Sports

Olympic Football: Poor Preparations Cost Africa In London

Published

14 years ago

August 13, 2012

If anything is to be re-learnt from the continent’s
chequered performance at the 2012 Olympic Games football tournament, it remains
an uncomfortable, sobering, truth – that talent is no substitute for meticulous
long-term planning.

And Africa certainly has talent, as it has repeatedly proven
over the years.

“African football, certainly, does not lack the talent to
win, but its administrators must learn that they must plan,” Fifa president
Sepp Blatter has said while discussing the disappointing state of the African
game.

“Other countries and continents take time to plan, and to
strategise for success. African football must do the same.”

From the golden glory of Nigeria and Cameroon in 1996 and
2000, respectively, and then Nigeria’s silver at the Beijing Games four years
ago, to 2012, when no African side
reached the last four of either the men’s or women’s events.

Of the six teams that represented the continent in the men’s
and women’s tournaments, only Senegal, who defeated Uruguay 2-0, and Egypt, in
beating Belarus 3-1, managed to get wins in London.

Gabon and Morocco crashed out of the men’s tournament after
the group stages, as did Cameroon and South Africa in the women’s event.

Of course, the general statistics mask the rather
humiliating performances by the Indomitable Lionesses and Banyana Banyana,
whose Olympic debuts leave them with full plates of food for thought.

Cameroon’s comprehensive losses to Brazil (0-5), Great
Britain (0-3) and New Zealand (1-3) respectively, and South Africa’s losses to
Sweden and Canada, scoring once while conceding seven, expose the huge gap the African women’s game
has to close.

One of the few highlights for the ladies was South Africa’s
surprisingly-respectable 0-0 draw against Japan, the reigning women’s world
champions.

“Our overall performance at this tournament is a clear indication that African football still has a lot of catching up to do,” says Aliou Cisse, the 2002 World Cup defender who now works as Assistant Coach of Senegal’s Olympic team.

“If we want success, then we have to plan for it and work
very hard for it. That takes time and a lot of effort. There are no shortcuts.”

But as Gabon coach Claude Mbourounot bluntly observes,
following his team’s first-round exit, those running African football at the
national association and continental levels need to take a good look in the
mirror.

“African football suffers from a lack of organisation and
structure. We need to be organised,” he said.

“We (those responsible for coaching and managing teams) are
often frustrated by people and institutions that do not understand our
administrative and technical needs.”

And as obvious as the administrative deficiencies in the African
men’s game are, the womens’ game suffers from an even worse lack of financial
attention and proper technical support.

None of the two teams that represented the continent has a
functioning women’s league, as is the case in most African countries.

“In Africa, there are several people that even question the
rationale for supporting women’s football,” says a visibly angry Lydia Nsekera,
president of the Burundi Football Federation and the first woman in the
108-year history of Fifa to sit on the world governing body’s executive
committee.

“It is clear that without regular league competition for our
women throughout the continent, there is no way our national teams will be able
to effectively compete at tournaments like the Olympics.”

Obayiuwana writes for BBC sport

After the disappointing performance of Africa at the 2010
World Cup in South Africa, where only Ghana’s Black Stars made it to the
knock-out stages of the competition, the Olympic failures serve as another
timely reminder to the continent’s administrative chiefs – reminding them that
preparations off the pitch, as well as on it, are the only way the continent
will conquer the mountaintop.

Obayinwana writes for BBC Sport

Osasu Obayiuwana

Sports

Tottenham’s Miserable Run Continues

Published

4 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

Relegation-threatened Tottenham’s miserable 2026 continued as their winless run extended to 10 league games with Fulham gaining a deserved victory to boost their hopes of qualifying for European football.

Fulham, who scored twice in the opening six minutes in their 2-1 win over Spurs in November, again got an early goal with Harry Wilson netting in the seventh minute.

However, the goal was controversial as new Spurs boss Igor Tudor felt it should have been disallowed as home striker Raul Jimenez pushed Radu Dragusin as they challenged for a Kenny Tete cross, before Oscar Bobb picked out Wilson to volley home from six yards out.

Tottenham had a similar goal ruled out last week in their 4-1 loss to Arsenal for a foul by Randal Kolo Muani on Gunners defender Gabriel but, following a check from the video assistant referee (VAR) Craig Pawson, Fulham’s goal was allowed to stand, much to Tudor’s fury.

Spurs, though, had no excuses for the 34th-minute second goal with Alex Iwobi left with space to shoot home superbly from 18 yards out, with the ball going in off the inside of the post after a neat exchange with Wilson.

Sports

City Survive Leeds’ Challenge At Elland Road

Published

4 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

Antoine Semenyo scored just before half-time as title-chasing Manchester City escaped Elland Road with victory over an energetic Leeds United.

The hard-earned outcome narrowed Arsenal’s lead to two points at the top of the Premier League.

City travelled to West Yorkshire without their Leeds-born star striker Erling Haaland who was injured in training, and it looked for large periods in the first half that they would rue not having their top goalscorer available.

But Ghana international Semenyo stretched to convert Rayan Ait-Nouri’s fizzed low ball into the penalty area for his sixth City goal since joining from Bournemouth in January.

Leeds will be wondering how they did not score after making a sprightly start and giving City real cause for early concern.

Meanwhile , a clinical Liverpool performance helped them beat battling West Ham in the Premier League and move level on points with fourth-placed Manchester United.

The hosts were 3-0 up at the break thanks to goals from Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister.

West Ham pulled one back early in the second half through Tomas Soucek before Cody Gakpo restored Liverpool’s three-goal lead in the 70th minute.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side scored again through Taty Castellanos, but an Axel Disasi own goal ensured Liverpool hit five goals in a league game for the first time this season.

Bayern Rebound To Overcome Dortmund In Bundesliga (5)

Harry Kane scored two second-half goals as Bayern Munich came from behind to beat Borussia Dortmund in a thrilling match and move 11 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga.

The England striker took his tally to 45 goals in all competitions this season as Bayern became the first team to inflict a home league defeat on Dortmund.

Kane, who passed 500 A clinical Liverpool performance helped them beat battling West Ham in the Premier League and move level on points with fourth-placed Manchester United.

The hosts were 3-0 up at the break thanks to goals from Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister.

West Ham pulled one back early in the second half through Tomas Soucek before Cody Gakpo restored Liverpool’s three-goal lead in the 70th minute.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side scored again through Taty Castellanos, but an Axel Disasi own goal ensured Liverpool hit five goals in a league game for the first time this season.

All three of the Reds’ first-half goals came from set-pieces – with Arne Slot’s side now leading the table in 2026 when it comes to goals from set-plays (excluding penalties).

In the fifth minute, Ryan Gravenberch teed up Ekitike, who finished smartly to beat Mads Hermansen at the near post for his 16th goal of the season.

West Ham threatened to equalise, but against the run of play Liverpool doubled their advantage when Van Dijk headed in Dominik Szoboszlai’s corner.

The visitors failed to take advantage of Liverpool’s complacency with Konstantinos Mavropanos, Jarrod Bowen and Soucek all wasting chances.

And just before half-time, Mac Allister’s superb volley took a deflection and ended in the back of the net. That was the cue for sections of the travelling support to head for the exits.

Nico Schlotterbeck’s opener.

Dortmund thought they had snatched a point when Daniel Svensson’s thumping volley sent Signal Iduna Park into pandemonium.

But that was until Joshua Kimmich’s strike three minutes from time kept Bayern in pole position to win a 14th title in 15 seasons.

Schlotterbeck headed Dortmund ahead in the 26th minute when he rose highest in a crowded penalty area to connect with Svensson’s free-kick from the left.

Dortmund had the chance to double their lead later in the half when Fabio Silva squared the ball to Maximilian Beier, who was denied by the onrushing Jonas Urbig.

Despite dominating possession in the first half, Bayern – playing with a front three of Kane, Michael Olise and Luis Diaz – were unable to test Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.

But Kane equalised early in the second period with a poacher’s effort from inside the area at the end of a slick move involving Kimmich and Serge Gnabry.

Both teams missed chances before Kane scored a penalty – a record 10th in a Bundesliga season – after Josip Stanisic was floored by Schlotterbeck.

Dortmund levelled when Svensson volleyed past Urbig, but Kimmich all but ended their hopes of winning a first title since 2012.

Sports

PSG Extend Lead In Ligue 1

Published

4 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

Paris St-Germain stretched their lead at the top of Ligue 1 to four points by claiming a narrow win at Le Havre.

The defending champions hoped to take advantage after second-placed Lens drew at Strasbourg on Friday, and Bradley Barcola gave them a deserved lead shortly before half-time.

PSG had chances to extend their lead and substitute Desire Doue had a late penalty saved by Le Havre goalkeeper Mory Diaw.

Lee Kang-In had an effort saved by Diaw before his right-wing cross was headed home by Barcola for his ninth goal of the season.

Moments later Lee fired wide when through on goal, before PSG winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia fired against a post just after half-time.

Keeper Matvey Safonov made a fine save from Issa Soumare to keep PSG in front, while Diaw denied substitutes Nuno Mendes, Ibrahim Mbaye and Doue.

Diaw parried Doue’s spot-kick low to his right after Doue was brought down by Lucas Gourna-Douath with 11 minutes left.