ADDIS ABABA (AFP) – Ghana’s amazing run in the World Cup may be a source of inspiration for Africa, but it’s also providing a wake-up call for African nations to lay more emphasis on improving their football standards.
In Ethiopia, thousands of fans have turned up in droves to watch the African teams make their mark in the World Cup, providing rapturous support for Ghana when they beat the United States to reach the quarter-finals.
“Ghana is the pride of Africa,” vuvuzela-blowing Estifanos Tadesse told AFP.
“We are Africans so we support them. And of course, they’re performing very, very well.”
The team’s solid performance has spurred unanimous support behind Africa’s only remaining team, but that feat has also provided a painful reminder of the gulf that exists between their country and the continent’s top dogs.
“It wasn’t long ago that we cheered for our own team in a big competition,” Ararsa Takele, a former
footballer and current high school fitness coach told AFP.
“Now we have no choice but to cheer for our fellow Africans who we used to beat a lot.
“We are miles behind Ghana or
Nigeria or Egypt when it comes to the standards. Samuel Eto’o, Didier Drogba … Just look at their players,” said Henok Teshome, another fan.
“Our golden era in football has passed, and it is painful to know that it will be very difficult to emulate today’s big African teams.”
Disqualifications, dreadful results and internal discord have been the main attributes of
Ethiopian football for the past few years, but the turmoil has not curbed enthusiasm for the beautiful game.
For fans old enough to remember the 1960s saw unprecedented success for the
Horn of Africa nation, then labeled the “Brazil of Africa” for its dominant, passing play.
Ethiopia was among the founders of the continent’s governing body in the 1950s, and was also one of the three participants in the inaugural African Nations’ Cup alongside Egypt and Sudan in 1957.
Led by Luciano Vassalo, who graduated upon retirement from Italy’s famed Coverciano coaching centre with current
England coach Fabio Capello, the team rallied to reach five semi-finals in six attempts, including a win in 1962.
“The emperor (Haile Selassie) was determined that the team performed well, so he was always eager to hand out lavish prizes and send injured players abroad for expensive treatment,” Ararsa recalled.
But following the emperor’s dethronement in 1974, the ongoing political upheaval of that time swiftly turned attention to other matters and the country last qualified for a senior tournament in 1982.
In 2008, the Ethiopian FA’s general assembly sacked its head Ashebir Woldegiorgis, sparking the anger of FIFA.
The resulting standoff led the world governing body to suspend the country from qualification for this year’s
World Cup although the crisis has finally been resolved.
“Togo made it (in Germany 2006) while other small ones like Rwanda and Kenya are qualifying for the African Nations Cup,” said fan Asradech Tesemaiends.
“We need a good coach – we can make it if we bring Arsene Wenger or Alex Ferguson to Ethiopia.”
Ghana dreams depend on stifling duo
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Ghana‘s dreams of becoming the first African side to reach a World Cup semi-final will depend on their ability to keep at bay the formidable attacking duo which has propelled Uruguay into the quarters.
The Ghanaians carry the hopes of a continent hosting its first World Cup, but any burden of expectation is far out weighed by the need to keep a close check on the ability of Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez when they meet in their quarter-final tie at Soccer City in Johannesburg on Friday.
The pair have scored five goals between them as Uruguay have enjoyed their most successful World Cup campaign in 40 years, topping their group and then beating South Korea in the second round.
Combined with a resolute defense that has conceded a solitary goal in four matches at the finals, Uruguay present a formidable challenge to hopes Ghana will rescue a disastrous tournament for African teams.
As the only one of six representatives from the continent to progress past the first phase, Ghana have become the team on which the host nation, and wider continent, are pinning their hopes on to recreate the hype and excitement that preceded the start of the tournament.
“It was very important for us to win because we know that Africans are proud of us and we are playing on African soil,” said captain John Mensah, acknowledging the expectation in the build-up to the quarter-final.
But coach Milovan Rajevac, perhaps fearful his players will be affected by the pressure, has sought at the same time to temper talk of carrying Africa’s ambitions.
He deflected questions on the issue during the week, saying tersely: “The players concentrate on what happens on the pitch. There are no other pressures.”
Rajevac will make two changes with Dede Ayew and Jonathan Mensah suspended.
Isacc Vorsah makes a timely return from injury to center back in place of Mensah, and will be key to Ghana’s plans to stifle the double threat posed by Forlan and Suarez.
Ayew’s place is likely to be taken by Sulley Muntari, only used as a substitute so far but still with the potential to prove a decisive influence for Ghana.
Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez named his team on Wednesday, with Mauricio Victorino in for the injured Diego Godin in defense and Alvaro Fernandez chosen ahead of Alvaro Pereira in midfield.
(Reporting by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Ossian Shine)
