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Can an African team win the 2010 World Cup?
Shut your eyes and try to imagine the scenes of jubilation across Africa, where a team from the continent were to win the World Cup in 2010 .
A celebration like no other a billion people partying at a major sporting and cultural achievements.
For the first time in its history of 80 years, the competition from football blue riband is coming to the world's poorest and underdeveloped lands.
What better way to mark the occasion than with an African first champion?
"Winning the World Cup would be one of the proudest moments in the history of our country and continent as a whole," Former South African striker Shaun Bartlett told BBC Sport.
"Every African people has its own internal problems, but football can do wonders for people and nations, which is a huge incentive. "
Nobody is saying that will happen, but the wave of opinion suggests that South Africa is the 2010 best opportunity yet.
Unfazed by his prediction of 1977 that would have an African side triumph by the end of the 20th century, Brazil legend Pele really believes it can happen next year.
His namesake Abedi Pele, former Ghanaian international, George Weah of Liberia and two of the greatest players to come out of Africa and still very influential figures within the game, are equally convinced.
There are only six African representatives competing at home, but they will enjoy an advantage that the likes of Brazil, Argentina, Italy, France, Spain, Germany and England will never have – the support of an entire continent.
"The idea that one of our side can win the World Cup is not going too far, "said the former Nigeria captain Sunday Oliseh." Gamers African accomplish a lot of emotions and that will be a powerful force.
"When we played Nigeria at the Olympics in 1996, we were not play like the Nigerians, but as Africans, because he had any African country behind us.
"We had the psychological advantage and, if a African nation reaches the semi-final at home in 2010, I would not want to be on the team that plays against them. "
Only five of the 18 previous World Cups have been won by teams from the host continent, while Brazil's victory in Mexico in 1970 and 1994 and the U.S. victory in Argentina in Mexico in 1986 were still in the Americas. There little doubt that home advantage helped South Korea reach the 2002 semi-finals.
Former Charlton striker Bartlett suggested the "spirit within each African "And the various expatriate communities in South Africa will guarantee huge support for each home nation, with fans rally behind another African side since that his team was knocked out.
Even more optimism stems from the knowledge that, in terms of numbers, quality and experience, this is the strong set of nations African contest a World Cup.
Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Algeria and Ghana are a formidable quintet, while the South Africa will be desperate to avoid embarrassment at home.
Ivory Coast is seen as having the most talented team, but much is also expected in Ghana following his impressive debut in the World Cup in 2006 and Cameroon, revitalized with former Rangers coach Paul Le Guen and make an appearance African record sixth in the final.
Nigeria, Algeria and South Africa – the only African team that will be planted – may be less liked but all three are capable of reaching the knockout phase.
"The African teams have matured a lot, they no longer want to go to many competitions, they want to make a good impression, "said Ivory Coast half Yaya Toure.
"The difference between the teams of African and European countries is not wider. In the past, African teams have been taken for granted in major tournaments, but this time will be different. "
Since Zaire became the first African country to qualify for the World Cup in 1974, the continent can claim only two quarter-finalists – Cameroon in 1990 and Senegal in 2002.
So what makes them better equipped in 2010? Greater experience, maturity and tactical awareness to a certain role, but above all, points to the number Oliseh Africans now mix it with the best on a weekly basis.
"Nothing boosts a player more than playing at the highest level every week and win titles "Added the former Borussia Dortmund midfielder, who rose to fame with a beautiful goal for Nigeria against Spain in France 1998." A lot of African players won titles in four years.
"Samuel Eto'o and Yaya Toure won the Champions League with Barcelona and Didier Drogba and Michael Essien came the final with Chelsea before.
"They know what it takes to win at the highest level of club football. If they can bring that mentality of its sides National will be hard to beat. "
All six African teams have their weaknesses – Bartlett mentions "poor goalkeeping," "Sometimes catastrophic protection "and" the trend of conceding late because I can not concentrate for 90 minutes "- and much will depend on its ability to remain free of accidents, especially with the African Nations Cup in January from appearing in Angola.
However, this tournament will offer five (Africa South does not qualify) with a time of competitive game to work on their plans – something that no other nation will benefit between now and June 11.
That is as well as South Africa 2010 promises to be one of the most fiercely contested World Cups to date with all the past champions in attendance and not a true lack contenders.
The fact that no African team has gone beyond the quarter-finals, did not bode well and they will be praying draw for Friday is that the with kindness.
In Germany 2006, the Ivory Coast were grouped with Argentina and Holland, Ghana reached the round of 16 only to be pitted against the champions Brazil.
Good luck also declined to Senegal in 2002, they were eliminated on the golden goal rule and Cameroon, in 1990, having succumbed to England awarded after two controversial penalties. serious question marks also surrounded Germany's 1-0 victory over Austria that knocked him out in Algeria in 1982.
"If the Ivory Coast, Ghana and Cameroon have good draws and a little luck I can see them go so far as the semi-final," Bartlett commented. "After that, the team that plays better on the day will go so anything can happen."
Although the altitude Soccer City in Johannesburg could encourage Africans, this is the first World Cup since 1978 winter temperatures as cold neutral conditions should be doing to football.
This contrasts strongly with the climate in Angola at the Nations Cup, increasing the need for careful preparation and well organized – the lack of which has seriously damaged the African challenge in years gone by.
"There have been problems off the field, which impede our teams have that extra advantage to go further," released Oliseh.
"In 2002, Cameroon took two days to get to their base, they were the last team to arrive in Korea. There were so many administrative problems, with things like travel, flights and player bonuses, the players did not focus enough to win. "
Bartlett added that "one or two African teams will still be fighting over money when the tournament starts, the organization is a massive problem. "
If they can avoid such problems, which could be in for an absolute treat.
African Nations were punching above their weight for some time, their evolution strongly affected by poverty and lack of resources.
After struggling against the odds so long, it would begrudge one of his captains lifting the Jules Rimet Cup in Soccer City, July 11, 2010?
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