Logo for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.
(FIFA.com)
At their year-end meeting on the 5-6 December, the FIFA
Executive Committee announced the dates of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South
AfricaT. The tournament will be played from 11 June to 11 July 2010, with
the Preliminary draw taking place in Durban on 23 November 2007. The FIFA
Confederations Cup South Africa 2009 will be held in Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein,
Johannesburg (Ellis Park), Pretoria and Rustenburg between the 14 and
27 June.
This FIFA World Cup will not only be the first staged in Africa, but also
the first time six African teams will be competing for the ultimate prize
in football. While the Executive Committee did not change the quotas,
the fact that Europe had an extra slot as they hosted the 2006 FIFA World
Cup, the turn is now Africa's with South Africa. The number of African
teams has gradually increased from one to five teams over the history
of the event.
Africa and the FIFA World Cup™
The first African team to play in the FIFA World Cup were Egypt in 1934.
They lost 2-4 to Hungary in a first round knockout game and it would be
36 years before the next African team would play in a FIFA World Cup.
By 1970, Africa had secured a solitary place in the tournament and it
would remain this way until 1982, when they were given an extra place.
In both the 1970 and 1974 tournaments, Morocco and Zaire (now Democratic
Republic of Congo) respectively, finished bottom of their groups.
In 1982, Cameroon and Algeria qualified for the FIFA World Cup in Spain.
After the group stages, Cameroon tied in second place with Italy on points.
Italy advanced due to goal difference and the Azzurri eventually became
world champions.
Four years later, Morocco were actually the first African team to advance
through the group stages, topping their group and securing a place in
the Round of 16. This would start a pattern for African teams who have
not managed to advance past the first round of the tournament.
African football, however. is technically good, and played with a flair
that is as vibrant as the continent itself. The 1990 FIFA World Cu saw
Cameroon, dance to the top of their group, inspired by the great Roger
Milla. However, the Indomitable Lions lost out in a dramatic quarter-final
game to England. Nigeria would also lose out in the Round of 16 in 1994
and 1998. By 1998, Africa had secured five finals places in the FIFA World
Cup.
Five teams made their debut at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Four of the new
teams were from Africa, indicating that new football powers on the African
continent were emerging. Cote d'Ivoire, Angola, Ghana, Togo and Tunisia
all played in their first FIFA World Cup. Despite being in the so-called
'nightmare group', the Ivorians emerged with a lot of credit, despite
not making it past the group stages. Ghana was the most impressive, making
it through to the Round of 16.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa offers African teams a fresh start.
As football in Africa has improved, it has been reflected in the level
and quality of players that the continent are developing. Didier Drogba,
Emmanuel Adebayor, Kolo Toure Michael Essien and Samuel Eto'o have all
been making big waves in the international football scene. This may be
an indication of good things to come for the African continent, and with
six slots, 2010 will offer the perfect opportunity to test this.
,
11 Dec 2006.
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