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The African continent has for long dreamed of its share of glory on the biggest stage of world football. Countries like Nigeria, Cameroon and Ghana have been consistently representing their continent in the FIFA World Cup since the turn of the decade, but apart from sporadic achievements by individual nations like in the ’02 (Senegal) and ’10 editions (Ghana), African football has remained a promise yet to be fulfilled.
England, meanwhile, has been a breeding ground for several of Africa’s top footballers. English clubs have time and again scouted for African muscle and stamina, and as a result, a strong contingent of Africans from the Premier League would be making their way to Brazil in the summer to represent the five qualified nations from Africa, namely Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Ghana and Algeria.
We look at all such players who ply their trade in the Premier League and will be flying to the ‘Promised Land’ in the summer for the world’s most celebrated sporting carnival, the FIFA World Cup 2014.
IVORY COAST
Côte D’ivoire boasts of the strongest Premier League contingent out of the all African teams which have booked a place in this year’s World Cup. The top ranked African team (World Rank- 21) will have the service of some of BPL’s finest players this season in Yaya Toure and Wilfried Bony. Ivory Coast has been pitted against Japan, Greece and Colombia in Group C.
Yaya Toure (Manchester City)
Yaya Toure is the pivot of the Ivory Coast team
Undoubtedly the most complete midfielder in English football, Yaya Toure has been Manchester City’s player of the season with an exceptional record of 25 goals and 9 assists in 50 games.
He will be his nation’s biggest hope alongside Didier Drogba and Solomon Kalou. His countrymen would be praying that Yaya can takes the team to uncharted heights in football’s greatest summit.
Wilfried Bony (Swansea City)
When Wilfried Bony, fresh from a return of 36 goals in 37 games for Vittesse, signed for Swansea City last summer, very few expected him to successfully take the step up from Eredivisie to the Premier League.
Bony has confounded his critics all season and has been instrumental in Swansea’s late revival in the league. He has steered Swansea clear of relegation with a return of 15 goals in 33 appearances.
Kolo Toure (Liverpool)
The elder of the Toure brothers might be well past his peak; but Kolo has ample experience under his belt, having spent a majority of his career at top English clubs. The Elephants will be hoping that their first-choice centre-back can summon all his experience and energy for one last hurrah.
Cheick Tioté (Newcastle United)
Unconventional would be the perfect word to describe this combative midfielder. The indefatigable Tiote might not be the most gifted footballer in the world but he more than makes up for it with his sheer determination and doggedness.
The 27-year old might prove to be the perfect rearguard to Yaya Toure’s creative forays into the final third.
Other notable Premier League players:
Arouna Koné (Everton) – Currently injured, might not return to fitness in time.
Abdul Razak (West Ham) – Has played very little first-team football this season.
Yannick Sagbo (Hull City) – Has fallen down the pecking order at his club after the arrival of Long and Jelavic. With Drogba, Bony, Gervinho and Kalou already at Sabri Lamouchi’s disposal, Sagbo may not make the cut.
Lacina Traore (Everton- on loan from Monaco) – Has managed to make just one appearance in an injury-ravaged spell in England so far. He may suffer same fate as Sagbo.
ALGERIA
Qualifying for successive World Cup finals is an outstanding achievement per se for an Algerian side which consists of few eminent footballers. Their renowned team-spirit has been the driving force in their spectacular march to Brazil. They have been drawn alongside Belgium, Russia and South Korea in Group H.
Nabil Bentaleb (Tottenham)
Nabil Bentaleb
The teenager has enjoyed a spectacular rise in the last six months. The central midfielder was part of the youth development system at Spurs, but was immediately drafted into the first-team when Sherwood, his mentor and youth coach, took over as interim manager.
He has kept his place in the side since and is also aspiring for a place in Algeria’s World Cup squad. National head coach Vahid Halilhodzic will find it difficult to overlook an energetic and consistent young player who has regularly started ahead of senior internationals Sandro and Etienne Capoue for Tottenham.
Adlene Guedioura (Crystal Palace)
The seasoned campaigner, who made appearances as a substitute in all three of Algeria’s group matches in South Africa, was signed from Nottingham Forest in the summer. After starting regularly for hitherto manager Ian Holloway, he is yet to make an appearance since Tony Pulis took charge in November.
The defensive midfielder, nonetheless, remains an integral part of his national team setup.
NIGERIA
One of Africa’s most popular teams, Nigeria have seldom been able to rust off their image of chokers and perform up to expectations when it comes to the FIFA World Cup. With almost the entire African Nations Cup winning squad at his disposal, Stephen Keshi’s first realistic target would be to tackle Bosnia, Iran and Argentina and get past the group stage.
John Obi Mikel (Chelsea)
The man who makes Nigeria tick
John Obi Mikel might not be the most extravagant and versatile midfielders of his generation, but he performs his niche role to perfection. Breaking up counter-attacks, providing able cover to attacking midfielders or slowing up the tempo of the game, Mikel does his job ably and without any fuss.
Used sparingly by Mourinho this season, Mikel will once again be deployed in the heart of the Nigerian midfield and his team’s fortunes will largely depend upon how he handles the responsibility accorded to him.
Victor Moses (Liverpool- on loan from Chelsea)
Although he would’ve loved to play a more wholesome role for the high-flying Liverpool side, Victor Moses would be heading to Brazil in high spirits. Limited to stop-gap appearances by Brendan Rodgers, Moses will be hoping to take full advantage of fresh legs and a fresh mind, two attributes very few of his fellow footballers will have the luxury of.
Peter Odemwingie (Stoke City)
After an indifferent spell at West Brom, Odemwingie seems to have finally found the right den at Stoke for his exploits. If media sources are to be believed, he has buried the hatchet with national coach Stephen Keshi, after falling out with him following his omission from the 2010 World Cup squad.
Shola Ameobi (Newcastle)
The odds are against the Tyneside loyalist to make the trip to Brazil after another inconsistent season with the Magpies. Shola has only made five appearances for the Super Eagles and fellow countrymen Victor Obinna and Emmanuel Emenike have slowly established themselves as Keshi’s first-choice strikers.
Victor Anichebe (West Brom)
Anichebe hasn’t represented his country since November 2011, but he has recently announced his willingness to return to international duty. The competition for strikers in Nigeria’s squad is already very healthy, and after Anichebe’s availability, Keshi will be spoilt for choices.
Other notable Premier League players:
Joseph Yobo (Norwich City- on loan from Fenerbahce) – Nigeria’s most-capped player is likely to miss out due to a severe lack of playing time this season at Norwich City. A recent calf injury has further dampened his chances, although Yobo has come out in public to allay all rumours about his selection.
Sone Aluko (Hull City) – Has been warming the bench of late after club boss Steve Bruce bought in reinforcements in January. Has scored a solitary goal all season.
CAMEROON
Possessing a highly potent squad consisting of Alex Song, Samuel Eto’o, Aboubakar, Joel Matip, N’Kolou et al, Cameroon will head to Brazil where a potential ‘Group of Death’ (Brazil, Croatia and Mexico) awaits them.
Samuel Eto’o (Chelsea)
Will Brazil 2014 be Eto’o’s crowning glory?
The most celebrated African player of modern times, Samuel Eto’s has undergone a reincarnation of sorts under Jose Mourinho after a few seasons in the wilderness in Russia. The legendary striker has already amassed 112 appearances for his country, scoring 55 goals.
Eto’o has been far from his prolific best but Premier League fans have witnessed fleeting glimpses of his tremendous goal-scoring ability. Brazil 2014 might well be Eto’o’s final act on the international stage. Whether it’ll be his crowning glory or not, only time will tell.
Sebastien Bassong (Norwich City)
The centre-back’s chances of returning to the national squad seem unpropitious, given the amount of time the 27-year old has spent on the treatment table this season. The competition for his position makes Bassong’s case drearier with players of the calibre of N’Kolou, Chedjou, M’bia and Lyon’s Bedimo all vying for a place in the 23-man squad.
GHANA
Traditionally Africa’s best bet to make it to the knockouts in the World Cup finals, Ghana will be striving to do better than their last two showings in 2006 and 2010 when they reached the round of 16 and quarterfinals, respectively. Germany, Portugal and USA would be standing in their way in a mouth-watering Group G.
Derek Boateng (Fulham)
Derek Boateng
He might not be most renowned Ghanian footballer around, but Boateng is certainly among the probables in the Black Stars squad for Brazil. His lack of game-time might prove to be a deterrent as he has only managed three appearances for the Londoners this season.
The Premier League has over the years harboured several Ghana internationals- Michael Essien (Chelsea), Kevin Prince Boateng (Tottenham), Sulley Muntari (Portsmouth), Asamoah Gyan (Sunderland) to name a few. English clubs might not have these stars in their squads at this point of time, but that doesn’t diminish the quality of Ghana’s national team. Many are already considering them as the African continent’s flag-bearers in Brazil.
Irrespective of what transpires in the summer in the mecca of football, Premier League fans would be relishing the prospect of watching their favourite footballers gun for glory for their respective nations.
