African Strikers to win Golden Boot Award?

African strikers hardly get a mention when the World Cup Golden boot previews are done. This is largely a result of the past awards being dominated by Europeans and South Americans, because African teams hardly go far in the tournament.

However this time around the event will be hosted in Africa for the first time and there are hopes that an African team would get to the semi-finals, maybe even lift the trophy. That creates a realistic chance for an African marksman to be up there with the world's deadliest finishers.

The continent's top contender Didier Drogba has seen his chances slashed by half after sustaining a right hand ulna fracture that will keep him out of Cote d'Ivoire's first two games.

Who then are the other top contenders?

In Drogba's absence, Samuel Eto'o is the plausible next best. Though the Lion has only managed one goal in two World Cup finals, he is quite capable of mixing it with the best if Cameroon give him adequate service.

Another possible contender is Ghana's Asamoah Gyan. Gyan scored Ghana's first ever World Cup goal, an effort against the Czech Republic that was also the fastest goal of Germany 2006. With Milovan Rajevac expected to stick with his defensive approach, the Black Stars will be playing for Gyan to do the damage.

Drogba undoubtedly is a big loss to the Elephants, but the striking options left are quiet formidable like Aruna Dindane, Gervinho and Salomon Kalou. Dindane outscored Drogba in Germany, while Gervinho netted 13 goals for Lille last season. Kalou finished the season strongly, including a hat-trick against Stoke City in the penultimate league game.

South Africa's 'Killer' Katlego is peaking at the right moment following six goals in Bafana Bafana's last five friendlies leading to the mundial. If he keeps up that form he could become a South African, and global legend.

Nigeria and Algeria do not seem to have any candidates. Obafemi Martins and Yakubu Aiyegbeni could surprise for the Super Eagles though, while Siena's Abdelkader Ghezzal may be the key man in the Algerian squad.

There will be no room for slouching as the world's fiercest finishers join the party. Top candidates for the Golden Boot from outside the continent include, Luis Fabiano [Brazil], Fernando Torres, David Villa [Spain] 2006 winner Miroslav Klose [Germany], Wayne Rooney, Gonzalo Higuain, Carlos Tevez and the mighty Lionel Messi.

credit: africaplays

South Africa 2010: Africa's time for glory?

The setting is unique but a succession of pre-tournament injuries and the lessons of past World Cups outside Europe suggest the football at Africa's first finals will resonate to familiar Latin rhythms.

A month-long tournament that starts at Soccer City in Soweto on Friday when South Africa play Mexico will look and feel different from any other World Cup - and sound different too thanks to the cacophonous din of vuvuzela trumpets.

The sensation is that anything is possible in such a vast country with such differences in altitude and temperature but every World Cup outside Europe to date has been won by a South American team and with medical bulletins providing bad news for European and African challengers the pattern may continue. Can Africa change that trend?

Nigeria's 3:1 win over North Korea finished off the final preparation games of Africa's contingent to the first World Cup hosted on the continent's soil in some style.

It was a good scorecard for the Nigerians who face two-time world champions Argentina in six days, and indeed Africa's six-pack, who recorded five wins to one loss in their final friendlies.

Hosts South Africa got some measure of respect after they saw off Denmark by a lone goal, for their 12th game without defeat since the return of Brazilian gaffer Carlos Parreira.

With 'Killer' Katlego Mphela on target yet again, one is tempted to say who needs Benni? Confidence is sky high, as it should be in the Rainbow nation, with the quadrennial international's opener just five days away.


Algeria finally stopped the bleeding after four losses on the bounce, when they beat the UAE by a lone goal. With England and the USA waiting, African fans will hope coach Rabah Saadane is on top of his game when he says the friendlies do not reflect the true strength of his team.

Ghana delivered an impressive response to a 4:1 mauling by the Netherlands when a late Quincy Owusu-Abeyie screamer meant they beat Latvia 1:0, and head to South Africa with renewed zeal.

Milovan Rajevac leads his side against Serbia on June 13, with Australia and Germany to follow. The Serb has a decision to make; whether to run with the youthful core marshaled by Udinese's Kwadwo Asamoah that has brought him much success, or the older, more experienced, but less fluid core led by captain Stephen Appiah that crumbled under the Oranje.


Cote d'Ivoire had a splendid win over Japan marred by the arm injury to its skipper Didier Drogba, who may miss the early games of the tournament.

Regrettably the Ivorians face the dreaded duo of Portugal and Brazil in their first two games. Doubly unfortunate is that Drogba had scored twice in the Elephants two friendlies and was looking good to do some real damage at the mundial.


Eriksson remains confident, as well he should, with plenty of fire power still, from the likes of Aruna Dindane, Salomon Kalou, Gervinho and Romaric.

Cameroon were the only team to record a loss after a seven-goal thriller with Serbia in Belgrade. The Lions lost 4:3, but it was a match they could have won.

Skipper Samuel Eto'o was suspended after a red card in the midweek friendly against Portugal, and Achille Webo and the young Eric Choupo-Moting stepped up to the plate.

Cameroon coach Paul Le Guen is confident his team will make the round of 16, albeit by finishing second to the Dutch, but the Lions look solid enough to hold off the Danes and the Japanese.

Bafana Bafana kicks off Africa's challenge on Friday against Mexico. It will be a match that in all probability will set the tone for the hosts' as well as the continent's charge.

If recent performances are a benchmark, then it is looking like it could be one helluva charge afterall.

credit: Kenneth Ezaga, Rediff sports