The five African representatives at the 2018 tournament in Russia failed to clear even that low hurdle
It says a lot about where Africa’s national teams are that no respected observer is even suggesting that a team from the continent will finally get to lift the Jules Rimet trophy at the end of the 22nd edition of the World Cup that started in Qatar on Sunday.
Before the devastating news broke that talisman Sadio Mane would be missing the tournament through injury, Senegal was widely touted as the team that would push the envelope and make World Cup history by either becoming the first nation to reach the last eight twice or even breaking through the quarterfinal ceiling.
Not only is Mane Senegal’s all-time top scorer with 34 goals, he also netted the winning penalties in this year’s Africa Cup of Nations final and in the World Cup playoff match, with Egypt being on the wrong end of postmatch shoot-outs both times.Watford forward Ismaila Sarr and Alanyaspor striker Famara Diedhiou, with 10 international goals each, are the next highest scorers in the Teranga Lions squad, while the scoring burden will also fall on Salernitana’s Boulaye Dia.
The availability, thanks to nationality changes of Brighton defender Tariq Lamptey and Athletic Bilbao striker Inaki Williams, adds quality to Addo’s side that already has the exciting Ajax striker Mohammed Kudus, the Ayew brothers Andre and Jordan, Arsenal’s Thomas Partey and the talented 18-year-old Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, who has been starring for Sporting Lisbon.
For Cameroon and Tunisia things look a lot more complicated. The Indomitable Lions, who are back at the World Cup for an African record eighth time,
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