Breaking the quarter-final jinx?

…‘Yes, we Gyan’

It is time to break the jinx. And indeed exploits of the Black Stars at the ongoing World Cup tournament in South Africa seems to be firming up the belief that Africa’s all time best of a quarter-final berth is likely to be broken by the West African giant.

The best of Africa’s record at the World Cup were recorded by Cameroun in Italia ’90 and Senegal in South Korea- Japan ’02.
And in Asamoah Gyan, the lead scorer of the Ghanaian side and currently in pole contention with Argentine genius – Lionel Messi for the best player of the tournament award, the all popular catch phrase-“Yes We Can” popularized by US President Barrack Obama is now being personified by many Africans with the Gyan name to sound: “Yes We Gyan”.

Ironically, Ghana edged past the gritty United States side whose name has become so synonymous with the “Can Do Spirit”.
And as President Barrack Obama watched proceedings at the Oval Office on television last Saturday, his special envoy and former US President – Bill Clinton watched live how the Obama phrase was galvanizing on the Black Stars against the Yankees.

Before the Cameroun feat, African had offered, albeit sparingly, of the intended revolution. Tunisia became the first African country to win a World Cup match in Argentina ’78 when they defeated Mexico 3-1 in one of the group stage matches.
Algeria then with the dreadful duo of skipper Ali Ferghani at the heart of the defence and Rabah Madjer spearheading the attack broke West German heart with a 2-1 drubbing during the first round stage of the ’82 tournament held in Spain.

It took a grand conspiracy by Poland and Austria to save the Germans from possible elimination from the 1982 World Cup at the preliminary stage. Ironically, Germany whose bluff was called off easily by Algeria went ahead to win the World Cup.
Another Mahgreb giant, Morocco with goalkeeper Zaki Badou, Timouni and Bourdabella put up a vintage show and with only some few seconds away from a second round qualification, the Moroccan dream was shattered by a Lothar Mathias late free-kick.

Before then Zaire had made an embarrassing exit at the 1970 World Cup, conceding 15 goals in three matches at the group stage with the heaviest defeat handed them by Yugoslavia.

The successive improvement of African participation in the World Cup was very much crystallized in the 1990 tournament held in Italy by the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun.

Cameroun – Italia 90

Soccer has a very funny way of rewarding the actors and although it is considered a team work, often the heroics of the goal scorers singled them out as the heroes.

In Italia ‘90 World Cup, a 38-year-old Roger Milla, who was considered by many in his native Cameroun as a spent force, became the hero of that tournament when he came off the bench to score four goals to push Cameroun to the quarter-final stage of the competition. It was the first by any African team at the World Cup.

Milla was certainly not a one-man orchestra. He had other good players who complemented his play. And so in Thomas Nkono and Joseph Antoinne Bell, Cameroun had two safest pair of hands on the continent at the time and anyone of them who kept the post was a sure bet to be relied upon.

The defensive knit of Maboang, skipper Stephen Tataw, Benjamin Massing, Emmanuel Kunde and Kana Biyick provided one of the best protective covers in the competition; with others like Kana Biyick, Cyril Makanaky, Jean Claude Pagal, Jules Onana, Paul Louis Mfede and Cyril Makanaky playing their part in the historic feat.

It took a rather bizarre officiating to get Cameroun out at the quarter final stage. After taking a 2-1 lead, the referee virtually robbed Cameroun with two highly dubious penalties which were converted by then England captain, Gary Lineker to quench off the African fire.

Senegal – South Korea-Japan 2002

Senegal replicated the vintage feat of Cameroun in 2002 where the beat then World Champions -France 1-0 in the opening day and moved on to the quarter finals where they were bundled out. Yet that feat brought the attention of the world to the unknown Alhaji Diouf whose performance was somewhat curtailed by his waywardness outside of the field.

Diouf was supported by goalkeeper Tony Silva, Kalilu Sissoko, Pape Malick Diop, Alhassan Nduor, Aliou Cisse, Khalilu Fadiga, Moussa Ndiaye, Henri Camara and Amara Troare.