Sport: Sport Big Debate

Is it Africa's time?

Africa prepares for World Cup showdown

With this year's World Cup taking place on the sunny shores of South Africa and no fewer than six of the continent's teams qualifying, LS Sport asks: Can an African team win the cup?

 I’m sure everyone has seen the farcical Zaire vs. Brazil match from the 1974 World Cup on youtube. Zaire’s full-back, Ilunga Muepu, breaks from the Zaire wall before it is taken, smashing it further than a Peter Kay bitter advert, before turning to the ref in surprise.

This was the state of African football almost 40 years ago. Zaire were the first African team ever to qualify for a World Cup, and it showed how far behind they were in mastering the game that saw them lose 9-0 to Yugoslavia, and 2-0 to Scotland.

African football has evolved impeccably well since that day in West Germany. This year, we have six teams representing the continent in South Africa.

Indeed, it is a credit to CAF (Confederation of African Football) that they have managed to prepare and will soon be hosting such a prestigious global spectacle.

However, what… Continue reading...