By: Ayilimba Doreen Awonlie
Accra, June 28, GNA – All five African countries in the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) World Cup in Russia, have failed live up to expectation, as they have been booted out of the competition.
All five countries could not progress to the second round of the competition, with Senegal being the latest to be shown the exit door by Columbia.
The Senegalese needed at least a point from their last group game against Colombia to progress to the next round, but the South Americans managed to snatch all points after Yerry Mina’s lone goal.
The Teranga Lions amassed a total of four points, which was not enough to put them ahead of Japan and Colombia in Group G.
Seven times African champions, Egypt were the whipping boys of Group A and the Pharaohs lost their first match against Uruguay by a lone goal before been annihilated 3-0 by host nation Russia.
The Egyptians subsequently suffered a defeat in their last game against Saudi Arabia leaving them with no point.
Morocco in Group B, left their score sheet empty in their first and second game when they faced Iran and Portugal. Though they had a decent game against Spain in their last game, a 2-2 draw was not enough to get them far.
A 2-0 win over Iceland put them in a good position to progress to the next round. The Nigerians were kicked out, after they suffered a painful 2-1 defeat to Argentina, denying them a progress to the knock-out stages.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria were disappointing in their first game against Croatia, where they lost 2-0, but their second game was very impressive.
With a game to spare, Tunisia were eliminated from Group G, after suffering two consecutive defeats to England and Belgium. This would be the first time in 36 years where no African side progressed to the knock-out stages in the World Cup.
GNA
WE
28 June 2018
