The Deception Of African Teams At The 2010 World Cup

                                   The deception of African teams at the  2010 FIFA World Cup all began with the host African country, South Africa drawing with Mexico 1-1. Then Nigeria lost their first match followed by Algeria. A relieved win of 1-0 was to come from the less expected Ghanaian side whose star player Essien was absent due to an injury. But just as Africa started rejoicing, Cameroon the football giant of the continent received a shameful defeat in their first match from the hands of Japan which was considered the outsider of their group. Cote d'Ivoire was to bring in hope again after playing a 0-0 draw with world football champions and aspirants to the trophy Portugal. 

                                  As the second round of the group stage opened up with the host nation South Africa, all Africans had their fingers crossed. But they were soon to realize that football is a game of surprises and that even the home advantage cannot make up for poor football, lapses and errors as Paraguay rode onto South Africa 3-0. Even more shocking news was still to come as Greece which previously had been beaten by Korea Republic 2-0, won Nigeria in their second encounter by two goals to nil. Algeria played a miraculous 0-0 against England though it would prove useless as it will not help them pass the group stage of the competition. Ghana was to consolidate their position both in their group and as Africa best team in the World cup by playing a 1-1 draw against Australia. And Cameroon on whom all Africans counted on to lift the trophy on African soil will continue in their deception by losing 2-1 against Denmark while Cote d'Ivoire was obviously losing against the world football giants Brazil. Making it one out of the six African countries participating in the tournament to have won a match and four to have played a draw as of the second day of play.

                                   The last day of the group stage was to be more catastrophic with five out of the six African countries being packed back home prematurely, leaving just one team to continue striving for the African glory as all Africans had hoped from the very first day that South Africa was chosen as the organizers of the competition. Cameroon the continent's football heroes of the 90's left the competition with zero points. This alone was to be one of the greatest disappointments of the tournament and African football. Cote d'Ivoire one of the countries with the highest number of professionals had try to pull out of a group G filled with football big names such as Brazil and Portugal. And all their heroic attempts proved to be fruitless as they were to be eliminated at the first round with a total of four points on their counter.

                                 At the round of sixteen, you had Ghana the only African team still standing tall in the midst of European and South American football giants such as Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, England etc. And with the whole of Africa praying, cheering, and chanting for them they will successfully beat USA a fresh man too in the football scene two goals to one, to advance to the quarter finals of the tournament. Where the gods of Africa will also add up to the many disappointments already recorded by the other African teams to refuse the Ghanaian side a ninety-four minute penalty from being transformed to a well deserved gaol, given the fact that two Uruguay players virtually caught the ball that was already in the nets with their hands. The Ghanaians were to lost the match on penalty shoots by 4-2. Thus putting an end to the African dream of wining a World Cup on African soil, and marking the heights of the deception of African teams at the 2010 FIFA World cup.

Article completely written, edited and posted by A. P. Geofrey.