is cited as a reason why the top ranked teams in Europe are reluctant to invest too heavily in African talent.

In England, apart from Chelsea, the squads of the rest of the top four are remarkably light in Africans. Similarly in Spain, Real Madrid and Barcelona only have a couple each. In Italy, only Mourinho's Inter have bucked the trend. Do the big clubs consciously avoid signing too many Africans for this reason?

The second argument for the gradual, but slow development of Africa is undoubtedly financial. Hardly any of the continent's ruling bodies have much cash to throw at recruiting the cream of Europe's coaches. Cameroon's ex-Lyon mastermind Paul Le Guen is probably the most well-known of the current crop, while any number of journeymen Dutch, French and Serbian coaches find themselves washed up on the African continent.

A final consideration should be the spread of the talent. Massive as Africa is, with well over 50 nations, the growing populations will produce more potential, but no one country seems to benefit from a whole generation of world beaters. Each team has its world class leader, but beyond that the cupboard is alarmingly ordinary.

Ivory Coast can boast a brilliant attack with Drogba and Kalou, while Ghana have a powerful midfield with Essien and Muntari. Neither is defensively sound. Cameroon have the athletic Kameni in goal and Eto'o to fire the goals, but who provides the passes?

With better coaches and investment in youth, Africa will continue to develop strength in numbers, and one day the World Cup will be landed. Just not in 2010.