Former
Nigerian International, Victor Nosa Ikpeba believes African teams have come of
age and highly optimistic the five reps from Africa will outshine in Brazil.
Africa is
being represented by the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Algeria and Cameroon at this
year’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
With most pundits
not tipping Africa to better their quarter finals berth chalked by Cameroon,
Senegal and Ghana in 1990, 2002 and 2010 respectively, the ex-Nigerian forward
who represented his country at the 1994 and 1998 World Cups has expressed
confidence and has anticipated Africa will make an impact at the Brazil
tournament which kicks off on the 12th of June.
In an
interview with Ace Sports Journalist and GH ONE’s “THE GAME” show host Sammy
Fiifi Bartels, the 40 year old who won Gold with Nigeria at the 1996 Olympic Games
in Atlanta says it is high time Africa write their name in the Golden books of
World football.
“It terms of
the battle, now the Europeans and South Americans know that African teams have
come of age. It is very significant in their mind set. And playing against the
Africans, to the Europeans and South Americans, is like a war for them. They don’t
want to lose against an African side. We hope this time around we might have
two three African teams at the next stage”, he affirmed.
“If we cut
our minds back, the mighty Cameroon went to the 1982 World Cup and never lost a
game. This shows the World that African teams have come of age. That Cameroon team
should be celebrated because they never lost a game. Eight years after Cameroon
was at the 1990 World cup and reached the quarter finals”.
“We have
really come of age. I think is sad that four years ago Ghana could have been in
the semi-finals and was close to the finals. Very close! So the expectation is
high”, he added.
The former
AS Monaco and Brussia Dortmond attacker further on went on to advice Africans
not to be over confident ahead of the Mundial.
“We the
media in Ghana and Nigeria have been saying Ghana will be at the semi finals,
Nigeria will be at the semi finals. I think we should be a little bit calm. We
can be optimistic but we can’t be over confident. We should get things right
that is going to be tough. Is going to be very difficult. But I hope an African
team will really do well in Brazil this time around”.
Meanwhile,
Ikpeba went on to explain how certain he is Ghana will seal through the assumed
“Group of death”.
“Of course
the Ghanaian team is in a group of death, but that doesn’t mean they can’t come
out of that group. I believe the Ghanaians have the potentials to beat Portugal;
they have the potential to beat Germany and that of the US. If they go there
with that kind of fighting spirit they showed in 2010. If they work out for one
another, they have the potential of getting out of that group”, he said.
“Am not
saying that because am a Nigerian. But am saying that based on what the
Ghanaians did to the famous Egyptians. If they carry on with that mentality, I don’t
see any team breaking them down, not even the Germans”.
After
failing to get into the semi-finals of the World Cup, Africa for the first time
in history of the continent will be hoping to get a rep in the last four at the
Copa Mundial.
By Frank
Darkwah
Follow Frank
Darkwah on twitter.@Blaqqkoffi
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