Five countries will be representing Africa in Brazil; Ghana, Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroun and Algeria, with three among the countries coming from West Africa.
Ghana, Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire, are from West Africa while Cameroun and Algeria are from the Central and Northern Africa respectively. As the saying goes “Africa football is from the West”.
The Black Stars of Ghana and the Super Eagles of Nigeria are the only African countries going to Brazil with indigenous managers. James Kwesi Appiah the Black Stars coach, a former assistant coach between 2007 and 2012, he won the 2011 All-Africa games with the Under 23 team as a coach. And Stephen Keshi the head coach for the Super Eagles of Nigeria, a former coach of Junior Eagles 2001, Keshi coached the Togo national football team between 2004 and 2006, taking them to their first ever World Cup tournament in Germany 2006. He also coached the Mali national football team. Keshi led Nigeria to the Africa Cup of Nations 2013 and won the trophy.
Both coaches have shown outstanding performances in their coaching careers. Will these African coaches march up to the “perceived” high standards of these Western coaches? Come 12th of June when the 2014 World Cup will commence in Brazil, these coaches will also represent Africa in their professional career.
They are both going to surprise the world in Brazil since they have both promised to work harder to make Africa victorious and have so far proven their capabilities with their performances, not forgetting that both coaches previously served their countries as national team players.
The Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire will be managed by their Coach Sabri Lamouchi from France, The Indomitable Lions of Cameroun will be managed by coach Volker Finke from West Germany and The Fennec Foxes will be managed by coach Vahid Halilhodzic from Bosnia.
Wishing all Africa countries the best in Brazil 2014...Go Africa Go!
Martin Alohan, Jayee University College, Accra
