Former Ghana goalkeeper Abukari Damba has lamented on the performance of African teams at the World Cup.
Africa had high hopes ahead of the global football showpiece as the five representatives; Nigeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal and Egypt showed great promise.
However, none of the countries advanced into the knockout stage – which has placed the development of the game under heavy scrutiny.
This informed Black Stars coach Kwesi Appiah to remark that the growth of the game on the continent is not progressing as many people believe.
“The approach by Senegal against Japan was not the best. The attitude of the players played a key role in that game,” Damba told Ohene Bampoe–Brenya on Happy FM‘s Anopa Bosuo Sports.
“I agree with Kwesi Appiah that African teams are retrogressing. We don’t come to the table when the need arises.”
“Sadio Mane is excellent when playing for Liverpool but look at what he did in Russia.”
“Most players are playing because of money and they know that they can’t earn huge sum of money playing for their countries as much as they earn playing for their various clubs.”
The 39-year-old goalkeeper’s trainer was asked the approach African teams to take to make amends in the next competition.
“We should inaccurate the sense of patriotism in the youths. The kids must be taught to be patriotic and see the pride playing for their countries.”
“It’s very possible for an African team to win the World Cup. It is not impossibility. Africa has what it takes to win the World Cup but not anytime soon,” he deduced.
By: Ayishatu Zakaria Ali
Ex-Ghana goalie Abukari Damba bemoans poor showing of African teams at the World Cup
