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Rise of Africa in World Cup threatened by disarray
JOHANNESBURG (AP) -- This is supposed to be a glorious era for African soccer.Through decades of disaster and misery, of coups and disease and famine, soccer has been the spirit-raising force on a continent that worships the sport.
Nigeria won the Olympic gold medal last year and for the first time, five African countries -- Cameroon, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa and Tunisia -- have qualified for the 1998 World Cup in France.
Scores of African players fill foreign teams, with stars such as George Weah and Tony Yeboah as well-known in Europe as at home.
But the disarray that has marked Africa's emergence from colonialism could undermine the performances of its top teams at the world soccer showcase.
"True collaboration does not exist again, and each of my decisions is contested, if not rejected," Cameroon coach Henri Depireux wrote in his resignation letter last June.
Nigeria, which advanced to the second round in the country's first World Cup appearance in 1994, will miss the African Nations Cup for the second straight time. In 1996, Nigeria's government boycotted the tournament in South Africa because of a political dispute.
As a result, the Nigerians were suspended for February's tournament in Burkina Faso.
"I am very disappointed," said Navy Gen. Augustus Aikhomu, a soccer buff. "At the rate we are going, I have my fears that we will not do well in France."
And Nigeria has been without a coach since Phillipe Troussier was fired in September, forcing the team to cancel exhibition games.
"We do not want to hurry into recruiting a coach," said Abdulmuminu Aminu, chairman of the Nigerian Soccer Federation. "We need more time."
Nigeria has formidable talent performing in top European leagues. Victor Ikpeba plays for AS Monaco, while Finidi George is with Real Betis in Spain and goalkeeper Abiodun Baruwa with FC Zurich in Switzerland.
Sunday Oliseh and Tijani Babangida are regulars with the Dutch club Ajax Amsterdam, and Celestine Babayaro plays for Chelsea in England's Premier League.
Cameroon, which in 1990 became the only African side to reach the World Cup quarter-finals, also has a confused coaching situation. The government and sports officials aren't on the best of terms, either.
In 1994, players threatened not to play in a World Cup game unless they were paid. The team went 0-2-1 and finished last in its group.
Since Depireux's departure as coach, the Indomitable Lions have had four men sharing the coaching duties.
South Africa, banned from soccer from 1964 to 1992 because of apartheid, qualified for the first time.
The team won the '96 African Nations Cup but have yet to win on another continent, losing 2-1 at England and at France and 3-0 at Germany in exhibition games.
Tunisia, which lost 2-0 to South Africa in the African Nations Cup final last year makes its second appearance.
Led by former French coach Henri Michel, Morocco has qualified for a fourth time. It reached the second round in Mexico in 1986, winning its group, but lost to West Germany in the second round.
NEXT ROUNDS: Round of 16 || Quarter-finals || Semi-finals
GROUP A: Brazil, Morocco, Norway, Scotland
GROUP B: Austria, Cameroon, Chile, Italy
GROUP C: Denmark, France, Saudi Arabia, South Africa
GROUP D: Bulgaria, Nigeria, Paraguay, Spain
GROUP E: Belgium, Holland, Mexico, South Korea
GROUP F: Germany, Iran, United States, Yugoslavia
GROUP G: Colombia, England, Romania, Tunisia
GROUP H: Argentina, Croatia, Jamaica, Japan
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