Football in Africa

Algeria was an African power-house during the 80s while it was Cameroon & Nigeria during the 90s. But what’s the scenario since the new millennium! In the last eight African Cups of Nations (ACN), six countries (Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mali & Nigeria) shared 23 semi-final berths between themselves. Four of these countries (Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast & Nigeria) also shared eight World Cup (WC) berths during the same period.

Aside the cameo from Senegal, it’s Ghana who has been carrying the continental flag at the WC. At the continental level, Nigeria made six semi-final appearances but won the ACN only once. After winning the ACN twice, at the turn of the millennium, Cameroon managed just one semi-final appearance (beaten by Egypt in final). Egypt on the other hand won the ACN thrice in a row but didn’t qualify for any of the WC. Mali has four semi-finals at ACN but nothing at WC.

Ghana and Ivory Coast has been rising steadily since 2006. Ivory Coast made to the ACN final twice (losing to Egypt & Zambia) along side a semi-final appearance. They have also qualified for all three WC since. Ghana can also make it three out of three in WC qualification if they overcome Egypt. However, it’s Egypt to whom they lost in the 2010 ACN. They also qualified for the semi-final of the continental competition thrice. In their two previous WC campaigns, they progressed beyond the group stage, a first for any African nations.

Then there are the curious cases of Burkina Faso and Zambia who have been putting together a decent run of results in last 3-4 years.

Egypt has bad luck, they won all of their group stage games and still didn't qualify

They also have been dominating the ACN like you said, and Al Ahly dominates the African Champions League and is the biggest club in Africa probably

I don't get it

Actually, what I wanted to say (or know) is there a shift in the power balance in African football (Algeria-Cameroon/Nigeria-Ghana/Ivory Coast)!!! And what's driving the shift!!!

iftikhar wrote:Actually, what I wanted to say (or know) is there a shift in the power balance in African football (Algeria-Cameroon/Nigeria-Ghana/Ivory Coast)!!! And what's driving the shift!!!

There is no shift in the power balance in African footbi . Senegal's run was a fluke.

Cameroon/Nigéria/Ghana/IVC are the big 4 in Africa and i'd put Egypt as 5th as they never make it to the WC.
Ghana/Egypt and IVC have are a big step ahead of the others countries because they got talent but most importantly they have greats academies. IVC's golden generation mainly comes from ASEC MIMOSA for instance.

Nigéria and Cameroon , despite all their problems have a big pool of talent but if they keep going on like that they will never achieve something at the WC. Nigeria is doing a good job right now tho with their coach, a former country legend.

Then you have , Mali , Senegal , Algeria, Burkina Faso , Zambia who are progressing and doing great.



The main problem is the lack of academies. If there were more of them many teams in Africa would be on Ghana's level .

morocco is also a puzzle .


they seem to have a good team " on paper " .

West African diaspora is best diaspora.

Drogba, Etoo, Kanoute, Adebayor, etc. etc.

They have the luxury of not just great futbol genetics, but development overseas in specifically, France, although Etoo is Spanish futbol raised.

@ Benin, there is some sort of shift in the power balance of African football. Check this out,

CAN 2000: Cameroon (Ch), Nigeria, SAf, Tunisia
CAN 2002: Cameroon (Ch), Mali, Nigeria, Senegal
WC 2002: Cameroon, Nigeria, Senegal (BGS), SAf, Tunisia
CAN 2004: Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, Tunisia (Ch)
CAN 2006: Egypt (Ch), IVC (f), Nigeria, Senegal
WC 2006: Angola, IVC, Ghana (BGS), Togo, Tunisia
CAN 2008: Cameroon (f), Egypt (Ch), Ghana, IVC
WC 2010: Algeria, Cameroon, Ghana (BGS), IVC, Nigeria
CAN 2010: Algeria, Egypt (Ch), Ghana (f), Nigeria
CAN 2012: Ghana, IVC (f), Mali, Zambia (Ch)
CAN 2013: BrF (f), Ghana, Mali, Nigeria (Ch)
WC 2014: Algeria, Cameroon, Ghana, IVC, Nigeria

Between 2000-2006 (three CAN & one WC) Ivory Coast is non-existant while Ghana managed two QF in CAN. Cameroon won two CAN and went to the WC. Nigeria managed three CAN SF and went to WC.

Between 2006-2014 (five CAN & three WC) Cameroon managed one CAN SF and one WC. Nigeria won in one and had two CAN SF along with two WC.

IVC have three CAN SF with three WC. Ghana have four CAN SF (they lost the final in 2010) and three WC.