By Gacharira Samuel Muthui,                                   

Many optimistic fans on this side of the world had hopes that this would be Africa`s World Cup. Day two of competition and the first representative of Africa took to the pitch, The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. Fast forward, the Big 5 of African football have all registered mixed results in the ongoing  World Cup in Brazil, if their opening group games are anything to go by. It is only Ivory Coast that has been able to amass the maximum three points from their first game. Ghana, Algeria and Cameroon have all lost their matches while Nigeria managed a barren draw.

The story has been the same for all the teams that lost, not taking their chances. Nigeria and Ghana will have to rue their lost chances something that leaves them in a delicate position since their chances of progressing to the next round look slim. Many African teams have been handed the underdogs tag by many pundits in Brazil.

The tactical awareness of the African teams has been questioned severally in previous competitions. This time round Ivory Coast seem to have got it right considering their spirited comeback against Japan.The Black Stars will want to quickly forget the concentration lapse in the dying minutes of their  opening fixture that awarded USA three crucial points in the Group of death that also has Portugal and  Germany. Cameroon looked out of sorts and looks set to be the first team in the competition to board the next plane home. Super Eagles, the African Champions, still have a big chance of qualifying but their strikers have to find the Midas touch sooner rather than later. Algeria is the only African team that has surrendered a lead so far but they looked good against the highly talented Belgium side and were unlucky to lose despite putting up a good show.

Will it be Obi Mikel of Nigeria, Samuel Etoo of Cameroon, Didier Drogba of Ivory Coast, Madjid Bougherra of Algeria or Asamoah Gyan of Ghana who will deliver the World Cup trophy to Africa? Only time will tell. Let’s go, Africa let`s go!!!

You can follow Samuel on Facebook @Petit Elmaracana

Collins Okinyo

Ex- CAF Media Expert. An expert on African football with over 15 years experience ,always with an ear to the ground with indepth knowledge of the game. I have worked for top publications including 7 years at www.supersport.com until i founded www.soka25east.com to quench the thirst of football lovers across the continent. I have trained young upcoming journalists who are now a voice in African football.I have covered World Cup,AFCON,CHAN,Champions League,Confederations Cup,Cecafa,Cosafa,Wafu and many other football tournaments across the World. Founder Football Africa Arena(FAA),Founder www.afrisportdigital.com