Winners and Losers from AFCON 19

The 2019 Africa Cup of Nations came to an end on Friday the 19th of July with Algeria defeating Senegal 1-0 to claim their first title since 1990 where they won it on home soil. As in any other tournament, there were different teams that were backed to win the tournament. Others were earmarked as potential surprise packages while others were unknown. All teams falling in these different categories slowly revealed themselves as the tourney progressed. The AFCON competition was characterized by all sorts of memorable events. From Nigeria's epic 3-2 win over 2017 winners Cameroon; to South Africa's shock win over disappointing hosts Egypt; and not forgetting Madagascar's epic penalty defeat of DR Congo; a tense quarter final face-off between Ivory Coast and Algeria; the magical last-gasp free kick from Riyad Mahrez that sent the latter into the final. The list of exciting moments in this year’s tournament is indeed, endless. Below we reflect on the winners and standout performers of the tournament, as well as those who fell short of expectations.

“Talk about a breath of fresh air! It is often said that every tournament needs a good underdog story: they surely don’t come much better than Madagascar. ”

— Siphosethu Thwala,FirstTouch Africa

Riyad Mahrez of Algeria leaves the team bus prior to the international friendly match between Algeria and Armenia at Estadio Tourbillon on May 31, 2014 in Sion, Switzerland.

(May 30, 2014 - Source: Philipp Schmidli/Getty Images Europe)

WINNERS

Algeria

Lifting the tournament trophy for only the second time, little or no one can feel that these guys were not worthy champions. They played their hearts out for the duration of the tourney. Yes, fortune did favor them along the way (Baghdad Bounedjah's early deflected goal is an example) but in all honesty, Algeria played very well. The frenzy celebrations at the end of the final whistle said it all. Having waited for such a moment for nearly three decades when the team last lifted the trophy, Algeria’s triumph was well worth the wait for the North African giants. They scored 13 goals in the tournament, five more than fellow finalists, Senegal. Their journey to the final was also nothing short of being memorable. Djamel Belmadi's side needed a sensational last-gasp Riyad Mahrez winner to beat Nigeria in the last four, having previously won a tense penalty shootout against Ivory Coast. Until their dramatic shootout win over Ivory Coast, Algeria's run through AFCON had been as sleek as they come. They did not concede a goal until Jonathan Kodjia's equalizer for Ivory Coast, and looked like the tournament's most complete team in all departments. It is hard to argue that they did not deserve to win the tournament. Their hard work paid off.

Nigeria

This pick is probably debatable, but I stand my ground. After almost forcing their way into the finals until they were stopped in their tracks by Riyad Mahrez’s sublime last minute free kick, one can argue that the Nigerians had a satisfactory tournament. They bounced back from their earlier shocking 2-0 defeat to surprise package Madagascar, and slowly exerted themselves as the tournament progressed, beating Cameroon in the round of 16. They further went on to beat South Africa’s Bafana Bafana to seal a place in the semi-finals. Taking into account the many problems faced by the team leading up to the tournament, including the goalkeeping headache faced by coach Gernot Rohr, the fact that the West African side made it to the semifinals cannot be wholly overlooked and as such, they deserve some credit as they walked away with the bronze after dispatching Tunisia to earn a record eighth third-place medal.

The Nigeria team warm up prior to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group D match between Croatia and Nigeria at Kaliningrad Stadium on June 16, 2018 in Kaliningrad, Russia.

(June 15, 2018 - Source: Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe)

Madagascar

Talk about a breath of fresh air! It is often said that every tournament needs a good underdog story: they surely don't come much better than Madagascar. Making their maiden appearance at the tournament, the team shocked many as they went as far as the quarter-finals stage. The manner of their progress was remarkable too: they suffered stage fright in the first half of their opener with Guinea, but from then on, it was as if a switch had flicked on. They drew their first game against Guinea, beat Burundi in their second, before they stunned Nigeria, convincingly beating them, 2-0. They did not stop there. They went on to the round of 16 where they further outgunned DR Congo before being put to the sword by a well alert Tunisian side in the last eight. Nevertheless, what is memorable about the journey of this Madagascar side is the manner in which they achieved this feat. They played an appetizing brand of attacking football that was pleasing to the eyes of many football fanatics, showing no fear, not even against the tried and tested so called big teams. They seemed to have a different tactical plan for each game and one must commend their charismatic coach Nicolas Dupuis for leading the team that far, especially considering the chaotic state the infrastructure of Madagascar football is in back on the island. It is without a doubt that Madagascar have been the romantic story of this tournament and one cannot help but wonder the growth they will have had in the next AFCON tournament.

“The ultimate flop of the tournament. As winners of three of four previous editions in Egypt, the hosts were expected to be chief contenders for a record-extending eighth title.”

— Siphosethu Thwala, FirstTouch Africa

LOSERS

Senegal

Aliou Cisse, Head coach of Senegal gives instructions to Cheikhou Kouyate and Sadio Mane of Senegal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group H match between Senegal and Colombia at Samara Arena on June 28, 2018 in Samara, Russia.

(June 27, 2018 - Source: Michael Steele/Getty Images Europe)

Another debatable pick in this category, understandably so. Senegal are a perfect epitome of the adage “so near yet so far”. This Senegalese side rarely looked troubled throughout the whole tournament. Finishing off with a silver medal after a steady steely run to the final, they went home to a sizable crowd that praised their efforts despite the heartbreak of losing a second final. Boasting of a number of African stars, Senegal were one of the top two teams that were in the running to win the AFCON title but they choked when it mattered most. The team had an impressive run leading to the final, only losing ironically to their final opponents Algeria. Though some will feel the team was somewhat unfortunate to be without their reliable defender in Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly in the epic finale due to suspension. As such, the long wait to deliver a title that has for so long remained elusive, remains the primary objective for the Teranga Lions moving forward. Though they may endure this pain for a while, they can pride themselves in having a bright future, especially with a young coach like Cisse at the helm. It is only a matter of time now for the Senegalese, or is it?

Egypt and Salah

The ultimate flop of the tournament. As winners of three of four previous editions in Egypt, the hosts were expected to be chief contenders for a record-extending eighth title. Little did we know. Playing in their own backyard, the Egyptians were a disappointment to say the least. Worse, not even the presence of UEFA Champions League winner Mo Salah was enough to propel the Pharaohs to glory on home soil. Fresh from a memorable season with Liverpool, you could be forgiven for believing that Salah would be the central figure of this tournament. Though he did score twice in the group stages against DR Congo and Uganda respectively, Salah could not deliver when his country needed him the most during the painful 1-0 loss to South Africa in the last 16 which shocked the 75 000 scores of fans at the Cairo International Stadium. The seven-time champions’ exit cost coach Javier Aguirre his job as he was soon sacked by the Egyptian Football Association, becoming the first of many casualties, which also included the resignation of Egyptian FA president Hani Abou Rida.

Mohamed Salah of Egypt is consoled by team mate Shikabala the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group A match between Russia and Egypt at Saint Petersburg Stadium on June 19, 2018 in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

(June 18, 2018 - Source: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images Europe)

Morocco

There was no doubt in many people’s minds that when the Atlas Lions took a flight to Egypt, they would be counted among the pre-tournament favorites for AFCON 2019, but however suffered a shock penalty shootout defeat at the hands of Benin in the last 16. For a moment, one thought these guys would go all the way, and rightly so. They had won all three of their group stage matches with ease, conceding no goals. That was before they were put to the sword by a determined Benin outfit during a 4-1 decisive penalty shootout. The Moroccans began the group phase with a trio of 1-0 wins over Namibia, South Africa and the Ivory Coast but nobody would imagine what would befall them in the last 16 match. Boasting the presence of Ajax Amsterdam’s Hakim Ziyech who had set tongues wagging during the 2018/19 Champions League season, most Moroccan fans were hoping he would drive the team to glory. But Benin had other ideas. The 26-year-old did not sparkle at all in Egypt, which was worsened by a penalty miss in injury time against Benin. It came as no surprise that their coach, the renowned Herve Renard, too, was in good old fashion, sacked.

Cameroon

Being the defending champions, much was expected from the Cameroonian side, but they couldn’t deliver. There was just no real hint of class in the Indomitable Lions’ play. Not even the presence of celebrated football legends Clarence Seedorf and his assistant Patrick Kluivert could help their cause. Clarence Seedorf’s men failed dismally to live up to expectations and defend their trophy. They were painfully ousted by third place finishers, Nigeria in what was a five goal thriller, possibly the game of the tournament. As has become the norm in football, the big flop costed Seedorf his job.

 Other teams such as Ghana cannot be spared. The West African side appeared to lack energy and focus during the whole tournament and deserve to be mentioned among the other sides that flopped.

Herve Renard, Head coach of Morocco consoles Faycal Fajr of Morocco who looks dejected following his sides defeat, meaning his team are knocked out of the World Cup after the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group B match between Portugal and Morocco at Luzhniki Stadium on June 20, 2018 in Moscow, Russia.

(June 19, 2018 - Source: Michael Steele/Getty Images Europe)

NOSTALGIC MOMENTS

Mahrez's sensational flourish aside, the tournament's bigger names were rather peripheral. Mohamed Salah did score two fine goals early on for Egypt, and Sadio Mane was on target three times for Senegal, also missing two penalties. But none of them really produced a performance for the ages, or one to define the tournament. The real heroes were players like Ismael Bennacer, Baghdad Bounedjah and Youcef Belaili, a trio that proved that the AFCON tournament still has the potential to unleash a breadth of new stars.

Overall, it was a fine tournament for bright, up-and-coming coaches and none more so than the victorious Djamel Belmadi. Algeria's tactical mastermind conducted himself with class throughout the tourney, building a team that could sweep opponents aside through sheer technical quality in one moment, while deriving a game shutting display the next. The same can be said for Aliou Cisse, his old friend and Senegalese counterpart, who guided his side with class to the narrow final defeat. On that note, it appears that perhaps we may begin to see more local coaches taking charge of their national teams, a realization that developing local coaches can be advantageous in the long run.

Is VAR a superhero or a villain in the future of global football?

VAR has come under scrutiny once more after a series of controversial decisions made using the instant replay system during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.  FIFA introduced virtual assistant refereeing technology on the global football stage in the 2018 FIFA Men's World Cup in Brazil. It has received significant push back from football fans who argue that VAR will disrupt the game as it has come to be loved. Much of the same argument still exists. The position of VAR skeptics is that an increased focus on accuracy would take away the flair and free play. The relevance of VAR has been brought into question even further this year. VAR dominated headlines in the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup after players and coaches raised fresh criticism about its relevance to global football.

“The statistics still show VAR improved the decision-making accuracy in the group stages to 98% as compared to 92.5% without it. Human error in football has always been frustrating given the fact that once the referee makes a call, whether right or wrong; there was no way to check in real-time.  ”

— Margaret Mandeya, FirstTouch Africa

Alex Morgan of the USA is fouled by Stefanie Van der Gragt of the Netherlands leading to a penalty during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France Final match between The United States of America and The Netherlands at Stade de Lyon on July 07, 2019 in Lyon, France.

(July 6, 2019 - Source: Getty Images Europe)

VAR controversy at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup  

FIFA's decision to approve the use of VAR at the tournament came in March, just three months before the start of the competition. The timing of the VAR was the major challenge, with some coaches and pundits calling out FIFA for using the Women's World Cup as a testing ground for VAR. Cameroon's Indomitable Lionesses had a passionate protest during their round-of-16, 3-0 loss to England. Specifically, after feeling hard done by, the Cameroonians proceeded to stop play for minutes, refusing to continue the game in protest of the VAR decisions. Ellen White's second goal of the match was firstly ruled as offside and later allowed after VAR consultation. The same way that the Indomitable Lionesses felt that VAR had robbed them of their chances; other teams also faced a similar fate to the Cameroonians.

Among the other teams that had a bone to pick with the VAR system, was Scotland.  In the group stages of the tournament, Argentina came back from a 3-0 loss against Scotland to draw, 3-3. In stoppage time, a late infringement led to a VAR penalty decision which was initially saved by the Scottish goalkeeper. In a shocking twist, the referee ruled that the goalkeeper moved from the line before Argentina took the penalty shot and after consulting VAR, the penalty was retaken. Nigeria was too a victim of the penalty retake after France had missed the penalty, it was judged with VAR that the Nigerian goalie had moved off the line before the kick. 

Previously, such minor infringements would have gone unnoticed, but VAR is making the enforcement of the rules of the game much stricter. While everyone would agree that the rules should be observed for fair play, some do feel that football is becoming too rigid and too technical. 

Part of the debate around the FIFA Women's World Cup was around the new rule that was responsible for dashing the dreams of both Scotland and Argentina. The new rules from the International Football Board say that a goalkeeper must always have one foot on the line during a penalty kick as opposed to the previous rule of two feet.

The big screen inside the staduim informs fans of a VAR review in consideration, after referee Milorad Mazic awards Senegal a penalty, which he then rescinds after looking at the VAR footage during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group H match between Senegal and Colombia at Samara Arena on June 28, 2018 in Samara, Russia.

(June 27, 2018 - Source: Michael Steele/Getty Images Europe)

Do we even need VAR?

VAR is not detached from traditional refereeing —it's a sidekick to the match official, and it's not an either-or situation. Referees still have the last call in deciding whether an infringement has been made. Having video-assisted refereeing has overall reduced the number of incorrect calls and improved the accuracy of referees. The statistics still show VAR improved the decision-making accuracy in the group stages to 98% as compared to 92.5% without it. Human error in football has always been frustrating given the fact that once the referee makes a call, whether right or wrong; there was no way to check in real-time. 

A positive aspect of VAR is that it increases the transparency of the calls made by referees. They are countless allegations of dubious referees being caught in the thick of match fixing scandals that have rocked the footballing world and made us question the authenticity of the entire system. These referees were often part of a large scheme of match-fixers and betting mafias. When these ​match-fixing scandals​ come to the public's attention, it has always triggered a discussion around solutions to prevent such callous disregard of ethics by match officials. VAR can bring accountability, which has sometimes been lacking in football.  Before VAR, it was easy for referees to make dubious calls as a referee, VAR makes it more challenging to hide blatant match-fixing attempts. 

Colombia players confront referee Milorad Mazic after he awards Senegal a penalty before rescinding the decision after reviewing VAR footage during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group H match between Senegal and Colombia at Samara Arena on June 28, 2018 in Samara, Russia.

(June 27, 2018 - Source: Stu Forster/Getty Images Europe)

While the coming of VAR was quite a noble effort by the football governing bodies, the interpretation of "match-changing situations" needs to be given more attention. Referees have lost the autonomy to make decisions without leaning on the VAR to confirm each decision, leading to longer and slower games. I would argue that the biggest flaw of VAR is that it slows down the pace of the game. Games are now featuring more abrupt 2 minutes, even up to 4 minutes stop to allow the referee to review the VAR footage. Before VAR, it was rare to see a game stop as many times as has become common. Ultimately, increase in stoppage time has increased the average length of matches. In the 2018 Men's World Cup, the average stoppage time increased from 5.4 minutes to 6.4 minutes.

VAR going forward

The success of VAR depends on making some critical changes to how it's used. The Premier League will use VAR for the first time in the 2019/20 season. The Football Association has been paying close attention to the controversies surrounding VAR at the Women's World Cup in preparing for the launch of VAR in the 2019-2020 season. One thing that has come up in how the FA would like to do things differently to how we've seen VAR in previous tournaments is to reduce its interference and apply it more consistently in accordance with the laid out rules.

Despite the controversies, I would argue that VAR should stay. Fair play is becoming more of a reality owing to VAR. The FA has correctly defined the guidelines for the part that VAR will play in the Premier League. FIFA must reanalyze the interaction with VAR globally which would allow for more seamless consultations.

2019 WWC Review: After all the African teams failed to make it past the Round of 16, What’s next for the game in Africa?

With the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup now in the books, it's time to reflect on what an amazing month of soccer it was, precisely for Africa. This year’s World Cup, saw two of Africa’s three representatives reaching the round of 16. Below we breakdown the happenings of the tournament with a focused attention on the African teams; Nigeria, Cameroon and South Africa as well as the future of the sport on the continent moving forward.

“Further to this, according to Yasmine Arkoub, co-founder of sports consulting firm, Melting Sports, there are also plans to launch an African Women’s Champions League. Additionally, former Nigerian player Yusuf-Aromire has also launched the SheFootball Initiative to encourage young Nigerian girls to get on the pitch.”

— Siphosethu Thwala, FirstTouch Africa

Claudia Goette of Leverkusen challenges Amanda Dlamini of South Africa during the women's friendly match between South Africa and Bayer Leverkusen at Sport School Hennef on July 12, 2012 in Recklinghausen, Germany.

(July 11, 2012 - Source: Christof Koepsel/Getty Images Europe)

AFRICA’S 2019 WORLD CUP EXPLOITS SUMMARISED

Nigeria

Nearly knocked out of the group stages as a result of a controversial VAR decision, the Nigerian Super Falcons had a decent world cup performance as they managed to reach the round of 16. While they were knocked out by two time champions, Germany, the West African team did meet their primary objective of at least qualifying for the knockout stages. Thus, the team will look to build on from this in preparation for future tournaments and ultimately the 2023 World Cup. What is more, coach Thomas Dennerby looks to have unearthed some young players who could be long term foundations of the squad.

Cameroon

Cameroon qualified for the round of 16 after beating New Zealand 2-1 in their final group match. A big letdown for the Cameroonians was their failure to be clinical in front of goal throughout the tournament. The Indomitable Lionesses were very creative and threatening going forward but a bit less cohesive defensively. In their last time out, Cameroon lost 3-0 to England in a match that was characterised by intense physicality and various controversial VAR decisions. One may not be faulted for believing that the less sportive behavior displayed by the Cameroon team during their match against England marred their never say die attitude which had helped them reach the round of 16. The players refused to restart the game after England had scored a goal awarded by a controversial VAR decision, causing a conundrum on the field of play in an unbearable sight for football fans.

South Africa

To whom much is given much is expected, says an old adage. After a stellar showing at the 2018 Women’s AFCON tournament last year where they reached the finals, much was expected from the South African women’s team. The 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup was Banyana Banyana’s first ever appearance at that stage. The team lost all three matches though they did manage to salvage some pride by scoring a consolation goal courtesy of star player Thembi Kgatlana in their 3-1 loss against Spain. Nevertheless, perhaps some positives can be taken from Banyana’s world cup journey. Their ability to reach the tournament for the first time is something not to be taken lightly. Furthermore, the team has been able to blend in experience and youth that has come up the ranks, and as such, by the time the next world cup tournament arrives, a majority of the team’s youngsters would have reached their peak and will be ready to be more competitive.

Cameroon line up during the Women's Football first round Group E Match of the London 2012 Olympic Games between Cameroon and Brazil at Millennium Stadium on July 25, 2012 in Cardiff, Wales.

(July 24, 2012 - Source: Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe)

THERE ARE OTHERS

While the above teams have exerted their place as the leading women’s football nations from the continent, there are other teams that are closely behind them that may rise in the near future. These include Mali, Zimbabwe and Zambia. The Mighty Warriors were the first Zimbabwean national football team to make it to a global event after qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. Previously, Zimbabwe had qualified for the Women's Africa Cup of Nations three times and their best performance was a fourth place finish at the 2000 edition held in Nigeria. Moreover, the upcoming COSAFA Cup will be an opportunity for the Mighty Warriors to redeem themselves and show their competence especially after failing to book a place at the Africa Women's Cup of Nations (AWCON) last year.

SOME CHALLENGES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED IN THE WOMEN’S GAME

It must be pointed out that African national teams (both women and men) still have a long way to go if they are to succeed in major tournaments such as the Men and Women’s FIFA World Cup. Prominent even today, stories of pay disputes between players and the football governing body remain poisonous to the development of the sport and if left unaddressed, will continue to be a problem. Such disputes have reared their ugly heads as a result of the corruption and general mismanagement that plagues high-level football across Africa. Despite being home to large throngs of football lovers and also some of the world’s best players, football federations across the continent are engulfed by cancerous maladministration which creates a lot of problems that ultimately force players to take extreme measures in an effort to get their payments. Noteworthy examples that come to mind include the issues faced by the Nigerian women’s team after beating Cameroon 5-0 to win the AWCON back in 2004. The Nigerian federation refused to pay players their bonuses and pending allowances as the federation claimed there was no money. The players eventually got their dues after continued pressure from both players and the media. Fast forward to 2019, the same issue arose at the end of their world cup journey.  It was reported that the Super Falcons refused to return home unless they were paid. Therefore, the absence of proper structures to deal with such problems will continue to result in unrest and lack of optimal performances from national team players.

Renata Costa of Brazil scores a header during the Women's Football first round Group E Match of the London 2012 Olympic Games between Cameroon and Brazil at Millennium Stadium on July 25, 2012 in Cardiff, Wales.

(July 24, 2012 - Source: Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe)

A GLOBAL VIEW

In the same vein, another predominant issue not only in African women’s football but globally as well, has been the issue of unequal pay between the men’s and the women’s teams. It was reported that Banyana Banyana, South Africa women’s team, were paid 10 times less than Bafana Bafana, the men’s team. As such, this damning discovery resulted in the South African Football Association (SAFA) taking action to rectify this. To this end, in May 2019, SAFA increased Banyana's pay and made it equivalent to their male counterparts in a move that was welcomed by many South African football lovers. It was also reported that Nigeria too, has recently taken steps to correct the wage disparity between male and female players. The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) told CNN it conducted a pay review in 2017 resulting in basic match bonuses for the Super Falcons being raised to $3,000 per player, while the basic bonus for the men's team was reduced from $10,000 to $5,000 per player. According to Samuel Ahmadu, a member of the women's committee for the NFF, the enormous pay gap in the African game can partly be attributed to poor handling of female football teams by their sports associations.

INFRASTRUCTURE & REASONS TO BE HOPEFUL

Despite the difficulties faced by many female players on the continent, there are signs of hope for the women's game. The Confederation of African Football (CAF), has been making bold steps towards investing in women's football. In 2018, the CAF President in a speech at the CAF women's football symposium alluded that the organization would prioritize women's competitions and support local federations in managing women's teams. Further to this, according to Yasmine Arkoub, co-founder of sports consulting firm, Melting Sports, there are also plans to launch an African Women's Champions League. Additionally, former Nigerian player Yusuf-Aromire has also launched the SheFootball Initiative to encourage young Nigerian girls to get on the pitch. The Super Falcons legend offers training for girls and provides football kits for those who can't afford them. "There are a million girls out there who want to play football but are not being encouraged. They just need the support and access to opportunities," she said.

Worth noting is that many African players have been travelling overseas in search for better opportunities to develop their football talents and advance their careers, yet the national teams have found themselves unable to shine on the global stage and many nations are still without a professional league. It is said that out of the 54 national associations in Africa, 25 countries currently have a women’s league with only four boasting well-organized and quality competitions, namely Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon and South Africa. As a result, the insignificant number of leagues on the continent hinders many players’ abilities to compete at the highest level consistently, both at national and club level.

“Fast forward to 2019, the same issue arose at the end of their world cup journey.  It was reported that the Super Falcons refused to return home unless they were paid. Therefore, the absence of proper structures to deal with such problems will continue to result in unrest and lack of optimal performances from national team players.”

— Siphosethu Thwala, FirstTouch Africa

Asisat Oshoala #8 of Nigeria reacts after scoring the second goal against Sweden during the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 Group D match between Sweden and Nigeria at Winnipeg Stadium on June 8, 2015 in Winnipeg, Canada.

(June 7, 2015 - Source: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images North America)

Considering all else, there is a long way to go for African football, and the following are some of the action points that I believe need to be addressed by relevant stakeholders in order to improve the sport. Firstly, football associations should make it a priority to source for more sustainable sponsorship for national women’s leagues. This will help in not only having enough prize money for the leagues, but it will also help in attracting local players to remain in the continent as a result of increased competitiveness in the domestic leagues, as well as increasing awareness and abolishing stigma surrounding women’s football which can ultimately draw more sponsors. Additionally, more partnerships between countries should be formed to fast-track the development of players. For instance, one notable initiative in this regard has been the partnership between SAFA and the Spanish La Liga which has seen the League commit to sponsoring the South African Under-17 women’s national team’s (Bantwana) trip to Spain to play two important friendly matches against select sides from La Liga’s national women’s league. SAFA’s representative remarked, “we have received balls to give to our provinces from La Liga, they have sent us La Liga qualified coaches to train our local coaches and have been heavily involved in initiatives with our regions and provinces to develop the sport at grassroots level.”

More of such partnerships are needed across the continent if women’s football in Africa is to rise to the level it belongs.

Who are the favorites: Senegal, Nigeria, and Egypt?

The 32nd edition of the biggest football tournament in Africa, the Africa Cup of Nations, is at our doorstep. Soon, 24 national teams will set foot in the land of Egypt to battle it out for the coveted cup. Amongst these teams, a number of powerhouses will be present, many of which are earmarked as favorites to win the tournament. These include amongst others, West African giants Senegal and Nigeria, as well as the host nation itself, Egypt. Below, we delve deeper into each of these three countries’ prospects and chances of winning the cup.

Sadio Mane of Senegal runs with the ball during the International Friendly match between Nigeria and Senegal at The Hive on March 23, 2017 in Barnet, England.

(March 22, 2017 - Source: Dan Mullan/Getty Images Europe)

Senegal

Despite being one of the most consistent sides in Africa, one finds it hard to believe that Senegal have never lifted the AFCON trophy in 14 previous appearances at the tournament. Rather, the team’s best showing at the tournament was when they became runners-up to Cameroon during the 2002 finals. In the last edition of the tournament, the Teranga Lions went out at the quarter-final stage, having arrived at the tournament as favorites. However, this is expected to change as the Senegalese side has been able to rediscover their form over the qualifying stages of the AFCON tournament.  As such, they head to Egypt with their heads high and believing that they stand a good chance of winning the cup considering the quality of players at their disposal.

During the AFCON qualifying stages, the Teranga Lions maintained an unbeaten streak of six games in the qualifiers, winning 5 games and drawing one, and ultimately amassing the highest points gathered by a team in the qualifiers (16). While this may be a confidence booster on its own, it counts for nothing when the stage is set for the AFCON tournament. Nevertheless, Senegal will be counting on their big players to show up at the tourney.

The talent at Senegal’s disposal epitomizes little or no doubt that Senegal can go all the way and win the cup. Central to the Senegalese squad and ultimately the carrier of the team is Liverpool forward Sadio Mane. The 27-year old’s sizzling form in the recently ended 2018/2019 English Premier League season sent tongues wagging and ultimately put him in the conversation of being the best African player alongside his teammate Mo Salah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Mane scored a record 22 league goals in the English Premier League in what has been a season to remember for the Senegalese man who also happened to have just clinched the coveted UEFA Champions league with his Livepool side, which will likely put him in contention for the Ballon d'Or award. Senegal will be hoping Mane turns up for the national side and uses his silkiness on the left flank to terrorize opposition defenses and carry the team to glory.

 The showdown in Egypt provides a chance for Senegal to avenge the injustices of the past and finally bring home the AFCON title that has very much been elusive for the Senegalese. The Teranga Lions will begin their campaign against the Taifa Stars of Tanzania on June 23rd, later wrapping up their group fixtures against Algeria and Kenya on June 27 and July 1 respectively.

Mohamed Salah of Egypt has a drink during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group A match between Saudia Arabia and Egypt at Volgograd Arena on June 25, 2018 in Volgograd, Russia.

(June 24, 2018 - Source: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images Europe)

Egypt

It will be the fifth time record Africa Cup of Nations tournament that Egypt have hosted and being on home soil will be enough to propel the Egyptians to go all out to try and win the tournament. Egypt edged South Africa and replaced Cameroon as the hosts of the tournament. Having won a record seven AFCON tournaments, it comes as no surprise that Egypt are one of the favorites to grab the tournament prize. The Pharaohs were beaten finalists in 2017 as Cameroon won 2-1.

Egypt will be looking to rise above the disappointing display at last year’s FIFA world cup where the team failed to win a single match in the campaign. Their short participation at the world cup also saw the team waving goodbye to their long-serving goalkeeper Essam El Hadary who has been a pivotal player for the team over the years. Egypt’s AFCON qualifying journey proved to be rather shaky by their standards as they finished second below Tunisia. The team won four games including both home and away games against eSwatini, drawing one against Niger and losing the other against North African rivals Tunisia to finish second in the group with 13 points.

Many expect that the presence of Mohammed Salah is likely to lead the Egyptians to glory. Many would argue that Salah and his teammate Sadio Mane were easily the continent’s two best during the 2018/2019 season across the whole of Europe. Salah has been in hot form all season long, becoming the first African ever to clinch back-to-back Golden Boot accolades in the English Premier League alongside fellow Africans, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and teammate Mane. Egypt have produced several players of the highest quality over the years but Salah has reached uncharted territory by proving his worth at the highest level when it mattered the most. His impact however, has been somewhat criticized for failing to replicate his club form at national level. Be that as it may, his electrifying pace on the right flank, his skillful dribbling as well as his sharp eye for goal make him the go-to attacker in a team favored to tear apart the whole of Africa at home. Apart from Salah, forgotten Arsenal midfielder Mohammed Elneny could also be the difference maker at the belly of the park for the Egyptians as he will be hoping to make a name for himself in order to revive his footballing career.

Worth noting is that Egypt has won the AFCON tournament three out of the four times the country has hosted the tournament, a phenomenal feat if you ask me, one that should surely send a message about the threat posed by the Pharaohs particularly in their own backyard. It will be interesting to see whether home court advantage will be a significant factor even this time around considering the increase in the number of teams gunning for glory.

“Many would argue that Salah and his teammate Sadio Mane were easily the continent’s two best during the 2018/2019 season across the whole of Europe. Salah has been in hot form all season long, becoming the first African ever to clinch back-to-back Golden Boot accolades in the English Premier League alongside fellow Africans, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and teammate Mane.”

— Siphosethu Thwala, FirstTouch Africa

Ahmed Musa of Nigeria celebrates victory following the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group D match between Nigeria and Iceland at Volgograd Arena on June 22, 2018 in Volgograd, Russia.

(June 21, 2018 - Source: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images Europe)

Nigeria

After missing the last two editions, Nigeria make a return to the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019. Coach Gernot Rohr recently led the Super Eagles to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, though the team could not proceed beyond the group stages.

Boasting the most youthful squad of the world cup teams, Nigeria’s world cup performance was a matter of “so near yet so far” as they bowed out of the tournament at the hands of Argentina. Nonetheless, the team was able to secure a win against Iceland in one of their group matches. This dismal performance however, did not deter the Super Eagles from securing a ticket to take part in the biennial African Cup of Nations in Egypt.

The Super Eagles had a somewhat smooth run to the biennial football showpiece despite making a false start in the qualifying series. The team kicked off their qualifying campaign on the wrong foot by losing 2-0 at home to South Africa. That defeat woke the three-time Africans champions’ slumber as they won their next three matches against Seychelles and Libya before once again drawing against a resilient South African side. The Nigerians capped off their qualifying campaign with a win against the Seychelles, finishing as Group winners with 13 points.

The old adage “age is nothing but a number” might well be relevant during this year’s AFCON showpiece, in as far as Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze is concerned. The 2015 U/17 World Cup Winner has enjoyed an impressive debut season with Villarreal since breaking into the club’s first team, scoring ten goals in 46 appearances as well as chipping in with four assists. The 20-year-old is one of the most exciting young talents in Spanish football and he’s enjoyed an excellent campaign with Villarreal where he’s now considered to be an important first team player having progressed through the club’s youth ranks. Still, some may point to Chukwueze’s lack of international experience as his likely downside and something that may find him wanting when it matters the most. However, the presence of experienced players like Obi Mikel and Ahmed Musa should be able to guide Chukuweze and make him comfortable enough to do what he does best on the field: run at defenders.

Sadio Mane of Senegal makes his way onto the pitch prior to the International Friendly match between the Ivory Coast and Senegal at the Stade Charlety on March 27, 2017 in Paris, France.

(March 26, 2017 - Source: Dan Mullan/Getty Images Europe)

However, despite qualifying for the AFCON, one could not say, emphatically that the Super Eagles are indeed a team to beat at the forthcoming finals in Egypt. The team is faced with different challenges such as injuries to some of its key players that include seasoned striker Odion Ighalo, who was the leading scorer during the qualifiers with six goals. Not only that, the team has had some of its experienced players opting to resign, such as Victor Moses who decided to focus on club football. These predicaments may haunt the Super Eagles especially if the team goes deeper into the knockout stages. Nonetheless, the return of trusted servant John Obi Mikel will be a key factor for Nigeria’s youthful side. Count the Nigerians out at your own peril, they might be the surprise package of all the usual powerhouses.

Nigeria start their campaign with a tie against Burundi on June 22 before taking on Guinea and Madagascar on June 26 and 30 respectively.

The AFCON tournament looks to be a firecracker and is expected to keep football lovers glued at the edge of their seats between June and July. While the above teams are some of the teams expected to compete for the top honors, be rest assured that drama will unfold during the course of the tournament and football being football, the unexpected can and will happen. Who are you vouching for in this AFCON tournament?

Women’s FIFA World Cup: Group A, “The Group of Death”

We're nearing the start of the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, which gets underway in France on June 7 and features 24 teams vying for the title. Hosts France get the competition under way with their opening group match against South Korea in Paris. The hosts are No. 4 in on world the rankings and will have the home crowd behind them, as they try to duplicate their fellow men’s side, Les Bleus’ title triumph in Russia last year and live up to high expectations in the pool that pundits, arguably, called as “Group of Death”, comprising of the hosts France, Norway, Korea Republic and Nigeria. Below we zoom into Group A of the women’s world cup and analyze each team’s chances of progressing to the next stage of the tournament.

France

As the hosts of the tournament, Les Bleues will be expected to pick up on the momentum left behind by the men's French team, with the host nation eyeing the highest honor in football by winning the tournament on home turf. The women’s team's best finish on the world stage was fourth place in the 2011 edition and they will be looking to up that in next month’s event.

The French team is one of the most talented teams in the world. The team boasts of a number of players that can rival the much fancied sides and bring the trophy home provided they (France) play their best football. Amongst these players are Wendie Renard and Dephine Cascarino. The former is considered to be one of the best defenders in the game (her rating as the top center back in FIFA 19 says a lot). Wendie is what Virgil Van Dijk is to Liverpool: reliable. She’s quick on her feet and unbeatable in the air, which has led to her prolific scoring rate (for a defender) at both the national team and club level.

Having won every trophy on offer with her club Olympique Lyon including the Champions League, the one trophy missing in Renard’s trophy cabinet is the World Cup gold, and that should be enough motivation for her to deliver her best showing for the French team. If Renard hits top gear, she could be vital in France’s quest to become the first nation to hold both the men’s and women’s World Cup trophies at the same time. Another key player that is likely to make a big impact for France is upcoming attacking player Dephine Cascarino. The 22-year-old Lyon midfielder has impressed at club level for the past two seasons, bagging seven goals apiece for two successive seasons. While Cascarino is relatively inexperienced at a full national team level, with just 11 caps, she has 12 goals at youth World Cups, and looks to get a good chunk of playing time this summer.

Apart from these enterprising players, the experience of long-serving servant Eugenie Le Sommer cannot go unnoticed. The French forward has scored 74 goals in 159 national team appearances, including 11 World Cup goals. In front of their home crowd, coupled with the right mixture of established stars and promising young players, one could argue that this would be the right time for France to finally win a major tournament.

Norway

Norway has the most World Cup appearances in Group A, having qualified for all eight previous editions of the event. It is also the only team in the group that has won the cup, back in 1995.

Perhaps the key talking point of this Norwegian side is the absence of their star player Ada Hegerberg. Regarded as the world’s best female footballer, the 23-year old who is also the current Balon d'Or winner and three-time Champions League winner, quit the national team back in 2017, as protest for what she says is a lack of respect for female players in Norway. She has scored 38 goals in 66 caps for the national team. Norway coach Martin Sjogren said in February that the federation had "tried to solve" things between them and Hegerberg but "she decided not to play". Sjogren further added: "As a coach, you need to focus on the players who want to be a part of the team and Ada doesn't. We respect that and we have been working hard with the other players and they have been doing a great job."

With this in mind, Norway will be pinning their hopes on the current crop of players and in particular their captain Maren Majelde. The 29-year old has featured for the side for more than a decade. She’s the soul and mastermind of the team. Capable of playing in central defence, as a defensive midfielder or even as a playmaker, Marelde’s sheer vision, dead-ball skills and charisma are key assets for Norway leading up to the World Cup. Apart from Marelde, players like defender Maria Thorisdottir and forward Caroline Graham Hansen are also expected to play a pivotal role in Norway’s quest for glory.

South Korea

South Korea qualified for their second straight Women’s World Cup after finishing fifth at the 2018 AFC Women’s Asian cup. This will be South Korea’s third appearance in the world cup. They were eliminated in the group stages in 2003 and only made it as far as the round of 16 in 2015. The Koreans kick off their world cup campaign against hosts France on June 7, knowing very well that a win will boost their chances of coming out of the group stages.

On paper at least, the odds are on the women from Seoul to get knocked out in the group stages. The 14th ranked South Korea is the proverbial dark horse in Group A after a lackluster performance in tournaments leading to the World Cup, most recently the Asian Cup. Nonetheless, South Korea’s powerful weapon in France would be its defense, as it did not concede a single goal in all its matches in the 2018 Women’s Asian Cup. One game that may provide the team with a lifeline of qualifying to the next stages could be their second game where they face off against Nigeria. The Africans are ranked 38th in the world, 24 places below the Koreans. Being a tactical team, South Korea’s ability to keep the ball and wear down their opposition with a possession-based style of football, could be key to South Korea’s any realistic chances of progressing further to the knockout stages.

While the Korean team face an uphill task to qualify to the knockout stages, they can still have a couple of key players they can rely on. These include Chelsea’s playmaker Ji So-Yun, who is the biggest star in the team. Credited with 54 goals in 115 appearances, she’s easily the most prolific Korean player. The 29-year-old was named the PFA Women’s Players’ Player of the Year for the 2014-15 season, her debut season in England. Apart from Ji So-Yun, South Korea will also be banking their hopes on talented youngster, Son Hwa-Yeon to help the team. Overall, the odds are definitely stacked against the Koreans and they are easily deemed as the underdogs of this group. Nonetheless, all that will count for nothing as football has taught in the past that anything is possible and by virtue of that, one can count this South Korean side out at their own peril.

Nigeria

Nigeria booked the ticket to France by winning the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations for the ninth time. The Falcons will open their campaign against 1995 winners Norway on 8 June. The nine-time African champions will then play South Korea in Grenoble on 12 June before facing hosts France on 17 June in Rennes. The West Africans hold the record of being the only African nation to have qualified for every Women's World Cup since it began in 1991. However, they have failed to translate their continental dominance on the world stage, with their best showing coming only during the USA world cup in 1999 where Nigeria reached the quarter-finals. Since then, they have failed to go beyond the group stages in the last four editions in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015. Coach Thomas Dennerby will therefore be hoping that the team break its duck and advance further in the competition.

As expected in any team, Nigeria boasts of a number of players that will be crucial if the team’s hopes of winning the tournament are anything to go by. One of these players is FC Barcelona striker and three-time African footballer of the year, Asisat Oshoala. She exploded to the scene back in 2014, winning both the Adidas Golden Ball and Golden Boot awards as Nigeria reached the finals of the FIFA under-20 Women’s World cup. Voted the best African player in 2014, 2016 and 2017, the powerful and aggressive striker is pivotal to the Super Falcons’ attacking potent/arsenal.

Apart from Oshoala, the leadership experience of team captain Onome Ebi will prove crucial to Nigeria’s push for the coveted trophy. Nigeria’s 2018 player of the year, Ebi, was an important figure as Nigeria recorded a title-winning success at the 2018 African Women's Cup of Nations in Ghana. All in all, the Super Falcons’ ninth title win in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations is enough proof that Nigeria is a threat to the hosts.

Both Norway and Nigeria are among the select band of teams never to have missed a single FIFA Women’s World Cup. The Norwegians have played a total of 35 matches in the competition, and the Nigerians 22. In contrast, France have only 14 matches to their name and Korea Republic a mere 7. Whether the experience (or lack thereof) will be a difference maker remains to be seen. But one thing is for sure, Group A certainly has all the sparks and recipes to be an electrifying group!

The group winners and runners up are guaranteed round of 16 berth, whereas the third placed team will only progress if it happens to be one of the four best third placed teams in the tournament.

Could any of the African teams shock the world?

The Total Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) comes with great anticipation and the celebration of the continent’s women who have thrived in soccer. After we have given the medals and sang the national anthems on the day of the final match. We might all know that one of the objectives of the Total Africa Women’s Cup of Nations is not just to determine the champion, but to select the three teams that will represent the continent in the Women’s World Cup. In this 2019 edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup; Nigeria, South Africa and Cameroon will be there to show the world what Africa has to offer.

In our previous article, we gave an analysis of how each of these teams have been preparing for this grand challenge. The questions that are still lingering in most of our minds is; with all these preparations that are taking place, could the world just be pleasantly shocked by what Africa can bring to the table? Could this be the year that brings a fresh perspective on how the world views Africa? Before we get into what the teams might eventually come up with, it would be prudent to begin by analysing the starting place of each team which is how they performed at the 2018 AWCON, the current odds and what they might just shock with. Even beyond that, we want to explore the bigger conversation about the necessity and relevance of predicting how teams will perform at a tournament way before the matches begin.

Nigeria

Since 1991, the Super Falcons have never missed any World Cup. They will be appearing in the Women’s World Cup for the 8th time. As expected, this has come after the team has won the AWCON Cup, a staggering 11 times out of 12. Even in 2018, the Super Falcons did not disappoint as they still snatched the title from South Africa by a 4-3 scoreline. Even though the fortunate and timely winning only came by a “lottery” penalty shoot-out, it still allowed the celebration to fall on the West African side. Some critics claim that Nigeria’s performance in the AWCON was not up to standard with some moments where it could even be doubted that they would win this year. Regardless of that view, others still believed that some Nigerian players still did well during the tournament with Asisat Ashoala scoring the second highest number of goals in the tournament and Tochukwu Oluehi getting the best goalkeeper award. These are the players that will still be in the World Cup squad in France. The different opinions then inform the predictions of how these ladies may perform on the upcoming tournaments.

Despite the multiple World Cup appearances, it looks like the Super Falcons’ dominance is only constricted within the African continent. The most devastating results came in China 1991 and 2013 in the United States where none of the team’s efforts resulted in a goal. They could not get even a single goal throughout the tournament.  The Super Falcons did finish in the top 8 in the 1999 World Cup which still remains their highlight today. With such an unimpressive track record, what are the odds that this year might be the year that the team wipes the tears of all Nigerians who have wept since 1991? That is a difficult question to respond to because it is really hard to pin down the challenges behind the Super Falcons’ disappointing performance at an international level. It might be the pressure that comes with knowing what is at stake, the strength of the other teams or just the inevitable losses that come with any sport. Some analysts attribute these losses to the fact that some of these players are not fit enough and the team has not worked on their playing system. Those arguments were valid before the current coach Thomas Dennerby joined the team and moved a couple of things around.

Recent predictions of who is most likely going to win the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup; USA, France and Germany were at the top of that list. After scrolling down and down the list, the Nigerian team finally appeared as the 20th most likely team to win the World Cup. This is, by the way, the most likely team amongst the three African teams that will be present. The probability score that was assigned to them was 250/1. In short, very few people, if any at all believe that the Super Falcons are likely going to win the World Cup. But that is exactly what will make it a shock, right? If a team with such a low prediction does not only rise to the top but carries the title home, the world could be pleasantly surprised.

Asisat Oshoala who is a star player of the Nigerian team and plays for Barcelona was quoted saying, “In football anything is possible. We are a team in progress and we will surely spring surprises during the World Cup.”

South Africa

After standing just one goal away from taking the AWCON cup home, Banyana Banyana will be attending the Women’s World Cup for the first time. As it can be assumed of a debut appearance, it has been predicted that South Africa is least likely going to win. Actually, out of the 24 teams that will be there, South Africa is considered as the 22nd most likely team, just above Jamaica and Thailand. What we cannot overlook though, is that after the AWCON, South Africa is armed with the Best Player in Africa and top goal scorer of that tournament, Thembi Kgatlana. Beyond that award, and of course, the silver medals, a couple of other South African players also got awards for scoring goals at the tournament. After carrying the team to the finals, we cannot dismiss the possibility of her doing the same at the World Cup this June.

I moved around asking for people’s opinions and one respondent said, “South Africa might not have the experience and many key players, but what they have is a united front. Just like Croatia, they might just shock the world.” In the 2018 FIFA World Cup, there were other renowned and presumably more deserving teams like Germany and Portugal, but Croatia silenced all skeptics and made it to the finals. History and fate might just collaborate to bring the same for South Africa. Even though South Africa have not often participated at the international level, they have proactively sought opportunities to get this kind of exposure before the tournament commences. In April, they had a match with Jamaica who will also be at the World Cup. Banyana have played other teams like the Netherlands, Sweden and the United States in an attempt to get experience. They will face Norway on the 2nd of June 2019 to get a final sense of their readiness. But really, to what extent does experience matter? Would South Africa’s lack of international experience work against them?

None of the teams that have won the World Cup since its inception in 1991 did so on their first attempt. The United States which has won the World Cup three times have been there since the beginning. There is a unique kind of value and lesson that can only come by being in the heat of the international pressure that comes with such a tournament. Sometimes, not even an international friendly game can give a taste of what it feels like, which is South Africa’s reality. Experience cannot really be substituted. We cannot fully anticipate what their performance will be like, but we are always behind our teams regardless of how low the odds could be.

Cameroon

After beating Mali 4-2 in the third-place play-off match last year, the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon secured their place in this year Women’s World Cup. Just like all the other African teams, the team is also anticipated to perform poorly at the upcoming tournament and has been given a probability score of 500/1 which is the same as South Africa. They appear as the 21st most likely to lift the trophy. Given that the Cameroonians will be appearing for the second time in the tournament, they have had some lessons to incorporate from the 2015 edition where they went as far the round 16.

Unlike Banyana Banyana, this team has not had enough opportunities to explore a lot of international opportunities during the preparation stage for the tournament. They have prepared mainly through domestic means which is a method that has been criticised for its inability to represent the reality of tournaments as big as the World Cup. Even though that might be true, we cannot escape that some countries do not have enough resources to prepare their teams to the desired levels. Cameroon has, however, participated in the Chinese Four-nation tournament where they came second to China. That is something impressive on its own. It might not be all the necessary exposure, but it did give the team an idea of what to expect. They expect to seal their preparations with a friendly match against Spain later this May. Their forward Njoya Ajara who has been making waves recently, says she is optimistic that they will do better this year. In spite of how optimistic teams can be, they still face a lot of negativity from the outside world. This then raises a question, that if all teams have qualified for a certain tournament, is it necessary to then predict how they will perform? In whose best interest are these predictions?

Are predictions necessary and helpful?

It has become a tradition that before any major tournament or game, sports pundits would dedicate time to predicting the outcome of that tournament. The Women’s World Cup has not been excluded from that tradition. The challenge with predictions is that they perpetuate pre-tournament stereotypes. Predictions label teams as winners and losers even before they are given a chance which could affect the team’s motivation. I cannot begin to imagine what must be in the Thailand training sessions after they have been declared as the least team that could possibly win this title. After a team has gone through the hustles of qualifying for the tournament, they are implicitly told they are not good enough. We cannot even be sure of the effect of such stereotypes on the objectivity of some decisions on the field of play. There are difficult moments like when a goal has to be validated or a foul has to be considered, knowing how a team is viewed can have an effect of the outcome of the decision.

However, it would also be blindly optimistic of us to assume that all teams in a certain tournament have an equal chance. Such a stance could be undermining the role of data. Predictions are based on teams’ previous performances, which cannot be ignored. They are not necessarily based on any ill intentions, but the aim is to raise awareness and excitement about the game. In fact, such predictions can be the reason why fans watch the games to see if they are being verified. After all, this article is also predicting a future which is a bit different from what the rest of the world is anticipating.

Conclusion

The three teams that will represent Africa are not there by coincidence or mistake. They were at the top of the AWCON because they worked hard, re-strategised quickly and learned fast even in the midst of the championship battle. There seems to be a bigger barrier when it comes to the World Cup which might be because of the way they are perceived by the rest of the world. It might also be because of real technicalities that they will need to work on to be on top of their game. Whatever the challenge might be, a bit of optimism here and there is always useful which is something that all the teams have in common. For Nigeria, this is when the experience they have gotten over the years might propel the Super Falcons to fly higher. To South Africa, nobody said small and new beginnings cannot explode to impressive success. Cameroon, the reason why you are at the World Cup again is that the first one was not enough to expose your greatness, here is another chance. Nobody knows, but could any of the African teams shock the world?

The recurring and disturbing horror of footballers’ relatives kidnapped for ransom

“A footballer’s salary is often an upwards of 5 figures every week, added to it, the fact that their earnings are made public, they will continue to be at risk of being victims of thieves and criminals. ”

— Margaret Mandeya, FirstTouch Africa

It’s difficult to imagine the horror of receiving a phone call from home informing you that your loved one has been kidnapped while you are halfway across the world. This is fast becoming the reality for some of Nigeria’s most prominent footballers. The latest case in a series of organised kidnappings of the relatives of Nigerian players is that of Bordeaux winger, Samuel Kalu’s mother.

Kalu’s mother was abducted on the 27th of February in Abia and released after 6 days. Ozuruonye Juliet Kalu’s gun-wielding kidnappers ambushed her whilst she was driving home and demanded a ransom of USD 138,000 when they found out about her son’s professional footballer status. The 21-year-old who joined Bordeaux in August 2018, on a five-year contract with the Ligue 1 team paid the ransom to ensure the safe return of his mother.

Joseph Yobo of Nigeria is dejected after the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group B match between Greece and Nigeria at the Free State Stadium on June 17, 2010 in Mangaung/Bloemfontein, South Africa.

(June 16, 2010 - Source: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images Europe)

Abia State Police have announced that investigations are being made to identify the kidnappers and bring them to justice. Sadly, kidnappings are becoming more frequent in Nigeria and the phenomenon has spread more than can be accidental. John Mikel Obi’s father has been the victim of kidnapping twice. The first incident occurred in 2011 after which he was released safely from his captures. In June 2018, in what can only be described as a nightmare, Mr Michael Obi was kidnapped for the second time in seven years.

The Nigerian captain received the news of his father’s abduction moments before the Super Eagles faced Argentina in the group stages in Russia, during the 2018 World Cup, news he said he kept from his teammates. Fortunately, Mikel Obi’s father was rescued by the Enugu State Police during which the police and the kidnappers engaged in a gun battle.

Former Everton player, Joseph Yobo's brother was kidnapped by gunmen in July 2008 and was released two weeks later. It turned out that the people who had organised the abduction of Norum Yobo were close family friends. According to Yobo, the ordeal was frightening. He stated in a 2009 interview, "I was terrified the police would get involved. I had to make them understand that sometimes you have to let other people deal with it another way.”

Reports suggest that kidnapping is a big business in Nigeria with some prominent politicians and businessmen involved in ransom kidnappings. Wealthy people are a target for these kidnapping rings and football players are at great risk of having their family members abducted because of their financial capabilities. The problem is very big and the kidnappings of  famous football players’ family members are bringing attention to the extent of this crisis. The police have been trying to crack down on the kidnapping rings in the country and particularly in the southern part of Nigeria but the people behind these activities are still at large.

A footballer’s salary is often an upwards of 5 figures every week, added to it, the fact that their earnings are made public, they will continue to be at risk of being victims of thieves and criminals.

Samuel Kalu who is currently injured will miss Nigeria’s two matches against Seychelles and Egypt. He is set to be replaced by Ikouwen Udoh when the Super Eagles take on Seychelles in an African Cup of Nations qualifier and a friendly against Egypt in Abasa on the 22nd and 26th of March.

Why Obi Mikel & Chukwueze were left out of the Nigerian squad for the upcoming AFCON Qualifier

The most notable omissions from the latest Nigerian national team squad include the captain, John Obi Mikel and the young sensation Samuel Chukwueze. The Super Eagles are to play a 2019 African Cup of Nations qualifier and international friendlies during the international break this week. We analyse if it’s a cause for concern for the former Chelsea player and whether Chukwueze will ever be considered in the future.

John Obi Mikel

John Obi Mikel of Nigeria drives the ball during an international friendly match between Argentina and Nigeria at Krasnodar Stadium on November 14, 2017 in Krasnodar, Russia.

(Nov. 14, 2017 - Source: Epsilon/Getty Images Europe)

There are three important pointers to John Obi Mikel’s situation:

1. Obi’s move to Middlesbrough. The Nigerian captain decided to move back to England from the Chinese Super League in the wake of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The player became a free agent in November after representing Tianjin TEDA for almost two years. He has been trying to get back to his best competing in a more challenging competition and his move to Middlesbrough presented him that opportunity. He, however, has to adapt to the league which is probably why the Nigerian coach, Gernot Rohr, omitted him for the upcoming matches. Managers are supposed to take care of their players and make sure they are in their element for the team to succeed. Rohr probably saw the need to give Obi Mikel some time to allow his smooth transition to the English Championship before calling him back up to the squad.

2. Current form. To be honest, his form has not been great. For a manager to justify the decision of calling up a player to the national team, the primary indicator that everyone looks at, is the player’s current form. Mikel has played only 7 matches since November 2018 which can arguably suggest a lack of match fitness. Also, in those 7 matches, he has been far from his best recording an average of 1 interception, 1.3 clearances and a little over 2 tackles per match as part of his defensive contribution. Whereas, other players in his position like Wilfred Ndidi are clocking 5 tackles, 4 interceptions and 2 clearances per match. Clearly, Obinna Mikel has not done enough to warrant a call up. Picking Obi Mikel in a team with players working their socks off like Ndidi would not make sense to the public eye.

3. His Age. This can not go unmentioned. John Obi Mikel is not young anymore. He's a 31-year old defensive midfielder who is not playing in a top-flight football league. Relying on a player of his age should be concerning for a country like Nigeria who pride themselves in developing a sustained pool of talented African players. Instead of relying on an old horse, the country should be preparing for life after the player who captained the Super Eagles at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, hence the omission from the latest squad announced by Gernot Rohr. It might be that they don't see him as an integral part of the team which should be fine considering the player is winding down his career.

I'm not really surprised at the decision after considering these three pointers. The odds have not been on Obi’s favor of late.

Samuel Chukwueze

For the young kind, we also have three points that should be considered:

1. Chukwueze’s competition. Before we cause a scene on social media, we need to look at the players that have been picked by Rohr ahead of the Villarreal player. Alex Iwobi, Ahmed Musa, Henry Onyekuru and Samuel Kalu have all been in better form than the young wing-wizard who is plying his trade in the Spanish La Liga. If he had scored and assisted a couple of more goals, Samuel Chukwueze would be giving Gernot Rohr a headache on whether or not to start him ahead of the rest.

2. Style of Play. This is a tricky one. There are players that are a joy to watch and Chukwueze is one of them. He has the confidence of carrying the ball and running at defenders which keeps fans at the edge of their seats. If anything, Chukwueze has been the closest thing to Victor Moses at his prime when he had the swagger of pulling out a trick or two to beat defenders before rushing into the box. However, one has to consider if these attributes are what the team needs. On the pitch, the team needs balance and this requires a lot from the players. Chukwueze lacks the defensive edge as well as crossing abilities which are a must for a modern day winger. Although he can pull some magic out of nowhere, the player is still growing in the basics that warrant a player of a starting berth, which is why Rohr might have opted not to include him this time around.

3. His Age. At 20-years, Chukwueze definitely has a lot to learn. He is far from being the finished product, meaning he has a lot of time to work on his weaknesses and make a claim for a place in the Super Eagles squad. It's too soon to be worried about his lack of involvement in the national team but with a few more stellar performances like the one against Real Madrid, we will stop caring about his age and demand his presence in the starting team like Mbappe in the French national team.

“Chukwueze’s competition. Before we cause a scene on social media, we need to look at the players that have been picked by Rohr ahead of the Villarreal player. Alex Iwobi, Ahmed Musa, Henry Onyekuru and Samuel Kalu have all been in better form than the young wing-wizard who is plying his trade in the Spanish La Liga.”

— Tinotenda Magiya, FirstTouch Africa

Nigeria have already qualified for the 2019 AFCON finals to be played between June-July in Egypt. They will welcome Seychelles for their final group game whereas South Africa and Libya have all to play for as thy cross swords to determine the second finalist from the group.

This may be Iwobi's best chance to build a legacy at Arsenal. Can he seize it?

“The young forward is at a point in his career where he could either grow to be one of the team’s crucial players or slip at it and gets to be shipped off to some mid-table or less popular European club like many of the academy’s graduates. ”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

The once mighty Arsenal, most infamous for the legendary invincibles season where they finished the 2003-04 Premier League season unbeaten and clinched the English top flight’s ultimate prize, find themselves in a rebuilding phase.

Alex Iwobi of Arsenal runs with the ball during the UEFA Europa League Group E match between Qarabag FK and Arsenal at on October 4, 2018 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

(Oct. 3, 2018 - Source: Francois Nel/Getty Images Europe)

Central to that process is the Spanish coach, Unai Emery who came in and got the boys running a little bit harder, literally. As the serial Europa League trophy winner, three times with Sevilla, seeks to implement his methods at the Emirates - he finds himself in a position where he has to wait for the necessary funding to acquire his preferred players and temporarily make do with what and who’s available. One such player is the 22-year-old Arsenal Academy Graduate, who won 190 million hearts by choosing to represent Nigeria when he could have played for England’s Three Lions. The young forward is at a point in his career where he could either grow to be one of the team’s crucial players or slip at it and gets to be shipped off to some mid-table or less popular European club like many of the academy’s graduates. He first broke into the first team at the age of 18 in 2015 and has since scored 12 goals and served up 17 assists in 110 appearances for the club. During Arsene Wenger’s tenure, the Nigerian international was limited to playing first substitute to the world cup winner, Mesut Ozil and at times deployed on either wings to fill in for injured players or for the purposes of rotating the squad. Even then, his potential was palpable to all and had everyone keep their fingers crossed that the kid gets more chances to write his story, perhaps even follow or surpass the milestones reached by other Nigerians before him, I am talking about Arsenal’s Nwankwo Kanu and his uncle, Austin “Jay Jay” Okocha. The latter, who was so good that the Leeds fans found his talent as an explanation for him to be named twice.

In Unai Emery’s first season, Iwobi has already scored as much league goals as any of his past three Arsenal seasons with 3 goals and 4 assists in the league. More importantly, he is already just 3 more appearances shy of the highest total of 26 he got under Wenger for the past two seasons, with more than 10 matches left. Contextually, his 15 starts are actually one more than those of the talisman, Mesut Ozil. It’s all largely due to the fact that Emery’s game plan hinges on having pacey, pressing and direct wingers who can run up and down the pitch, which the club doesn’t have in abundance. Iwobi possesses the required attributes but still struggles in getting the final ball right or clinically finishing chances. Unai has had to be more patient with the forward who played as a striker or an attacking midfielder for the better part of his young career. The Nigerian is likely to continue getting more chances at least until the Spanish manager gets his needed players which gives ample time for the forward to prove he belongs and that he can become a club legend. If he does it right, Emery will probably use the funds to strengthen other areas, especially the almost transparent defence wall, and we will be looking at probably 4 years in his current Arsenal contract of pure domination and Nigerian flair.

The chance obviously has an expiry date and it’s up to Iwobi to beat the clock and claim his place. Will he?

Africans on the move and what they bring to their respective clubs

Oumar Niasse of Everton arrives at the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Everton and Southampton at Goodison Park on May 5, 2018 in Liverpool, England.

(May 4, 2018 - Source: Alex Livesey/Getty Images Europe)

The winter transfer window is known for being an opportunity for the stranded to make-up on their weaknesses and bolster their squads in a bid to save their campaign with 6 months left before the end of the season for most football leagues across the globe. January came and passed, and it is no surprise that Africans dominated the headlines of players on the move to different leagues. Let’s briefly look into those that made the loudest buzz.

Niasse – Everton to Cardiff

With the unexpected disappearance of Emiliano Sala, Cardiff City were left stranded without a striker. In Sala, they had found the answer to their problems further up the pitch. Cardiff needed goals to get out of the relegation places and turned their attention to Everton forward Oumar Niasse.

Niasse was once again struggling for game-time this season, under Marco Silva. He was limited to just 5 substitute appearances since the beginning of the campaign. In contrast, Niasse has already started 3 matches under Neil Warnock at Cardiff although he is yet to repay the boss’ faith in bringing him to the struggling team in this difficult time.

What to expect: Niasse is not the prolific goalscorer that a club like Cardiff wish they had but he is guaranteed to put in a performance and chip in with an odd goal when it matters the most.

Victor Moses of Chelsea looks on during the FA Community Shield match between Manchester City and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on August 5, 2018 in London, England.

(Aug. 4, 2018 - Source: Clive Mason/Getty Images Europe)

Victor Moses – Chelsea to Fenerbahce

This is a weird one. You would have thought the former Nigerian international would have a chance to show his true potential in a wide forward role at a big club after announcing his retirement from international football. Maurizio Sarri had other plans. There were early signs that most of us ignored. Callum Hudson-Odoi was handed a start against Arsenal in pre-season ahead of the experienced Victor Moses. The situation did not get better for him as he could only manage 26 minutes in the English Premier League.

However, he has since sought greener pastures after deciding to move to Fenerbahce on an 18-month loan deal. The move is positive for the African player as it presents him an opportunity to start afresh at a relatively competitive side that often play UEFA Champions League football. Victor Moses will look to make the right flank his own in the Turkish League and once again prove how deadly he can be with the backing of his manager.

Angel Martin Correa (R) of Atletico de Madrid competes for the ball with Yohan Benalouane (L) of Leicester City FC during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final first leg match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Leicester City at Vicente Calderon Stadium on April 12, 2017 in Madrid, Spain.

(April 11, 2017 - Source: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images Europe)

What to expect: Moses has long been criticized for his goalscoring stats and it does not look like he would change that anytime soon with the player well in his 20s. But, he could breathe a new life in terms of creativity for the legendary club and regenerate his career like Gervinho who happens to be steamrolling the Italian Serie A.

Yohan Benalouane – Leicester to Nottingham Forest

It was only a matter of time before the 31-year old left the King Power Stadium. His colleagues have been gradually freezed out of the first team fold because of their age and Claude Puel has preferred Harry Maguire who is owning the centre back spot and not looking back. Moving away from Leicester City was the only logical thing for the Tunisian international if he wished to increase the number of minutes he was getting.

Nottingham Forest came in for the experienced defender. Their ambition is to make it to the play-off places as they currently lie 5 points adrift of 6th placed Bristol City. The club have been in great need of a player to protect the backline and they have got one in Yohan.

What to expect: Yohan Benalouane might be a bit rusty which explains the 3 yellow cards and 1 red card he has already received in the Championship. However, they will soon enjoy the presence of the towering defender who bullies strikers for fun and shrugs off anyone who comes his way.

Nigeria's Ngozi Ebere signs a one-year contract with top Norwegian Club

“Nigerian players are highly sought after, abroad and history has shown that foreign-based players bring knowledge and greater quality to their national teams’ play. ”

— Margaret Mandeya, FirstTouch Africa

Norwegian club Arna Bjornar has signed Super Falcons defender and the 2018 AWCON champion, Ngozi Ebere. Ebere’s career began in the Nigerian Women’s League where she won six titles with former club River Angles. The three-time CAF woman of the year has signed the year-long contract with Arna Bjornar after a one-year stay at Barcelona FA.

Francisca Ordega #17 of Nigeria celebrates her game-tying goal against Sweden with Asisat Oshoala #8 and Ngozi Ebere #23 during the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 Group D match between Sweden and Nigeria at Winnipeg Stadium on June 8, 2015 in Winnipeg, Canada.

(June 7, 2015 - Source: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images North America)

In 2015, Ebere made a major career move to PSG from the Nigerian Women’s League on a two-year contract. The year 2017 saw her leave PSG and the French Ligue unsatisfied, immediately moving to Cypriot side, Barcelona FA. The latest transfer to Norway has been highly praised with the 27-year-old defender touting the move to the Topperserian side as a fresh new challenge. The former PSG player told the media that joining the highly competitive Norwegian league offers the Nigerian an opportunity to grow as a player and added that, "As a professional, you want to keep testing yourself among the best, right now I am prepared for that."

Ebere has played for the Nigerian U-20 and appeared 20 times for the Super Falcons. In 2015, she was an integral part of the Super Falcons’ World Cup campaign and brings her experience to one of Europe’s top flight Leagues in Norway, where she will be a great asset for Arna Bjornar.  

Nigerian players are highly sought after abroad and history has shown that foreign based players bring knowledge and greater quality to their national teams’ play. The Super Falcons currently have a big pool of foreign-based players including former Arsenal Women player Asisat Oshoala, Desire Oparanozie and Onome Obi just to mention a few. Currently having a sorority of foreign-based players is best practice for the top teams on the continent.

The Norwegian league resumes in March. Ebere will join her new club for the pre-season training camp in Turkey in preparation for the fresh challenge in the Scandinavia.

Vitesse, PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord opening academies in Zimbabwe?

“Ajax already has it with Ajax Cape Town and I am thinking about a partnership with either Vitesse, PSV or Feyenoord. I want to go to PSV and ask head coach Mark van Bommel and his advisor Bert van Marwijk to work with us.”

— Clemens Westerhof, former Nigeria and Zimbabwe Head Coach

It’s of no doubt that football in Africa has been lagging behind on many aspects. The number of quality players that make it to the professional scene versus that of those that fail to find opportunities and are forced to change professions before their mid-twenties is astonishing. Many have talked about these things and some have even suggested solutions which are yet to yield impactful results. Clemens Westerhof, the former Nigeria and Zimbabwe national football coach has something brewing for Africa.

Background

Thulani Serero of Ajax in action during the pre-season friendly match between Norwich City and Ajax at Carrow Road on July 31, 2012 in Norwich, England.

(July 30, 2012 - Source: Mark Thompson/Getty Images Europe)

Apart from the fact that the Dutchman has coached the national teams of Nigeria and Zimbabwe, the 78-year old football veteran has had some experience in coaching at club level in Zimbabwe. He coached one of the biggest clubs in the country, Dynamos, who have a rich history admired by many.

His plan

The Netherlands born coach, Clemens Westerhof is contemplating the possibility of coaching at a telecom club in Gweru, Zimbabwe and taking up a challenge of building an academy ground-up. The latter is the more interesting part which has been touched by some football greats like Johan Cruyff who influenced the structure and style of play at Ajax, a successful club and academy that has a rich scouting network. Westerhof admires how Ajax have setup a network in South Africa i.e. Ajax Cape Town which has developed players like Thulani Serero. This partnership has brought some developments to the country through the spread of high-quality training techniques applied in other parts of the world.

Clemens Westerhof assumed an advisory role at the Peter Mubi Academy. The football academy wants him to improve their academy and hopefully achieve what he achieved in Nigeria in the past and improve the level of football in Zimbabwe. He is looking to collaborate with Dutch football clubs. The experienced coach wants to take advantage of his network and approached PSV Eindhoven, coached by a football great in Mark Van Bommel who played for Barcelona, Bayern Munich and AC Milan. He is quoted as having said the above.

Could this be it? The breakthrough that Africa needs. Are partnerships with bigger clubs in the world the solution to Africa’s football ills?

Remember the name Samuel Chukwueze

When one receives the ball on the flank, gets enough time to switch it to his favored left foot, goes at Marcelo, drops a shoulder to call in Casemiro to assist his compatriot, before Toni Kroos and Sergio Ramos are required to put out the fire - you know what’s up. An unknown attacker just knocked at Real Madrid’s door unannounced and introduced himself to the world in a language punctuated by yet another left foot for Real Madrid to lose sleep over. The Nigerian teenager, Samuel Chimerenka Chukwueze, looks to be a real talent.

He needed only 4-minutes

“He is the type you don’t introduce to the “big league” but rather entreat the big game to welcome the youngster, roll out the red carpet if they have to. ”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

Of course the night belonged to former Arsenal midfielder, Santi Cazorla but was seemingly scripted in Chukwueze’s hometown of Ikwuano, Abia State in Nigeria. Cazorla, 34, grabbed a brace as the yellow submarine of Villareal shared the spoils with the European and club world cup champions in a La Liga matchday 18 encounter. The 19-year-old Samuel was however completely focused on other business, touching every ball as if it was the last time - very much persuaded to leave it all on the pitch as he took the rare chance afforded him by Luis Garcia. After making his first team debut for Villareal on 20 September 2018, Chukwueze has already created experiences that justifies him being mistaken with more established stars of the modern game. One other notable experience occurred just four minutes into the Madrid match, the boy is surely not one to have cold feet. Chukwueze burst into the Los Blancos box inviting world cup winner, Raphael Varane to challenge for the ball before dropping a shoulder and squeezing a delightful pass between Casemiro and the former. The pass met the unmarked Cazorla who had the simple task of curling it into the far bottom corner.

There isn’t actually a lot to tell about Chukwueze who signed for Villareal’s youth side in 2017 from his home town’s Diamond Football Academy. He made his senior debut for the Yellow Submarine’s reserve side on 15 April 2018 before the first team debut in September of the same year against Glasgow Rangers in the 2018/19 UEFA Europa League. Samuel first tested Spanish La Liga football early November against Levante, also making his international senior debut later that month for the Super Eagles in a 0-0 friendly draw against Uganda. As you can tell, he hasn’t had a lot of caps or minutes come his way, with only 8 league appearances where he has contributed 2 goals and 1 assist. He has however shown his worth on every occasion. He is the type you don’t introduce to the “big league” but rather entreat the big game to welcome the youngster, roll out the red carpet if they have to. He knows what it means to take his chances and at this rate, only a few stops will he need to reach global stardom if any at all. What about his playing style?

The “reincarnation” of Arjen Robben?

One famous “one legged rooster” in the global game is about to call it quits but may be re-incarnated in the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup Bronze Boot winner. Chukwueze has been likened to Bayern Munich’s Arjen Robben who is famous for terrorising defenders on one foot. The Dutch footballer is literally flat footed, able to play with only his left-foot and the young Nigerian looks to be resembling the same trait. Running at players in full speed, cutting inside the box unhindered, laying up passes or going at goal - almost like a hot knife cutting through butter. Just like Robben who swirled in the Spain box at the 2014 FIFA world cup, twisting and turning Ramos, Pique and Casillas who almost kindly started sweeping the pitch with their arms, before he banged the ball into the roof of the net - Samuel looks well capable to re-introduce such.

It’s another beautiful 2019 day, another Nigerian and African star added to the fold. The high school that gave the infamous African novelist, Chinua Achebe to the world, has added a  second gift in Samuel Chimerenka Chukwueze.

AWCON 2018 Review: The evolvement of Asisat Oshoala and Nigeria

“Her dedication to her talent has gone a long way to show us how much an African woman can achieve if she dedicates herself to it. Babe, we love you regardless of just being counted as a good substitute.”

— Simiso Shabangu, FirstTouch Africa

After being crowned more than any other team in the Total Women’s AFCON, the Super Falcons are struggled to keep their heads above the water in this year’s tournament. After losing their first match to Banyana Banyana by 1-0 scoreline, their win against the She-polopolo of Zambia was the only reason why they were not knocked out earlier in the tournament. Have they evolved, the Nigeria side who were once like a gun packed with bullets? I mean, they have Asisat in their team. Now that they have taken the title home, how much weight of the club has this lady carried on her shoulders.

Asisat Oshoala of Nigeria reacts after missing a breakaway attempt during the FIFA Women's U-20 Final against Germany at Olympic Stadium on August 24, 2014 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Photo by Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)

(Aug. 23, 2014 - Source: Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images North America)

First and second match

The coach, Thomas Dennerby expressed his disappointment not only because of the Super Falcons’ loss but even when they won. He mentioned that the goals that they scored did not match the quality that he had cultivated into the team. Even Asisat was not playing at the expected level that we had also praised her at in our deep dive about her. She was held responsible for missing several chances that came to the Nigerian side. Notably, in the 69th minute, she collided with a good opportunity which was however, eclipsed by her teammate Ordega. Even though she was the best goal scorer in the same tournament two years ago, she was not able to score up to that point. Two matches with nothing? Babes, you got us worried at that point.

Third Match

Francisca Ordega #17 of Nigeria celebrates her game-tying goal against Sweden with Onome Ebi #5, Asisat Oshoala #8 and Ngozi Ebere #23 during the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 Group D match between Sweden and Nigeria at Winnipeg Stadium on June 8, 2015 in Winnipeg, Canada.

(June 7, 2015 - Source: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images North America)

Chances do not just come, but they do come to revive lost hope. In their third match, against Equatorial Guinea she snatched 3 goals out of 6, to her name. That is incredibly carrying half of the weight of the team on her shoulders. In as much as some claimed that this was not her full potential being realised, it was still in line with the greatness we always anticipate from her. They say the higher you go, the colder it becomes, but that was not the case for Nigeria. The higher they went up the game, the hotter and harder it became. Their match against Cameroon led to a goalless 90 minutes of just running around the pitch. However, when it came to the desperate measures, penalties, Asisat was put on the spotlight and she lived up to the expectation ad scored. That was another 25% of the team’s victory carried on her head the same way some African women carry water pots on their heads.

Final Match

We are not sure if it came with the nerves that was exerted by the pressure or what, but she missed the penalty which happened to be Nigeria’s only chance to snatch the trophy under normal time. She also lost the Top Goal Scorer Award to Thembi Kgatlana from South Africa. At least her name appeared in the best substitutes’ list. Has she fallen from glory?

Sometimes it is not your present performance that affords you credit, but your past contribution to the team is what we cannot forget. Asisat might have not performed at the expected level in this tournament but we know how much she has done, not just for herself but for the Nigerians and the rest of African women. Her dedication to her talent has gone a long way to show us how much an African woman can achieve if she dedicates herself to it. Babe, we love you regardless of just being counted as a good substitute.

10 Africans unsettled in the English Premier League: #9 Isaac Success

Isaac Success of Watford in action during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Watford FC at Molineux on October 20, 2018 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom.

(Oct. 19, 2018 - Source: Getty Images Europe)

Of course, it is nice to see the likes of Mo Salah, Percy Tau and Hakim Ziyech shine for their nations over the most recent international break but it also raises questions about some popular names who are finding themselves in sticky situations. There are a number of African players dubbed to be the next Sergio Ramos and Xavis of this world but are currently unsettled at club level. Their potential is endangered by their lack of game time. Here’s a list of the XI players whose progress has stalled. What better time to look at these than now when the January transfer window is fast encroaching?

CF – Isaac Success

The Nigerian international is a youngster who has been in the books of Watford since 2016. The 22-year old forward had to wait for his opportunity in the English Premier League for a long time till Javi Garcia’s arrival. This season he has played in 8 matches including 4 starts and has scored 3 goals in all competitions. Success has got more to offer but is still being blocked by the limited game-time he is getting despite it being an improvement from last season. The player has the potential to become a regular for Watford and make a name for himself in the EPL among the best Africans to have played in the league.

Verdict: He should request to be loaned out to a newly-promoted club in the English Premier League like Wolverhampton Wanderers and get accustomed to the demands of the league.

10 Africans unsettled in the English Premier League: #8 Victor Moses

Victor Moses of Chelsea in action during the pre-season friendly match between Chelsea and Lyon at Stamford Bridge on August 7, 2018 in London, England.

(Aug. 6, 2018 - Source: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images Europe)

Of course, it is nice to see the likes of Mo Salah, Percy Tau and Hakim Ziyech shine for their nations over the most recent international break but it also raises questions about some popular names who are finding themselves in sticky situations. There are a number of African players dubbed to be the next Sergio Ramos and Xavis of this world but are currently unsettled at club level. Their potential is endangered by their lack of game time. Here’s a list of the XI players whose progress has stalled. What better time to look at these than now when the January transfer window is fast encroaching?

RW – Victor Moses

At times, we make sacrifices in life with the hope of gaining a lot from those hard decisions. Often times, it pays off except for those specific times when the luck is not on our side. I think this best describes Victor Moses’ decision to retire from the national team to focus on his Chelsea career. The former Nigerian international resigned from playing for the Super Eagles shortly after the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia before Sarri was announced as the new Chelsea boss. The Italian then made his way to the West London club and has since preferred Willian and Pedro ahead of him. In pre-season, Callum Hudson-Odoi who has a Ghanaian heritage shined in his absence and even more, the club is being linked to the unsettled Manchester United forward, Anthony Martial.

Verdict: I think the club is pushing the 27-year-old out. A team like West Ham can benefit from a player of his traits.

2019 AWCON: One last dance for SA & Nigeria as the women cap off a superb tourney

“The 2018 AWCON finals are set to be high-energy and tightly contested, one that promises to be an exciting watch. For now, it’s too close to call who will emerge as champions after Saturday’s final. What remains is to pick a side; Banyana Banyana or The Super Falcons.”

— Margaret Mandeya, FirstTouch Africa

Nigeria and South Africa will play each other in the 2018 AWCON finals this Saturday. The winners will be crowned the champions of the continent for the next two years.

Francisca Ordega #17 of Nigeria celebrates her game-tying goal against Sweden with Onome Ebi #5, Asisat Oshoala #8 and Ngozi Ebere #23 during the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 Group D match between Sweden and Nigeria at Winnipeg Stadium on June 8, 2015 in Winnipeg, Canada.

(June 7, 2015 - Source: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images North America)

The tournament has come full circle as these two teams will meet for the second time in the finals of the 2018 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations. The Super Eagles conceded a crucial goal in the first encounter and lost the match. Banyana Banyana have played the entire tournament with the same energy and vigour they had during that euphoric 1-0 win. On Tuesday, Banyana dismissed Mali in the semi-final in which they put two goals past Les Aigles without any response from the West African side. While Nigeria had earlier beat out Cameroon in a penalty shoot-out where Cameroonian star player Gaëlle Enganamouit failed to convert from the spot.

South Africa is on the threshold of making history and claiming their very first AWCON title. The 2-0 semi-final victory over Mali already ensures that they will be at the FIFA World Cup in France next year. All eyes are on head coach Desiree Ellis to see whether or not she will be able to do the amazing and lead South Africa to both their first world cup appearance and their first continental cup trophy. The coach who led SA to the 2018 COSAFA title triumph has done an incredible job with the team so far and could be bound for the spectacular.

"Everyone was magnificent, the players, staff, technical team and the people who don't usually get a mention as each and everyone played a part.”

Desiree Ellis, South Africa Head Coach

The Nigerians are very familiar with this stage of the tournament, making it to the finals more times than any other team on the continent. As defending champions, the pressure is on them to assert their dominance over their highly motivated counterparts. The Super Falcons have been less impressive than their foes from the south in this tournament. Despite this, head coach Thomas Dennerby is confident that they can overcome Banyana Banyana to lift the trophy for the 11th time come Saturday.

“When it comes to the final we will do whatever it takes to bring the cup back to Nigeria. ...We have a very good chance to beat South Africa, now it's time to rest two days, the extra day before the final.”

Thomas Dennerby, Nigeria Head Coach

(L-R) Sanah Mollo of South Africa celebrates the third goal with Janine van Wyk during the women's friendly match between South Africa and Bayer Leverkusen at Sport School Hennef on July 12, 2012 in Recklinghausen, Germany.

(July 11, 2012 - Source: Christof Koepsel/Getty Images Europe)

Prior to the finals on Saturday, Cameroon and Mali will play each other in the third-place playoff where the winner will also book a place in next year’s FIFA World Cup. This will be a consolation prize for The Indomitable Lionesses who failed to make it to the finals after the penalty shoot-out lottery missing out on a  good chance of lifting the trophy.

The 2018 AWCON finals are set to be high-energy and tightly contested, one that promises to be an exciting watch. For now, it’s too close to call who will emerge as champions after Saturday’s final. What remains is to pick a side; Banyana Banyana or The Super Falcons, who is your favourite to take the trophy home?

2019 AFCON Qualifiers: Full Preview of Bafana - Super Eagles tie

“We’ve seen in recent times that fixtures pitting these two teams are never goal-shy and this one appears to be no exception.
This game certainly has all the ingredients to become a thriller and I believe quality football will be the main course of the day”

— Siphosethu Thwala, FirstTouch Africa

We are getting to the pinnacle of the AFCON qualifiers and there is still a possibility of seeing your national team being knocked out. Down south, it's a big one: South Africa’s Bafana Bafana take on the Super Eagles of Nigeria. The two sides are battling it out for the top spot and this game might well be considered a six-pointer as a win for either side will clinch their qualification for Cameroon 2019. Last November, Bafana Bafana broke their duck against Nigeria when they beat the Super Eagles 2-0 courtesy of strikes from Tokelo Rantie and Percy Tau during the team’s first match of the 2019 AFCON qualifiers. It is therefore a game of nothing but revenge from the Super Eagles’ point of view.

The South Africa team form a huddle prior to the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group A match between France and South Africa at the Free State Stadium on June 22, 2010 in Mangaung/Bloemfontein, South Africa.

(June 21, 2010 - Source: Michael Steele/Getty Images Europe)

That said, both sides have massive talent that can take the game by its horn. On one end Bafana Bafana boast an enterprising attacking talent from the likes of the evergreen Percy Tau, the magnificent Lebo Mothiba who’s been grabbing headlines in France, and also the ever-reliable Itumeleng Khune manning the poles at the back. However, the Nigerian are not to be outdone as they boast amazing talent as well, with the likes of Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho, although they might feel the setback of the absence of one of their reliable servants, Odion Ighalo who is ruled out with injury.

Most fans will be on the lookout for the crispy partnership between Tau and Mothiba of which many South African supporters will be hoping is on fire on the day in order to cause havoc for the Nigerian defense. Additionally, the return of South Africa’s prodigal son Thulani Serero, who's been given a lifeline by coach Stuart Baxter, might also be a talking point in this game. The danger of Mothiba cannot be easily ignored as the 22-year-old Strasbourg centre-forward has already bagged three goals in his first four caps for Bafana Bafana, quite a start.

Nigeria players warm up prior to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group D match between Nigeria and Argentina at Saint Petersburg Stadium on June 26, 2018 in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

(June 25, 2018 - Source: Alex Livesey/Getty Images Europe)

From a defensive standpoint, it might be a busy day for Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune especially considering the incentive that have been put on the table for the Super Eagles. To give you context, the Nigerian players have been given a R360,000 incentive for every goal they score against Bafana Bafana. Such an incentive might well set the tone and fire up the Super Eagles to attack Bafana with all they have. If you ask me, this might turn out to be a cracker of a game. We’ve seen in recent times that fixtures pitting these two teams are never goal-shy and this one appears to be no exception.

This game certainly has all the ingredients to become a thriller and I believe quality football will be the main course of the day. Be sure not to miss out on this one. Will Gernot Rohr’s men emerge victorious? Or will Bafana pull a double over the Nigerians? Who’s your pick for this one?