The biennial African Cup of Nations has brought some highlights – but also given England’s World Cup bid some ammunition to use against us, reports Andrew Muchineripi
As Bafana Bafana, Cameroon, Nigeria and Tunisia prepare to battle for gold, silver and bronze this weekend, an African Cup of Nations that has produced good, bad and ugly moments reaches a fitting climax.
Walking the rain-lashed streets of Pretoria this week I have been repeatedly asked for my views on the biennial showcase of African football. As with most tournaments, there is much room for discussion and no simple answers.
While applauding the emergence of potential stars like our very own Siyabonga Nomvete and Nigerian Julius Aghahowa, I felt let down by big names from Europe like Moroccan Mustapha Hadji and Ivorian Ibrahim Bakayoko.
Each time the humble 51-inch Muchineripi television set was switched on over the past three weeks, I looked forward to seeing the action, but not to hearing those clowns in Lagos and Kano who masqueraded as commentators. I was particularly embarrassed because one of them, Admire Tadarera, comes from my homeland of Zimbabwe. Change your first name, my brother, because it is truly inappropriate.
To me the general standard of play was disappointing. Why did Senegal, a team with so much talent, try to imitate the Italian club teams of the 1960s after snatching an early lead against Nigeria in the quarter-finals?
Justice was done when Aghahowa levelled near the end and struck again in the first minute of extra time to secure a place among the last four for the Super Eagles. That said, the Senegalese bowed out with heads rightfully held high. Big, strong and skilful, Senegal were well coached by wily, white-haired Peter Schnittger, a German who is arguably more African than many Africans, having spent three decades among us.
A good coach is one who can do extraordinary things with ordinary players and that is exactly what Schnittger achieved with 10 unknowns and impressive captain and central defender Papa Diop.
Staying in Lagos, the crowds let down themselves, their country and their continent, with some sensational sections of the English media using incidents to pour scorn over the 2006 World Cup bids of South Africa and Morocco.
Yet I do not know whom I am angrier with – the mindless people who fling bottles on the pitch because their team does not win, or the Nigerian minister who sided with the hooligans and scolded the police.
Lagos is also where the floodlights took a tea break just two minutes into the Morocco-Congo match, prompting SuperSport anchor Thomas Mlambo to comment that it could only happen in Africa.
Give this humble member of the Muchineripi clan a call some time, Thomas, and I will gladly recite a long list of international matches across Europe disrupted by power failures. You really must do your homework, young man.
What with Mlambo displaying constant ignorance, some woeful guests (Pitso Mosimane being the worst by the length of the football field), poor commentary and many technical problems, the Channel of Champions tag wore a bit thin.
But at least SuperSport acknowledged that there was a major African soccer tournament taking place. Various excuses from the SABC as to why they showed only Bafana Bafana matches and few others left me stone cold.
The public broadcaster has shown about as much enthusiasm for soccer outside Africa as a vegetarian would for a juicy steak. It is easy to claim something lacks mass appeal when you never show it.
Returning to positive aspects of the tournament, if the crowds in Lagos were best forgotten, the people in the northern Nigerian city of Kano were wonderful hosts, turning out in large numbers whoever was playing.
Their reward was some wonderful fare, topped by a memorable comeback from defending champions Egypt to defeat Burkina Faso 4-2 with the third Pharaohs goal from defender Hani Ramzy among the best of the tournament.
The goal scored by 16-year-old Chiva Nzighou from Gabon against Bafana Bafana may not have been of the same exceptional quality, but it was special, coming from the youngest footballer to grace the finals in their 43-year history.
African Football Confederation (CAF) officials once again proved far too lenient and, hopefully unintentionally, supplied ammunition for the English World Cup bid committee to use against South Africa and Morocco.
To halve the already insufficient R60E000 fine imposed on Nigeria for the pitch invasion during the Senegal match was an invitation to the lawless to cause further mayhem.
I always believed experience was a great teacher, but clearly I was wrong because those who occupy the upper echelons of power at CAF are no spring chickens.
Unfortunately, deadline pressures compelled me to write this article before the semi- finals. Next week I will recall the defining moments of the closing stages and, hopefully, tell you why Bafana Bafana are champions of Africa again.