African achievements in the spotlight

By Paul Saffer

Pelé's prediction that an African side would win the FIFA World Cup before the end of the 20th century never came to pass. Yet there is no doubting the global achievements of that continent's teams and players.

Egyptian trailblazers
With few independent African nations until the middle of the last century, Egypt were the only country in international competition, playing in the 1934 World Cup finals. African football received separate recognition from FIFA in 1956, and the following year the new Confederation of African Football organised the first CAF African Cup of Nations, won by Egypt.

Eusébio arrives
In the 1960s, an African footballer bestrode the world stage, albeit from within a European context. In 1961, SL Benfica signed a 19-year-old forward from Mozambique, a Portuguese colony. Within a year, Eusébio had scored twice in a European Champion Clubs' Cup final as Benfica defeated AC Milan. He was voted 1965 European Footballer of the Year and top-scored in the 1966 World Cup as Portugal reached the semi-finals.

Tunisian triumph
However, African countries had boycotted the tournament in England, demanding a guaranteed qualification place, which was granted for 1970. Morocco claimed the first available berth, but it was not until 1978 that a victory was recorded, Tunisia beating Mexico and then drawing with West Germany, although they still failed to progress beyond the group stage.

Notable victories
By 1982, Africa had two finals places, and both participants impressed. Algeria shocked West Germany 2-1, while Cameroon drew with Peru, Poland and Italy. Then in 1986, Morocco overcame Portugal to progress to the knockout rounds. Still, few predicted what Cameroon, continental champions in 1984 and 1988, would achieve at Italia '90.

Cameroon celebrations
Pitted against holders Argentina in the tournament's opening game in Milan, François Omam-Biyik gave Cameroon an advantage they never lost despite being reduced to nine men. They went on to reach the second round, where they ousted Colombia in extra time, a match in which veteran Roger Milla's celebratory dance at the corner flag became world renowned. In the last eight, Cameroon led England 2-1 with seven minutes to go before two Gary Lineker penalties ended their campaign, but African football had taken a giant step forward and their players were already gaining fame in Europe, notably Liberia's George Weah.

Weah the wonder
Considered perhaps Africa's greatest-ever player, Weah moved to Europe with AS Monaco FC in 1988 at the age of 21, and later starred for Paris Saint-Germain FC and AC Milan among others. He was voted World and European Player of the Year in 1995. Nwankwo Kanu, Abedi Pelé and Jay-Jay Okocha are among many others to have enjoyed European success, and Belgium's KSK Beveren even competed in the 2004/05 UEFA Cup with a squad virtually all from Ivory Coast.

Olympic golds
Meanwhile, African national teams have begun to collect global honours. In 1992 Ghana won Olympic bronze, and in Atlanta four years later Nigeria defeated Argentina 3-2 in a dramatic final to claim gold. That feat was matched four years later in Sydney by Cameroon, who trailed Spain 2-0 before coming back to prevail on penalties.

Senegal success
Two years later, Senegal equalled Cameroon's 1990 achievement by beating holders France in the World Cup curtain-raiser and making the quarter-finals. By this point, the African Cup of Nations was one of international football's leading events, given extensive television coverage in Europe. Tunisia won for the first time in 2004, while Cameroon, Egypt and Ghana have each triumphed on a record four occasions.