Senegal out
Nigeria out
Tunisia out
Morocco out
Egypt out
The 2018 FIFA World Cup has taken a surprise turn. All African teams have been knocked out of the world cup for the first time in 36 years. There will be no African team in the last 16. Welcome to heartbreak city.
Morocco and Tunisia were quite unlucky but atleast tried to put up a fight. Morocco had a tough group (Portugal, Spain, Iran). It was almost guaranteed who the top two would be. Unlucky against Iran. Good fight against Portugal and Spain.
Tunisia had a tough one as well (Belgium, England, Panama). Goals rained in this group. They fought a good fight against England and Panama.
Nobody knows what happened to Egypt. "They'll be great because they have Mo Salah" they said. But nah. That didn't work. Zero wins, zero points and scored only two goals that were both penalties. Losing to a spineless Saudi Arabia side that conceded 5 goals in its opening game meant that Egypt had no skeleton whatsoever. Salah missed a 1-on-1 against the Saudi goalie in that game. That must've hurt. This was not the Egypt we hoped to see.
Our West African brothers gave us the most hope when we'd already lost hope in the Arabs in the North. Senegal started us off well with a surprise win over Poland. Controversial winning goal but a win is a win. 3points. I believe Senegal should have finished this by beating Japan. Tough game that one. The boys really fought hard but as we all know football, 2-2 the final score. 4 points a piece with Japan. Colombia on three points after thumping Poland 3-0. Poland bottom with no points. Still hopeful.
Despite losing 2-1 to Croatia in their first game, Nigeria's Super Eagles bounced back with a huge 2-0 win over Iceland. Ahmed Musa the phenomenal goal scorer with a brace.
I celebrated each of those Senegal and Nigeria goals like it was Uganda playing. Which must have been the same feeling for every other African watching around the world. It was not Nigeria Vs Iceland or Senegal Vs Poland. It was Africa Vs Iceland and Africa Vs Poland.
And then came the third round. The three North African countries confirmed out after round two left us with Nigeria and Senegal. Nigeria had to face Lionel Messi's Argentina. Truth be told, Argentina was the better team in that game. They were hungrier than Nigeria and it showed. Utilized their chances well though Higuan squandered some. Ighalo and Iheanacho weren't good enough for the Argentinian defence. Ahmed Musa tried to lift us but one man wasn't enough. Argentina got that close to last minute goal from Rojo's volley and that was it for the Super Eagles. Some had seen it coming. Skill and passion won that game both of which Nigeria had little of.
Then there was one. Senegal. All eyes were on the Lions of Teranga to bless us. All we needed was a draw. We were aware of the damage Colombia could do and while Gueye rested at the goal post, Mina sneaked in that bouncing header past Ndiaye to win Colombia the game and a spot in the last 16.
There was no time for a response from Senegal. This put Senegal tied with Japan in second with 4 points, 4 goals scored and 4 goals conceded. But Senegal had earned 2 more yellow cards in the three games played than Japan. And so Japan advanced through to the last 16 on fair play. Senegal out.
And so now we support France, the only other team with a pool of African brothers left in the tournament. But who are you rooting for?