How can Africa win the FIFA World Cup?

Nigeria has already won the U17 FIFA World Cup five times, Ghana has won the U20 FIFA World Cup & Cameroon has won a gold medal for football at the Olympics before so could we win the main event? The Senior Men's FIFA World Cup? 

People are going to make comparisons between European & African domestic leagues. While that is the main difference, there's a bit more to it. In Africa, we simply don't have the culture of sanctifying our countries. We are not really serious about our countries (see previous blog on the mentality of African footballers), whether we get this from our leaders or we ourselves are ill-disciplined is a sociological & psychosocial matter. But let's put all this aside - how could we attempt to catch up to European football? Not only in football but perhaps for other sports. 

It all starts with the infrastructure: You need to build self-sustaining infrastructure (stadiums, academies & club funding models) so that once we get talented footballers they can earn a living when they reach professional ranks. This might mean the football federation of the land needs to make kit sponsorship deals (preferably, with a local kit manufacturer) certain television deals & make an exciting sport product that will be enjoyed by people in the land & outside the borders of the land which can only be created by development. 

Development: In Europe, they are more about efficiency in football & in South Africa, we are more about the style of play. The thing is because of such bad development, we find that some players don't really have good ball control or even proper tactical awareness. Ball control has always been the entertainment factor in football, so if you take that away - you'll get a very clumsy & dull game. Ball control simply brings fans. Personally, I believe ball control should be taught in schools, ball control is something that can be taught & a footballer can constantly improve in (it's really not difficult). Players should also be identified by which talents they possess so they can be further specialised into the roles they show the most potential in & I believe that for this a unified national playing style needs to be formulated. 

Old I. Y. iMpofana development video 

BRINGING SPECTATORS TO GAMES 

For example, exceptional players from 14 years onwards could be identified & sent to regional academies identified by the state & national football federation. As each player has unique talents, they could be categorised into which positions they could be best in. Goalkeepers could be selected by height or ability to stop shots & penalties, defenders could be selected by speed & ball-winning ability, midfielders could be selected by defensive ability, passing ability & all-round technical ability in play, forwards could be selected by speed, goalscoring ability & dribbling.  These are my ( I. Y. iMpofana ) preferences but I imagine many other academies & national federations could identify other talents & mental capabilities in a player. 

Once we have the above, it becomes a matter of limiting corruption & hiring the right people & (preferably local) technical staff. Then hopefully, in time, results will come. 

Lastly, the players need to want to be there. Their fans, family & government needs to want them to win. The players themselves need to believe that they can win the title. 

BRINGING SPECTATORS TO GAMES

This is a re-post of a previous blog but just written in clearer terms. 

If we are complaining about lack of tickets being bought in domestic leagues, maybe the below suggestions could help or spark new ideas. 

Basic proximity: It's hard for a potential fanbase to support a team that's not from where the fans are from because the team's home stadium may be too far. So, ideally, a non-relegation league with teams strategically placed in regions with a high population density or placed strategically so that everyone in the land has a regional team to support. 

Cheerleaders: Everybody loves cheerleaders. Beautiful, young ladies cheering for the home team. 

Mascots: Maybe this is more an American thing but the mascot is often good entertainment & fun for the kids. 

Comfort: Stadiums must be hospitable, easily accessible, easy directions to seat, fans of separate teams placed in separate segments across the stadium, no food or alcohol to be brought in (snacks & drinks sold at stadium). Basic. 

All-Star games, skills challenges & fair awards: This is also borrowed from elsewhere but the best players in the league (by stats) could be selected & put into two teams to play a best-of-three game series. Skills challenges could involve shooting, dribbling & various accuracy challenges in the game. Fair awards (by stats) give legitimacy to the league & cancels out feelings of injustice fans might feel - per minute stats & awards are ultimately the most fair. These spectacles could let fans of all domestic teams to come witness the country's best. 

Football archetypes (I. Y. iMpofana)

Striker: Striker must have technique, eye for goal, capable of taking free kicks & possibly - height to beat defenders for headers on high balls. The typical number 9.

Archetypes of this position: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thierry Henry, Sibusiso Zuma, Edinson Cavani. 

Left-wing/Right-wing: Wingers are typically known as fast & are dribblers, they must also hae an accurate shot because they won't only be providing assists for the striker but will often find themselves in front of goal. Typically wears number 7 or 11.

Archetypes of this position: Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar Jr., Kylian Mbappé. 

Attacking midfielder: This is a player that needs to read the attacking game & find gaps in the opposition defence, with modern pressing - this position has become rare with attacking midfielders being either pure forwards or more central midfielders. This is naturally a dribbler & is the classic number 10.

Archetypes of this position: Rui Costa, Ronaldinho, Diego Maradona, Pelé, Ricardo Kaká, Javier Pastore & Marta in women's football. 

Central midfielder: The central midfielder controls the midfield & is found in both sides of the field during offence & defence. He/She needs to simply be a good passer on most occasions. 

Archetypes of this position: Xavi Hernandez, Xabi Alonso, Steven Gerrard, Jabulani Mendu. 

Defensive midfielder: This individual provides an extra layer of defence & usually presses the most. And because he does the most pressing he/she has to have some pace to press faster players. He also needs to tackle at times & try turn defence into offence. He/She needs to be able to take the ball from the oppositions feet. 

Archetypes of this position: Edgar Davids, Claude Makelele, Lassana Diarra, Michael Essien, N'golo Kanté. 

Left-back/Right-back (Fullbacks): These individuals are defenders who are at times the first line of defence depending on the opposition's playing style. They mark the wingers so may need to also have some pace. They also, at times, push into the midfield & into attacking lines depending on which tactics are used. 

Archetypes of this position: Roberto Carlos, Cafu, Achraf Hakimi. 

Centre-back: This is the main defender, he/she simply needs to stop the opposition attack & so needs to be decisive, needs good ball control & some speed for faster offensive players. 

Archetypes of this position: Fabio Cannavaro, Alessandro Nesta, Paolo Maldini, Sergio Ramos. 

Goalkeeper: The goalkeeper needs to have good instincts & quick reaction. Ideally he/she must be tall as well & have some ball control with his/her feet to prevent mistakes at the last line of defence. 

Archetypes of this position: Julio Cesar, Manuel Neuer, Thibaut Courtois.