Deutschland 2006: Which African Teams Have A Chance?

None.

I don’t mean to be so pessimistic but the conversation about the chances of the teams representing Africa this summer should not focus on whether one of them will win or even whether one will make a strong run in this year’s Finals. Instead Africa will be lucky to have one team advance out of their respective group and if we are being frank, it’s altogether possible that the continent could go winless. Okay, maybe not winless as Tunisia should certainly defeat Saudi Arabia and Angola has a chance against Iran, but outside of those matches, the prospects seem bleak.

While some may say that I’m being ridiculous, one needs just consider that Africa’s two strongest representatives, the Ivory Coast and Ghana are both playing in what could be considered Groups of Death.

The Ivorians, playing in their first Final, have been pitted against Argentina, Holland and Serbia and Montenegro. While the Africans surely have talent in Chelsea’s Didier Drogba, Kolo Toure and his exciting but young Arsenal teammate Emmanuel Eboue, you can’t really see them taking anything from matches from any of the three. Those who don’t know much about Serbia and Montenegro should remember that they went undefeated in qualifying, only allowed an incredible one goal in the ten matches, and forced Spain to compete in the playoff.

Ghana are the other African team of note, also making their first entrance into the World Cup. They have unfortunately been placed in a group with the favorites Italy and the Czech Republic and the surging United States. The Ghanaians will look to Chelsea’s Michael Essien and Fenerbahce’s Stephen Appiah for guidance, but after that the talent level and strength in depth drops significantly.

Angola and Togo are just happy to be in Germany. These two countries complete the foursome of African countries making World Cup debuts and should not worry any of their opponents outside of the previously mentioned Saudi Arabia.

The one team with World Cup experience is the one team with an outside chance of making a mark. Tunisia is making its fourth trip to the Finals and have had some recent moments of brilliance, including winning the 2004 African Nations Cup. They are lead by two Brazilian born players, Silva dos Santos and Jose Clayton and the rest of their starting eleven are playing in top teams throughout Europe. Their group should be won by Spain which means the Tunisians will need to get a result against the Ukraine on June 23 in Berlin. But the Ukranians are very strong and won a tough qualifying group that included Turkey and Denmark and have one of the top strikers in the World in Andriy Shevchenko.

In the end, the best news for Africa may be the realization that traditional powers like Cameroon, Nigeria, and Senegal will now consistently be given a run for their money in the African Nations Cup and World Cup qualifying, which can only be good for the continent as a whole.

Thursday: “Americans In The Semifinals!?!? You’re Having A Laugh”