Sports

Experts Review Africa’s W/Cup Performances

Published

15 years ago

July 17, 2010

Africa’s six representatives encountered vastly differing fortunes at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, with Cameroon caught at one extreme after losing all three group games and Ghana proud torch bearers for the entire continent until their quarter-final defeat by Uruguay. Tidesports source caught up with an authority on each of the six teams to get the expert view on how their sides fared in South Africa.

South Africa: Clive Barker, Bafana Bafana coach from 1994 to 1997, leading them to CAF African Cup of Nations glory in 1996

I honestly think we should have done better. I was very disappointed to see us eliminated in the first round. It was a really tough group and it would have been an achievement to get out of it. We lacked experience. We should have finished more of our chances, especially in the first match against Mexico, which we should have won. Uruguay was a huge disappointment because we never got going in that game. We should have punished France more heavily and we deserved a bigger margin of victory. We had one of the best goalkeepers in the tournament in Itumeleng Khune. I’ve also noticed that the best teams in the competition have home-grown coaches and we should take inspiration from that. It’s time now for us to focus on 2014 and avoid repeating the same mistakes.

Algeria: Rachid Mekhloufi, Les Fennecs coach from 1971 to 1972, 1975 to 1979 and again in 1985, as well as a mentor to the players during the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain

It was a good run but, as so often, you get the feeling they could have done better. With a bit more organisation, our performances would have been improved. They needed to prepare better for the competition and go into it a bit more relaxed. But I think this team reached its peak in qualifying. Their stand-out performance was against Egypt in the play-offs; the players outdid themselves then. Still, it has to be said that this team gave fresh hope to the Algerian people, who fell in love with their national team again.

That said, as far as I’m concerned the team played against its better instincts. We’re best at going forward and I thought we were obsessed with defending. The match against England was a perfect example: we had a chance to beat a big team and we let it slip. It was as if nobody had given our players permission to shoot. The country needs to overturn its general vision of football. We need to make far-reaching efforts in terms of training youngsters and coaches. The generation of players born in 1982 is now coming of age and, if we integrate them as much as possible, the future of Algerian football will look brighter.

Cameroon: Alain Giresse, Gabon coach from 2006 to 2010, who took on the Indomitable Lions in qualifying for South Africa 2010 and at the Africa Cup of Nations in January

It’s disappointing not to have collected a single point. I think they approached the first match against Japan very badly, even though it seemed well within their reach. After that, their targets changed and their approach to the competition changed. I thought they were better against Denmark, when they created a lot of chances and deserved to win. That defeat put an end to their dreams, but I wasn’t really that surprised. They performed at the same level as at the African Cup of Nations – not the level they displayed in the qualifiers, when they were very strong. They seem unable to make the next step up. The problem is that after all these months it’s still not obvious what the best starting line-up is. Despite what everyone said, I felt that Samuel Eto’o was motivated. He was always trying to take the team as far as he could. The potential is there and this is a competitive squad, so I’m not too worried about their future.

Côte d’Ivoire: Robert Nouzaret, Elephants coach from 1996 to 1998, and from 2002 to 2004

There were improvements compared to 2006. It’s a shame they found themselves in such a tough group again. I’m disappointed because they could have done better if they’d taken more risks. I’m thinking about the [0-0 draw] with Portugal in particular. They wanted to make up for their disappointing African Cup of Nations campaign by tightening up in defence. As a result, they forgot to exploit their greatest strength: their power going forward. When you have a team as talented as this one, there’s no point adapting yourself to your opponents. Sacking Vahid Halilhodzic so close to the tournament was risky. He was the best man to sort things out and his only mistake was not having won the African Cup of Nations – not everyone can win it. Despite all his experience, Sven Goran Eriksson arrived a bit late to really improve things. His dream was to take four points and he did that, but it wasn’t enough to avoid elimination. The generation of players that contested the 2008 Olympic Games is now coming of age; surrounded by senior players, they could bring a lot of hope. The golden generation will nonetheless have to get over its frustration and put in the necessary effort to finally win something – starting with the next African Cup of Nations.

Ghana: Claude Le Roy, Black Stars coach from 2006 to 2008

I’m extremely sad for them. I called the players right at the end of the quarter final game and told them they could be proud. It must be a terrible feeling to come so close to a World Cup semi-final and miss out. The team demonstrated plenty of maturity and was very well balanced. They played the kind of football that was expected of them. If Michael Essien had been there, I’m certain Ghana would have reached the semis. They lacked a player of his calibre as he’s one of the most complete players in the world. He’s not only capable of doing everything, he does it all well. I was dazzled by Anthony Annan. I found him at Hearts of Oak when he was playing as a right winger and as soon as I moved him into defensive midfield, I felt he could be great. He’s an extremely intelligent player. The defence was very satisfying and Richard Kingson was top quality; he’s an underrated goalkeeper. They need to continue working and keep pushing themselves to avoid resting on their laurels. The goal now is to win the next African Cup of Nations.

Nigeria: Bora Milutinovic, Super Eagles coach from 1997 to 1998, including at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France

I’m not really surprised to have seen this team fail as I know the problems they tend to encounter well. Nigeria is a country that’s overflowing with talent, but there’s an impatience there. They had a good African Cup of Nations campaign in Angola, where they finished third, but in spite of that they decided to change coach. Personally, I thought Shaibu Amodu had done a very good job. I have a lot of respect for Lars Lagerback, but he didn’t have enough time to get his message over to the players. It’s very difficult to build a competitive team in such a short space of time, as the players have to quickly take on board a new philosophy and new working methods. On an individual level, Vincent Enyeama proved that he’s a great goalkeeper and the generation of players who contested the 2008 Olympics also impressed: namely Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi, Victor Obinna, Peter Odemwingie and Sani Kaita. They showed that Nigeria is brimming with talent.

Sports

Forest Embarrass Liverpool At Anfield

Published

4 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

Liverpool’s season of abject misery worsened as they were beaten with embarrassing ease by a hugely impressive Nottingham Forest at Anfield.

Arne Slot’s Premier League champions were looking to bounce back from a heavy defeat at Manchester City, but instead ran into a Forest side revitalised under new manager Sean Dyche and looking back to their best.

Liverpool head coach Slot gave £125m British record signing Alexander Isak a start, but he was totally anonymous once more and only lasted 67 minutes.

Forest went ahead after 33 minutes when defender Murillo shot powerfully past fit-again Liverpool keeper Alisson to subdue an already anxious Anfield.

Igor Jesus had a second ruled out for handball, but Forest doubled their advantage 39 seconds after the break when former Liverpool defender Neco Williams set up Nicola Savona for a crisp finish in front of The Kop.

Liverpool could barely raise a response in a desperate display, Forest increasing their lead 12 minutes from time when Morgan Gibbs-White scored after Alisson saved from Omari Hutchinson.

It means Liverpool, who lie 11th before Saturday’s late fixture, have now lost six of their past seven Premier League games as Slot’s near £450m summer spending spree comes under further scrutiny.

Forest, meanwhile, are surging away from the relegation zone and are up to 16th.

Sports

Bundesliga: Oliseh Stars As Bayern Rebound To Thrash Freiburg

Published

4 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

Michael Olise scored twice and provided a hat-trick of assists as Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich came from two goals down to thrash Freiburg.

The visitors stunned the defending champions by taking a 2-0 lead after just 17 minutes when Yuito Suzuki scored from close range and Johan Manzambi rose highest to head home Jan-Niklas Beste’s corner.

Bayern, who had not lost in the league since March, responded superbly and had restored parity by half-time.

Teenager Lennart Karl fired into the bottom corner from Olise’s pass in the 22nd minute and set up the Frenchman for a fierce finish in first-half injury-time, although Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu should have done better.

Bayern took control in the second period as Dayot Upamecano headed home Olise’s corner to put them ahead for the first time.

England captain Harry Kane netted his 14th league goal of the campaign on the hour mark, before Olise made it three assists when he threaded a pass through for Nicolas Jackson to finish at the first time of asking in the 78th minute.

Winger Olise completed a sensational afternoon with his second of the game six minutes later, driving at the Freiburg defence and curling into the far corner.

A 10th victory in the first 11 games left Bayern eight points clear of second-placed Bayer Leverkusen, while Freiburg remain 10th in the standings.

Vincent Kompany’s side visit Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday with both sides having a perfect record of four wins so far in the league phase of the competition.

AS FAR Morocco Win African Women’s Champions League (8)

AS FAR held firm to beat debutants ASEC Mimosas 2-1 in the African Women’s Champions League final and become continental champions for the second time.

Hanane Ait El Haj put the Moroccan club ahead from the penalty spot in the 13th minute after Safa Banouk had been tripped by Aboa Yapo.

ASEC Mimosas rallied after the break and Ami Priscal Diallo netted a fine header from Sopie Brou’s cross to drag the Ivory Coast club level 10 minutes into the second half.

But AS FAR were handed a second spot-kick in the closing stages when Noura Diarra committed a rash challenge on Sofia Bouftini.

This time it was Zineb Redouani who stepped up to stroke home in the 85th minute and restore her side’s lead.

Asastasie Gbehi came close to forcing extra time but she poked wide of the post in stoppage time, and the centre-back was sent off after the full-time whistle for dissent.

AS FAR move level with South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns as two-time winners of the title, having first lifted the trophy in 2022.

The Rabat-based side will now take on Chinese’s Wuhan Jiangda on 14 December for a place at next year’s Fifa Women’s Champions Cup.

The winner of that match will face European champions Arsenal in the semi-finals of the inaugural competition early next year in London.

Sports

Barca Impress On Return To Camp Nou

Published

4 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

Barcelona moved to the top of La Liga on Saturday with an emphatic win over 10-man Athletic Club in their first match at the Spotify Camp Nou since May 2023.

Robert Lewandowski scored their first goal back in their iconic home, which had been closed for extensive renovations, in the fourth minute.

Ferran Torres then netted twice in the second half, each assisted by wonderful skill from Lamine Yamal, who was aged just 15 in his only previous Nou Camp appearance.

Fermin Lopez also struck in the 48th minute, while visiting midfielder Oihan Sancet was sent off for a crude challenge on Lopez just six minutes later.

Large sections of the Nou Camp remained closed for the game, which was played in front of a 45,157 crowd.

The rebuilding work, which was originally scheduled to be finished in November 2024, will eventually increase the stadium’s capacity to 105,000.

Barca moved to 31 points from 13 games and top on goal difference, but Real Madrid had the chance to replace them, if they won at Elche in their game in hand, late last night.

Poland striker Lewandowski got his side off to the perfect start when he drove his low shot in off the arm of Athletic Club goalkeeper Unai Simon for an eighth league goal of the season.

The home side extended their lead in first-half added time as Yamal’s superb pass off the outside of his foot set up Torres for a good finish.

Lopez made it 3-0 three minutes after the restart, drilling a shot past Simon from near the penalty spot.

Sancet’s tackle from behind on Lopez was initially deemed a yellow card, but upgraded to red after the referee consulted with the video assistant referee (VAR).

And just before full-time, Yamal twisted and turned before sending Torres away to claim his second goal, which was originally disallowed for offside but overturned following a VAR check.

It was a dream return to their ground, with the reigning Spanish champions having mostly played at the 55,000 capacity Olympic Stadium on the city’s Montjuic hill since renovations on the Nou Camp began in June 2023.

They were forced to play two matches at the 6,000-capacity Johan Cruyff Stadium, home to their women’s team, this season after failing to get a permit for the Nou Camp through safety reasons.

Pogba Returns To Action In Ligue 1 (6)

Paul Pogba played his first minutes of professional football in more than two years as he came off the bench during Monaco’s 4-1 defeat by Rennes at the weekend.

The 32-year-old was introduced in the 85th minute at Rennes’ Roazhon Park, though his side were already four goals and a player down, following a red card for captain Denis Zakaria.

French World Cup winner Pogba broke down in tears when he joined Ligue 1 club Monaco last summer, after his four-year doping ban was reduced to 19 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas).

Pogba’s last competitive appearance was 811 days ago, when he featured for Juventus in a Serie A match against Empoli on 3 September 2023. He left Juventus by mutual consent in November 2024.

Pogba was provisionally banned from football for four years after a positive test for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in February 2024, following a doping test in August 2023.

Pogba maintained it was a mistake and that he was given a supplement without knowing it contained a banned substance.

The former Manchester United midfielder was permitted to return to football in March following the decision to reduce his ban.

Pogba watched from the bench as goals from Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, Mahdi Camara, Breel Embolo and Ludovic Blas put Rennes out of sight.

Fellow substitute Mika Biereth pulled a goal back for Monaco in the 95th minute, but a second consecutive 4-1 defeat means Sebastien Pocognoli’s side drop to eighth in the table with 20 points after 13 games.