Africa needs a miracle when Ghana's Black Stars take on Uruguay in one of two World Cup quarterfinal matches today.
It will take something special for Ghana to stop Uruguay's marauding strike force of Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez: difficult, yet not impossible. But the Black Stars will need more than just the high from their historic passage into the second round of the World Cup to write a new legend.
Despite their lack of goals, the young Black Stars have won hearts with their confidence, gritty defending and positive football. But the fact that Ghana is flying the lone flag for a continent hosting the World Cup is a severe indictment of African football
It means Fifa President Sepp Blatter must justify the five World Cup slots already guaranteed Africa after Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Nigeria were sent packing. Fifa has poured money into Africa — $70 million dollars (Sh5.7 billion) to date — to develop its football. Unfortunately, corrupt or incompetent officials and political interference have laid much of this to waste.
South Africa's national team, Bafana Bafana, made history as the first host to bow out in the group stage. But even before the competition kicked off on June 11, the South African Football Association was papering over internal rifts and its lack of a coherent policy to develop the game at the grassroots.
Audit Spending
This is mirrored in other federations across the continent, ours included. Fifa must audit how its money is being spent, and insist on reforms in African federations, if the continent is to get its first ever World Cup winner. It is not just more money that is needed, but more professionalism in running the game.
Source: The Standard | Online Edition
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