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Below you will find FIFA's take on Africa's 2010 Cup chances.
African titans target top spot
(FIFA.com) Sunday 25 November 2007
As host nation, South Africa are naturally assured of a place at their own
FIFA World Cup™, and they could well be celebrating that fact after Sunday's
Preliminary Draw pitted them against up-and-coming Equatorial Guinea and powerhouses
Nigeria. Able to draw upon players including John Obi Mikel, Obafemi Martins
and Nwankwo Kanu, the Super Eagles clearly have a richly talented and ambitious
squad, and coach Berti Vogts is determined to put them back on the international
map after a difficult spell over the last few years.South Africa trainer Carlos
Alberto Parreira has fewer resources at his disposal, on the other hand, but
the Brazilian can at least count upon proven performers Benni McCarthy and Quinton
Fortune to help lead a team that disappointed in CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifying.
The South Africans are destined to face immense public pressure and how they
cope could well determine where they place in a section that, for them, at least,
is all about securing a berth at the 2010 CAF Africa Cup of Nations.Meanwhile,
Equatorial Guinea could easily play a role in deciding which of those two continental
juggernauts tops the group. For their part, Sierra Leone will be happy with
every single point they are able to collect.
The favourites
Nigeria look to be a better side on paper, especially in physical terms, but
South Africa will have their massive traditional support behind them, plus the
experience of Parreira in the dugout. The hosts will also be anxious to impress,
although the fact that they have already qualified could come into play.
The outsiders
Nigeria:Appointed in January 2007, Berti Vogts became the first foreigner to
helm the Super Eagles since 2001. The team have gone through some rocky times
since bursting on to the scene in 1994, but they look to be on the right track
now with a good balance between youth and experience. They also boast a collection
of players as gifted as ever, with individuals such as Taye Taiwo and Obi Mikel
swelling their ranks.
Equatorial Guinea :The team on the rise, they broke into the Top 100 of the
FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking in May 2007. Spanish league stars Rodolfo Bodipo
and Benjamin Zarandona are the key men and helped earn the side a place at the
2008 CAF Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana.
The players to watch
Benni McCarthy, (RSA), Nwanko Kanu (NGA), Rodolfo Bodipo (EQG), Mohamed Kallon
(SLE).
The crunch match
South Africa-Nigeria. This match will reveal much about the popular fervour
surrounding Bafana Bafana as they gear up to host the global showcase. Above
all, though, it will be crucial for Parreira's men and they will need to come
out on top to stay on course for theCAF Africa Cup of Nations.
A look back
Nigeria 4-0 South Africa, 31 January 2004, Monastir (Tunisia).South Africa's
biggest ever loss to Nigeria sparked a troublesome three-year period for the
losers, and it did little good for the Super Eagles either as they failed to
go all the way.
The stat
0: the number of times Bafana Bafana have overcome Nigeria in competitive games.
South Africa's only triumph came in a friendly in November 2004.
Did you know?
South Africa are already guaranteed a place at the next FIFA World Cup, but
Group 4 will also decide who progresses to the 2010 CAF Africa Cup of Nations.
Parreira's side are desperate to stamp their ticket for Angola after their dismal
failure in the previous campaign.
The question
The South Africans were a disappointment in the qualifiers for next year's CAF
Africa Cup of Nations and they will be under intense pressure to perform now,
even if their presence at the 2010 FIFA World Cup is already assured. Meanwhile,
Nigeria have what it takes to finish top and Equatorial Guinea could yet play
kingmaker by registering one or more upsets. Which of the two favourites do
you think will come unstuck in contests between these three sides
Posted Comments
On paper, the Nigeria side is no match for any of the three sides. And I think
this will remain so in the quest for the top spot for qualificaton for the ANC
and the World Cup. Currently, the Nigerian national team blending well and wil
soon hit the form of 1994 squad.... Posted by Yomzzy, Nigeria.
Posted by Yomzzy, Nigeria on 30/11/2007 at 13:18
Well, with the way Equitorial guinea is playing now i think it would be very
tight a bit for Nigeria and South African to put her asside.But at the same
time Nigeria and South African will still find their way out in the group...............
Posted by seunwen, Nigeria on 29/11/2007 at 10:29
We have a very talented player in Nigeria.And i'm so much sure Nigeria will
get their way out in the group.But we need to take every match serious.And on
the side of NFA this players needs their encouragement and support.But,i repeat
every match needs serious attention........
Posted by seunwen, Nigeria on 29/11/2007 at 10:24
this is good news 4 nigeria. i personally as a nigerian know that we are virtually
through. and at the same time, i hope we dont get overconfident and loose our
heads like the last qualifying round which cost us a place at germany. also,
as the saying goes "u dont judge a book by the cover". EQUITORIAL
GUINEA could spring surprises.
Posted by youngblood, USA on 28/11/2007 at 21:48
I congratulate Nigerians about the WC draw.I see us emerging runnaway leaders
from this group with SA coming a distant second and Equitorial Guinea running
the South Africans to the finishing line.Nigeria will win all their 3 home matches
and the away fixture in SA.We will also draw away against the Leone Stars and
suffer an insignificant shock defeat against EG in Malabo.The stern test for
our qualification credentials will be in the second round where we are most
likely to be drawn against Ghana who will perform badly in next year's nation's
Cup and so be among the second sets of seeds for the next round of WC qualification.
Posted by ayodele, England on 28/11/2007 at 13:34
Irrespective of any under-dogs or over-dogs, its a confirmed issue that Nigeria
is as good as already qualified. Nothing, i repeat, can happen in that group
that will stop Nigeria from qualifying. Am dreaming of Nigeria clinching the
World Cup, not even talking about qualification.
Posted by teejay007, Spain on 27/11/2007 at 19:34
There is no doubt the Super Eagles of Nigeria remain the best team in Africa.
The world should watch out for good and entertaining football and should stop
comparing South Africa with Nigeria. we are not going to underate any team as
modern day football is full of superise. We are still feeling Angola's slap
and blow.
Posted by Samson, Nigeria on 27/11/2007 at 17:38
Without sounding immodest, it will take a miracle for S/A to upset Nigeria in
that group. Nevertheless, S/African football is on the upward trend. They should
keep it up. Adegbola Nigeria
Posted by GEEBEE, Nigeria on 27/11/2007 at 11:15
To make it to the top a team needs the best of players and the best of coaches,
between NIG and RSA Nigeria in my opinion will make it to the top bcos they
have both while south africa can only boast of a good coach in the person of
periera, but u never can tell what RSA could spring up between now n 2010.from
the monk.
Posted by Nkonye, Nigeria on 27/11/2007 at 10:28
With the way everything is going, Nigeria is not ready to take any chances which
is what cost us the 2006 FIFA World cup to Angola. Go EAGLES Go.
End of FIFA article
(My comment -- African teams should assist each other by setting up the
means to share insights, exchange views; and otherwise research and analytical
data germane to the performance of the general pool of African national teams
versus non-African teams...)
Concept paper prepared
by
The African Union Commission
Launch of 2007 as the International Year of African
Football
8th Ordinary Session of
the Assembly
29-30 January 2007
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The African Union Assembly held
in January 2006, Khartoum, Sudan, declared 2007 “International Year
of African Football (IYoAF)” (Assembly/AU/Dec.93 (VI)) as proposed
by the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
This decision emanated from acknowledging the role played by the
Confederation of African Football (CAF), which will celebrate its
50 th Anniversary in 2007, in using sport as an instrument for promotion
of unity, solidarity, peace and reconciliation, and its preventive
campaigns against scourges, such as HIV/AIDS, affecting the youth
of the Continent.
The Assembly Decision also called
upon Member States to support their national football associations
in the organization of the 50 th Anniversary of CAF in 2007, while
highlighting the hosting of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa in
2010. Consequently, the year 2007 will see an all-Africa launch
of the International Year of African Football and a rolling programme
of activities for the 2010 South Africa FIFA World Cup event. All
peoples of Africa will share the proud history that for the first
time, a FIFA global event will be held on their Continent. The African
Union, together with the Governments of Ethiopia and South Africa,
will collaborate to organise the launch of 2007 International Year
of African Football, and launch its many activities in African Union
Member States and regions throughout Africa.
The International Year of African
Football will mark the 50 th anniversary of the Confederation of
African Football and will witness not only the emergence of numerous
and indeed, countless football-related events in the run up to the
FIFA 2010 event, but will also create a new consciousness on the
African continent with regard to the contribution of Football/sport
at national level and in local communities to support programmes
of the African Union, especially in the areas of education, health,
development and peace.
It has been decided that the launch
of the IYoAF 2007 will take place immediately after the official
opening ceremony at the next AU Assembly in January 2007, Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia.
2. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
African Football, as the leading
sport on the continent, has a meaningful role to play in the achievement
of AU NEPAD Development objectives, as well as key priorities agreed
by AU Heads of State and Government in the Ouagadougou Extraordinary
Summit on Employment Creation and Poverty Alleviation. In addition,
Football and sport in general, has the potential, as declared in
the 2005 UN World Summit “to foster peace and development, and to
contribute to an atmosphere of tolerance and understanding”.
The overall goal of the International
Year of African Football is to honour the important contribution
of African Football and the Confederation of African Football in
particular, and to peace and political stability in Africa, in general.
The award to South Africa to host the 2010 World Cup adds a special
dimension to activities marking 2007 IYoAF, to maintain momentum
in the build-up to the tournament.
In accordance with the Khartoum
Declaration (Assembly/AU/Dec.93 (VI)), the following objectives
are proposed as the objectives of the IYOAF:
Promote the idea of “Sport for
All” within the African Union and among Member States as a means
of creating health awareness, strengthening the spirit of achievement
among the youth, promoting African solidarity entrenching social
cohesion;
Promote sport as a tool to contribute
towards achieving the AU NEPAD development goals, including the
UN Millennium Development Goals;
Promote African solidarity and
commitment to integration of the continent as envisaged in the Vision
and Mission of the African Union;
• Promote sport as a
viable engine for employment creation;
• Promote sport, as
a means for integrated social development; and
• Strengthen national,
regional and continental partnerships between all actors, including
family, school, clubs/leagues, local communities, youth sports associations
and decision makers as well as the public and private sectors, in
order to ensure complementarities and to make sport and physical
education available to everyone.
The IYoAF 2007 will also strive
to reach the above-set targets through, among others, the dissemination
of best practices and compiling an inventory of all sports for peace
and development activities in Africa.
3. RATIONALE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL
YEAR OF AFRICAN FOOTBALL
3.1 OVERALL APPROACH OF THE IYoAF
2007
Under the guidance of the African
Union Commissioner for Social Affairs, a detailed programme of activities
will be presented to AU Member States for implementation during
2007 International Year of African Football.
The Khartoum Decision to declare
2007 as International Year of African Football was a milestone development
that recognises that 50 years of continental partnership, solidarity
and sportsmanship has delivered Africa its historic World Cup 2010.
As Africa's integration vehicle, Africa will take a lead in strengthening
partnerships and promoting a “Sports for All” culture that embraces
tolerance.
The AU will further utilise the
occasion of the Year to advocate integrated sports policies; promote
wide consultation and participation in the elaboration and implementation
of sports policies; strengthen continental sports organisations;
and integrate and mainstream sport within AU policy instruments.
Due to shortage of resources, African
countries face the challenge to ensure highest quality sport programmes.
The disparity between investing on sports facilities in urban and
rural areas also demonstrates the challenge faced by Governments
in ensuring equity and creating an environment conducive to “Sports
for All”. Adapting sports programmes to communities' needs and different
target groups, as well as promoting the recreational aspects of
sport, also poses a challenge. Moreover, the commercialisation of
sport promotes an excessive focus on creating opportunities for
the talented, rather than a sport for all environments. Thus, there
is need to broaden participation by bringing in the youth and developing
sport that would contribute to the creation of employment.
4. MAJOR EVENTS
Amongst the other many activities
to kick off the IYoAF 2007, the African Union will convene a launching
ceremony, organise a football match in Addis Ababa and co-host,
together with the Governments of Ethiopia and South Africa, the
official Gala Dinner in honour of the 50 th Anniversary of CAF.
An Organizing Committee was constituted
to prepare for the launch consisting of:
• AU Commission – Office
of the Chairperson and Department of Social Affairs.
• South African Government
- Department of Sport and Recreation/ Department of Foreign Affairs.
• Ethiopian Government
– Ministry of Youth and Sports / Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• Confederation of African
Football (CAF).
The Organizing Committee is working
in close collaboration with the UN New York Office on Sport for
Development and Peace, the South African Local Organising Committee
(SA-LOC) and other partners. A technical and logistical sub-committee
comprising senior officials from the AUC, Ethiopia and South Africa
are tasked with finalizing the technical details for the three main
events of launch, gala dinner and football match at the margin of
the January 2007 Assembly.
4.1 The Official Launching Ceremony
The launching ceremony is scheduled
during the opening ceremony of the 9 th African Union Assembly on
29 January 2007. The launch constitutes an important event to establish
a formal framework for ensuing activities marking 2007 the International
Year of African Football and to create linkages with the 2010 World
Cup.
There will be the introductory
statement by the Commissioner for Social Affairs followed by statements
made by:
• FIFA President
• CAF President
• African Footballer
of the Year
• President Thabo Mbeki
of the Republic of South Africa
• Prime Minister Zenawi
Meles of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
It is important to establish linkages
between the 50 th Anniversary of CAF, the dedication of 2007 as
International Year of African Football and overall events culminating
in the 2010 World Cup Tournament. To that end, the activities of
2007 will need to forge linkages with CAF African Cup of Nations
in Ghana in 2008, in South Africa in 2009, and Angola in 2010.
The launch will be animated by
the under-15 young players from Ethiopia and South Africa, accompanied
by women players, who would enter the hall and present to each African
Union Head of State the memorabilia that may include a number of
football related items.
President Thabo Mbeki of the Republic
of South Africa, together with AU Chairperson, CAF President and
UN SG, accepted, on behalf of Africa, the FIFA baton in Germany
in 2006, marking the formal acceptance of the 2010 World Cup event
by South Africa. During the launching ceremony, President Mbeki
will brief the 9 th AU Assembly that the 2010 World Cup baton has
now been received from FIFA in Germany. He will outline issues facing
South Africa in implementing this mandate, and expected outcomes
for the Continent. Hence, the Assembly will chart a meaningful role
for all African countries to ensure that 2010 is an African World
Cup.
The 2007 International Year of
African Football is an ideal opportunity to promote capacity building
in all African sports, not only in football. In this regard, linkages
will be created between IyoAF 2007 and the All Africa Games scheduled
for Algiers in 2007. The culmination of three events, namely the
2007 Year, the CAF 50th anniversary and the 2010 process, makes
the launch not simply another event, but an important milestone
in the history and development of the continent.
The South African Broadcasting
Corporation (SABC) has offered to provide live coverage of the launch
ceremony. There would also be opportunity for live interviews with
keynote speakers and other relevant participants.
President of FIFA, Mr Sepp Blatter,
will be attending, as Special Guest, the launching ceremony. The
presence of Mr Blatter in the ceremony is a recognition and testimony
played by Mr Blatter in the 2010 World Cup. The African Union will
elaborate activities to deepen the fraternal relations between the
African Union, CAF and FIFA and to promote shared ideals of Sport
for Peace and Development on the continent.
4.2 Soccer match (under 15's)
As part of the activities during
the 2007International Year of Football, a soccer match will be organized
between under-15 teams from Ethiopia and South Africa, on Sunday,
28 January 2007, at 10H 00 at the Addis Ababa Stadium.
The Governments of Ethiopia and
South Africa will be responsible to prepare for the celebratory
football match between their two under-15 sides. The teams of the
under-15s were selected on the basis that in 3 years time these
players may likely participate in the 2010 World Cup. It is also
to provide the youth with a meaningful role as key players in the
activities leading to the 2010 World Cup. Mobilising under 15's
is also partly a recognition that the youth will carry the hopes
and aspirations of the entire continent during the 2010 World Cup.
The Ethiopian Ministry of Youth
and Sports undertook to prepare the National Stadium, ensure local
publicity for the event, and sponsor suitable accommodation for
the South African under-15 team, consisting of a group of approximately
22 players. The necessary social activities will be organized for
the players during 28-29 January 2007.
A short curtain raiser for the
above match would be played by two under-15 girls' teams from Ethiopia,
which the Ministry of Youth and Sports will facilitate. The matches
would be open to the general public, but with an emphasis on attendance
by schools. UNICEF will be approached to mobilise sponsorship of
the event. The Ethiopian Television Corporation is expected to provide
live coverage of the event. Guests of honour to the match will include
some of Africa's soccer icons.
4.3 Gala dinner (in honour of
50 th Anniversary of CAF)
The gala dinner in the evening
of 29 January 2007 will take place to honour the 50th anniversary
of CAF. During its 50 year existence, CAF made an outstanding contribution
to the upliftment of African Society through football for peace
and development.
The gala dinner will be sponsored
by the AUC, Ethiopia and South Africa at the Sheraton (Addis) Hotel.
The AU Commissioner for Social Affairs, and the Ministers of Sport
of Ethiopia and South Africa, will preside as Directors of Ceremony.
The Speakers at the Gala Dinner
will include:
• CAF President
• FIFA President
• Chairperson or Captain
of the Nigerian Women Soccer team (current African champions)
• Brief statements by
soccer Icons
- Abedi Pele (Ghana)
- Roger Milla (Cameroon)
- Hossam Hassan (Egypt)
- Kalusha Bwalya (Zambia)
• Prof Alpha Konare
Musical entertainment at the gala
dinner will provided by musicians and or groups from South Africa,
from a West African country and from Ethiopia.
5. MAJOR PROGRAMMATIC
AREAS OF FOCUS
It is necessary to decide on series
of activities and events that could be held throughout the year
as observances that would have far reaching impact for the entire
continent and as a vehicle to launch the 2010 World Cup in South
Africa.
The following programme areas are
proposed as the main areas of focus to mark the IYoAF 2007:
- Reinforce solidarity with South Africa for
the 2010 Football World Cup
- Promotion of Sport as an embodiment of values
of Tolerance, Peace and Development
- Capacity Building and Human Resource Development
in order to safeguard Africa's opportunities to win the 2010
World Cup
- Celebration of African Sport Day on the 14
December 2007
- Africa and the Diaspora to Pan African solidarity
- Sport and Gender mainstreaming
- Calendar of Sporting events
- Position of Africa at the Global level
- Football development
- Communication
EXPECTED RESULTS
Overall the IYoAF will strive to
enhance Africa's overall preparedness to host and win the 2010 World
Cup and to strengthen African solidarity in order to create a conducive
environment for the use of sport in integrated development programmes.”
Integrated Sport Policies has the
potential to harness the value of sport as a partner for the achievement
of development and peace goals.
Sport for all should be mainstreamed
as a national priority. It strives to expand the perception of “sport
for all” by the general public, particularly targeting the less
talented. Africa needs to guard against elitism in sport. The collective
achievement of great results by African and Diaspora sports people
at international sports competitions promotes national and continental
unity and a country's value and competitiveness.
African Football is seen as integral
component of African life. Sport and football should be recognised
as an integral part of quality education. Though an essential component
of quality education and an integral part of lifelong learning,
physical education is continuously loosing ground in formal education
systems. The neglect of physical education reduces the quality of
learning, with negative future impacts on public health and health
budgets.
By engaging under 15's to kick
start the activities of the IyoAF, African stresses that young people
are important partners in sport for peace and development. In view
of the many events culminating in the IyoAF 2007, a Programme of
activities will be developed outline promote football and sport
for education, health, development and peace in a coordinated way.
STAKEHOLDERS
- Member States
- Sport Associations and federations
- South African 2010 World Cup LOC
- SCSA
- UN System through the UN Office for Sport
for Development and Peace
- EU,
- Non African governments
- Intergovernmental and NGO
IMPLEMENTATION, MONITORING AND
EVALUATION
Continental level
AU in collaboration with the UN
system, CAF, FIFA, SCSA and Pan African Sport organizations through
the establishment of an AU Technical Committee
Regional level
RECs and regional sport bodies
National level
Governments through multi-stakeholder
national committees or focal points to plan, coordinate and implement
the various strategies planned.
taken from the AU site |
