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Mexxx
Starting Member
USA
56 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 17 2002 : 12:54:39 PM
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Senegal Africa's Only Hope As Tunisia Falls to Japan
The East African Standard (Nairobi)
June 15, 2002
Posted to the web June 17, 2002
Nicholas Musonye
When the 2002 World Cup kicked off in South Korea and Japan, two weeks ago, Cameroon, Nigeria and South Africa, all former World Cup campaigners were highly rated following their previous good showing in the Mundial
But after two weeks of group action, Africa goes into the elimination stage from a very weak point with only one team in the frays.
Senegal making their first appearance in the World Cup are the lone Africa survivors and their progress could also be in doubt when they face Sweden tomorrow. Four days ago, Senegal exposed themselves like most African sides, when they surrendered a 3-0 lead against Uruguay. Had Uruguay won the game, Africa would have been wiped out completely.
The elimination of the four African team in the first round casts a dark shadow over the progress of the African game.
African teams have not done well in the last two World Cups. The only successful outing for Africa in the past one decade was in 1990 when Cameroon reached the quarters. The 1994 finals in USA and the 1998 finals in France were disasters for Africa. The 2002 event in the Orient is proving to be too difficult for the African challenge.
Africa must now re-organise its game and set high standards for 2006 in West Germany.
Ten years ago, Senegal was one of the most unfashionable football playing nations in Africa. They were in the same league with Tanzania, Sudan, Mauritania, Lesotho and the likes. Kenya was regarded to be far ahead of Senegal in terms of organisation and world rankings.
That was 1992 when they hosted the Africa Cup of Nations and lost out miserably in the preliminary stages. Even before then, Senegal made no significant contribution to Africa football both at National and club level.
Poor Senegal were given the mandate to host the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations when the tournament had expanded to a 12-team event. Fate saw Senegal fall by the wayside in the preliminary round as Ivory Coast went onto stamp their name on the trophy.
Senegalese FA under Malick Sy resigned after the disastrous showing and the Government suspended its national team and clubs from competing in all international competitions for two years.
This soul-searching decision saw Sy go back to school to learn football management as the Government drafted a ten year blue print.
A football academy was established by Sy in Dakar while former stars like Jules Bocande, Adoplhe Mendy, Abubacar Ndiaye among the lost cast of 1992 were taken to France for lessons in coaching and football management.
The Government of Senegal must be happy that the results of that effort can now be seen.
undermined by their team's failure in 1992 set a side a huge budget for football development.
They did not mind missing the 1994/96 finals. They had a plan and focus for the future. To inject some professionalism in their management the Government hired a renown German technician and youth development guru, Peter Schumitger who arrived in Dakar in 1996 and embarked on a serious programme to lead Senegal in the 2002 Cup of Nations and World Cup.
Sy who had finished his studies returned in the FA more sharp and focused and using his football academy, Senegal was on course.
Ten years of hard work and commitment is there for all to see. Senegal is no longer lightweights in African football. They showed their steady rise two years ago when they reached the quarter finals in Ghana/Nigeria 200 ANC. Two years later the Lions of Teranga surprised everyone not least themselves when they reached the ANC finals in great style in Mali 2002.
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Mexxx
What the MIND of MAN can conceive and BELIEVE he will ACHIEVE |
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The Senegal Story, a historical perspective
