CAN AN AFRICAN OR ASIAN NATION EVER WIN THE WORLD CUP?

The million dollar question that every football pundit has been asking for some time has been whether an African or an Asian nation could ever win the world cup? The nations from these regions have come close but have never been able to pull it off. The heroics of Ghana in the last world cup who were denied by the hand of Suarez for a semifinal spot and the semifinal appearance of South Korea in 2002 world cup who benefited from some fortuitous refereeing decisions in the matches against Spain and Italy. In both the cases the nations where playing in their own continents which played to their advantage. The Asian nations would be certainly fancying their chances in the 2022 world if at all Qatar could get the green signal to host the world cup admist all the scandals going on.

According to me, I would bet my money on the African nations to pull it off and win a world cup by 2030. They have the talent and the skills to make it happen at the big stage. The only things they lack are the modern training facilities and good coaches.  The Asian nations on the other side have a long way to go before even thinking of a world cup title. My comparison is purely based on the previous performances and the quality of players that both the continents have been providing to world class leagues in the world. We have had a number of African players who have played for top clubs and the number of players is only going to increase in the near future. Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto, Yaya Toure have all proved their worth at the top level and they were considered the best in whichever leagues they had played.

With the world cup just 4 days away, I won’t be surprised if Ivory Coast becomes the surprise package of this world cup. They have one of the best midfielders in the world in Yaya Toure and he is a class act- unless you forget his birthday. His brother Kolo provides experience at the back along with Didier Zokora, Young right back Serge Aurier is one to watch, but it is up front where the power lies. Alongside him is Gervinho, unrecognisable as the player who became a laughing stock at Arsenal, and Salomon Kalou, who will be remembered from his time at Chelsea. The Elephants’ secret weapon, though, could be Swansea striker Wilfried Bony. Ivory Cost has been unbeaten in their last 21 games and only lost the African Cup of Nations final on penalties.

It will be a while till an African or an Asian team wins the World Cup but with each tournament they are progressing. On a personal note I would love to see an African nation win the world cup in the coming decade.  However if the situation with African coaches and the lack of development in the lower levels of the game remains the same, Africa will fail to see a first ever World Cup success.