Sports

2011: A Year To Remember In African Football

Published

14 years ago

December 31, 2010

If 2010 was the ‘Year of Africa’ in football circles, it will be remembered for a spirited celebration of the FIFA World Cup that left little room for much of the pre-event doubts. The successful hosting of the tournament was a timely boost for the continent’s image in the eyes of the global community, and never before have Africans spoken so fondly of their region, which can now proudly point to their capacity and ability in staging the event. For South Africa, it offered a chance to change perceptions and greet the world like few others have before.

In football terms, Africa remains at a crossroads, threatening to push on and become more of a world force but at the same time under threat of being turned back. With six representatives at the FIFA World Cup for the first time, 2010 offered an opportunity to make a stronger bid for success, but results on the pitch were mixed.

Egypt failed to reach South Africa 2010 after a bitter play-off defeat by Algeria in 2009, but in 2010 they kept up a remarkable continental run that has now seen them win an unprecedented three CAF Africa Cup of Nations tournaments on the trot. The Pharaohs were rarely even threatened and brushed aside all comers with six wins out of six in Angola.

The vanquished team in the ultimate match at the Cup of Nations was an injury-hit Ghana, coached by Milovan Rajevac. But the emergence of a young Ghanaian generation built around 2009’s FIFA U-20 World Cup success and the consistent goalscoring of Asamoah Gyan were a harbinger of things to come. The most successful African team at the ‘African World Cup,’ the Black Stars stunned Serbia in their first match after a late Gyan penalty and rode Gyan’s extra-time goal past the USA in the second round. Those wins allowed Ghana to match the feat of Cameroon (1990) and Senegal (2002) in reaching the last eight at the World Cup.

Although South Africa became the first host nation not to make it past the first round of the World Cup, Bafana Bafana gave their supporters a farewell gift in the form of a 2-1 victory over former champions France in boisterous Bloemfontein. Elimination on goal difference could not take away the pride of the nation or the memories of the vuvuzela.

Nigeria were runners-up at the U-20 Women’s World Cup in Germany this year, which is further than any African women have ever gone at a FIFA tournament. Their most important victory was a penalty shootout win over defending champions United States in the quarter-final, a round that the Falconets had fallen at in the previous three tournaments.

At club level, the FIFA Club World Cup offers the only forum for Africa to match itself up against the rest of the world, and after years of disappointing results, TP Mazembe Englebert became the first side from outside of Europe or South America to reach the final of the event after besting Brazilian opposition Internacional 2-0 in the semi-final.

Cameroon captain Samuel Eto’o had a disappointing World Cup along with the rest of his national team, who finished bottom of their group without a point. Nonetheless, his exploits with all-conquering European club side Inter Milan were enough for him to win a record fourth CAF Africa Player of the Year Award.

Breakout stars

Egyptian striker Mohamed ‘Gedo’ Nagui was the revelation of the Cup of Nations in Angola. Having scored just once previously for the Pharaohs, Gedo managed five goals in five appearances as a substitute, including the late winner in the final.

Still only 25, Asamoah Gyan will surely see 2010 as the most significant year in his short career. After scoring three goals at the Cup of Nations, including two match-winners, Gyan still came to the World Cup with some questioning his ability to lead the line. But in the absence of talismanic captain Michael Essien, Gyan was Ghana’s inspiration, scoring three goals and embodying the team’s lively confidence.

Gyan was joined on the Ghana team by a fantastic collection of promising talents, notably midfielders Andre ‘Dede’ Ayew and Kwadwo Asamoah, 21 and 22 years old respectively. Ayew, the son of Abedi Pele, was named a finalist for the Hyundai Best Young Player Award at the World Cup, while Asamoah picked up CAF’s Most Promising Talent Award at the end of the year.

Unforgettable moments

Siphiwe Tshabalala’s fantastic goal opened not only the World Cup but South Africa’s campaign as hosts in style. It seemed like it might carry them through a difficult group, but although they fell at the first hurdle, this moment alone left a taste of triumph in the mouth.

Three weeks after Tshabalala’s goal, Soccer City witnessed another moment for the ages. Just minutes after he had blazed over from the spot in the last minute of extra time against Uruguay – a miss that would have made Ghana the first African team to reach the semi-final of a World Cup – Gyan converted Ghana’s first attempt in the post-match shootout. Although the Black Stars were eliminated moments later, it was a spectacularly brave display by the gutted striker and a worthy memory for the watching continent.

Sports

Gyokeres Situation, Transfer Under Cloud At Sporting

Published

2 days ago

June 12, 2025

The Tide

Sporting have not received an offer for striker Viktor Gyokeres and there is no gentleman’s agreement for him to leave for £59million, says club president Frederico Varandas.
Sweden international Gyokeres, 27, has been heavily linked with Manchester United and Arsenal after scoring 97 goals in 102 matches during two seasons in Portugal.
He has a 100m euro (£85m) release clause in his contract.
It has been widely reported that, after staying at Sporting last summer, Gyokeres and Sporting agreed he could leave for 70m euros (£59m) this summer.
However, Varandas said the club’s only promise to Gyokeres was that they would not demand his full release clause.
“I can guarantee that Viktor Gyokeres will not leave for 60m euros plus 10m euros because I never promised that,” Varandas said.
“To this day Sporting has not had an offer for Gyokeres, neither today nor last season.”
Gyokeres spent three seasons with Coventry City in the Championship before joining Sporting under Ruben Amorim.
Manchester City director of football Hugo Viana was sporting director at Sporting last summer, when Gyokeres’ agent sought assurances about his leaving if a suitable offer arrived.
“One of the agent’s biggest concerns was whether we would demand the termination clause,” said Varandas.
“He wanted to guarantee certain things. And what was agreed? That Sporting would not demand a release clause now.
“For one reason: he was going to be 27 years old and no player leaves Portugal at 27 for 100m eurors or 90m euros.
“In that same meeting the agent wanted to anchor the exit to a value. I said this sentence: ‘It’s not worth us setting a value because I don’t know what will happen in a year’s time. I don’t know if it will be 40m euros, 60m euros or 80m euros. What I can guarantee is that I will not demand 100 million euros.’”

Sports

Concacaf Opposes 64-Team W’Cup Plans

Published

2 days ago

June 12, 2025

The Tide

Concacaf President Victor Montagliani has criticised a proposal to expand the 2030 men’s World Cup to 64 teams.
The plans, put forward by South American governing body Conmebol, have also drawn opposition from Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
The tournament will be hosted by Spain, Morocco and Portugal, after the opening matches are held in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
The 2026 World Cup, which will take place across the United States, Mexico and Canada, has already been expanded from 32 to 48 teams.
But Conmebol said it wanted to add more participants to mark the competition’s 100-year anniversary.
“I don’t believe expanding the men’s World Cup to 64 teams is the right move for the tournament itself and the broader football ecosystem, from national teams to club competitions, leagues, and players,” Montagliani told Tidesports source
“We haven’t even kicked off the new 48-team World Cup yet, so personally, I don’t think that expanding to 64 teams should even be on the table.”
Concacaf is the governing body of football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean.
The decision to expand the 2026 World Cup to 48 teams was taken in 2017 following a unanimous vote at a Fifa congress.
Fifa’s 75th congress will be held in Paraguay on 15 May, when Conmebol’s proposal could be discussed.
If the proposal is accepted, the 2030 edition would consist of 128 matches, double the number played under the 64-game format used from 1998 and 2022.
In March, Ceferin described the proposal as a “bad idea” while AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa said it would cause “chaos”.
“If the issue remains open to change, then the door will not only be open to expanding the tournament to 64 teams,” said Salman.
“But someone might come along and demand raising the number to 132 teams. Where would we end up then? It would become chaos.”

Sports

Brazil Edge Paraguay, Book W’Cup Spot

Published

2 days ago

June 12, 2025

The Tide

Brazil qualified for the 2026 World Cup this week with a 1-0 win against Paraguay in South American qualifying to give Carlo Ancelotti his first win as manager.
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jnr scored from close range in the second half, finishing after fine work from Manchester United-bound playmaker Matheus Cunha.
The victory, Ancelotti’s first after a 0-0 draw against Ecuador on his debut last week, means Brazil has now qualified for every edition of the World Cup.
“We needed to win and qualify for the World Cup,” said Vinicius Jr.
“Now the coach will have more time to work. Of course today wasn’t one of our best performances, but the important thing is always to win.
“Now it’s time to celebrate qualifying.”
Elsewhere, World Cup holders Argentina played out an entertaining 1-1 draw with Colombia in Buenos Aires.
Liverpool winger Luis Diaz opened the scoring with a fine individual goal, dancing through three defenders before finishing past Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Argentina was reduced to 10 men with 20 minutes remaining when Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez was sent off for a high-boot challenge on Colombia’s Kevin Castano.
But Lionel Messi’s side found an equaliser nine minutes from the end through Lyon’s Thiago Almada, leaving Colombia four points clear of seventh-placed Venezuela.
Ecuador, Argentina’s nearest challengers, booked their spot at next summer’s tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States after a 0-0 draw away at Peru.