There is no doubt in most minds that the 2010 World Cup would benefit from an extended run by at least one of the six African teams. From that group we can subtract North African side Algeria, who have more French/Arabic ties, but the remaining five have transcended territorial boundaries and appear to represent the continent as a whole as much as their own individual nations.
South Africa managed to draw their first match against Mexico but did little to suggest that a protracted role in this competition is on the cards. Nigeria still have hope but they were beaten by Argentina and now need to win their last two Group B matches if they want to progress to the knockout stage. On Sunday, however, Africa finally had something to smile about.
Ghana got off to a great start with a 1-0 win over Serbia in a refreshingly open match. Serbia were touted as one of the tournament's dark horses but defeat to the Black Stars has left their World Cup dream hanging by a thread; they now need to beat Australia and Germany to put themselves in contention for a place in the last 16.
Serbia certainly looked good enough to beat an understrength Ghana side that was missing key midfield men Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari and Stephen Appiah from the start. Prospective Liverpool wide man Milan Jovanovic was particularly dangerous on the left wing and the former Yugoslavian province looked the more likely to triumph until the expulsion of Serbian centre back Aleksandar Lukovic. Serbia still pressed but a crazy handball in the area from Zdravko Kuzmanovic gifted Ghana the first penalty of the tournament, which Asamoah Gyan dutifully blasted past Vladimir Stojkovic.
South Africa managed to draw their first match against Mexico but did little to suggest that a protracted role in this competition is on the cards. Nigeria still have hope but they were beaten by Argentina and now need to win their last two Group B matches if they want to progress to the knockout stage. On Sunday, however, Africa finally had something to smile about.
Ghana got off to a great start with a 1-0 win over Serbia in a refreshingly open match. Serbia were touted as one of the tournament's dark horses but defeat to the Black Stars has left their World Cup dream hanging by a thread; they now need to beat Australia and Germany to put themselves in contention for a place in the last 16.
Serbia certainly looked good enough to beat an understrength Ghana side that was missing key midfield men Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari and Stephen Appiah from the start. Prospective Liverpool wide man Milan Jovanovic was particularly dangerous on the left wing and the former Yugoslavian province looked the more likely to triumph until the expulsion of Serbian centre back Aleksandar Lukovic. Serbia still pressed but a crazy handball in the area from Zdravko Kuzmanovic gifted Ghana the first penalty of the tournament, which Asamoah Gyan dutifully blasted past Vladimir Stojkovic.
Ghana's Serbian coach Rajevac was respectfully muted in his victory celebration but he knows that his side have taken a giant stride towards the knockout stages with this result. It could have an important bearing on England's tournament as well because, if Fabio Capello's side out-perform the USA against Algeria and Slovenia and finish top of Group C, they are now likely to face Ghana as opposed to, in my opinion, a technically superior and more dangerous Serbian side.
Africa still awaits the debuts of Cameroon (who get underway today against Group E underdogs Japan) and the Ivory Coast. Injuries to key players have played a part in the build up for Ghana (losing Essien), Nigeria (losing Jon Obi Mikel) and the Ivory Coast (Didier Drogba's broken elbow putting his participation in jeopardy) but Cameroon have got off quite lightly so far. Apart from Samuel Eto'o's (now empty-looking) threat to quit The Indomitable Lions because he feels undervalued by the local press back home, Paul Le Guen has had few selection concerns.
It is Sven-Goran Eriksson's formidable Ivory Coast team, however, which remains the big hope of African football. The Elephants underperformed in the African Cup of Nations at the start of the year, dampening expectations for the World Cup, but they still have the best team on paper among their continent's contingent and are led by one of the best strikers on the planet in captain Didier Drogba (if fit). Being drawn in the "Group of Death" has not helped their cause and they will have to get the better of either Brazil or Portugal as well as minnows North Korea if they are to progress to the last 16, where a clash with tournament favourites Spain would be the likely prize.
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