5 African Players Who Could Make a Major Impact at the World Cup

Could next summer’s World Cup be a breakthrough tournament for Africa’s international sides? Ten teams are still in the running—all with differing levels of optimism—and five of them will get the privilege to represent the continent at next summer’s centrepiece. Could one of them achieve more than any of Africa’s sides to date and earn a spot in the semifinals? This... 

World Cup Qualifying 2014: Charting Iran’s Journey to Brazil

Japan, South Korea and Australia, for various different reasons, have each received extensive coverage since ensuring their qualification from the Asian World Cup Qualifying programme. Japan performed encouragingly at the summer’s Confederations Cup and will surely be many people’s dark horses next summer; South Korea have some interesting personnel decisions to make but... 

20 Best Asian Players in the World Right Now

This article profiles the 20 finest Asian players in the world today. Although only a handful of the continent’s stars feature in the Champions League, Asia still possesses a number of excellent players, making pertinent contributions across the world of football. Japan’s performance at the recent Confederations Cup, and their fascinating approach under Alberto Zaccheroni, could raise the... 

Areas for Improvement Following Africa’s WC Qualifying Play-Offs

This article looks at areas of improvement, or areas of change, for five African nations following the first leg of CAF’s World Cup play-offs. This piece considers both short-term changes teams can make in order to consolidate their position or retrieve a tie ahead of the next round of games in November, but it also looks further ahead and considers how certain teams can begin to turn around... 

African World Cup Qualifiers: Five Outstanding Players

The first leg of Africa’s World Cup qualifying play-offs provided us with five excellent contests and numerous moments of high drama. The fixtures demonstrated African football at its finest, with unpredictable matches, some excellent individual performances and intense action. After convincing victories, Nigeria, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire all look to have one foot in next summer’s... 

African WC Qualification: Cote D’Ivoire and Burkina Faso Step Closer to Brazil

The first day of Africa’s World Cup Qualifying play-offs provided nine goals, high drama and two excellent, intense encounters. In Ouagadougou, in the earlier of the two fixtures, Burkina Faso beat Algeria 3-2 in a pulsating contest, while during the later kick-off, Cote d’Ivoire look to have one foot in the door after besting Senegal 3-1 in Abidjan. This article looks back at those... 

Striker Solution Sought for Super Eagles Ahead of World Cup Qualifiers

Africa’s World Cup qualifying changes gear this weekend as the 10 group winners go head-to-head in a series of highly anticipated play-offs. As champions of Africa, Nigeria will be expected to overcome unfancied Ethiopia and claim a spot in Brazil next summer. The squad is strong and littered with match-winners, although the forward line remains a point of concern. Nigeria’s summer outing... 

The 10 Young African Players the Top Clubs Should Be Targeting in January

This article profiles 10 Young African Players that the top clubs should be targeting in January. Not all of these players would be able to make an instant impact, but all at least have potential to be nurtured into top-level competitors. I have limited this collection of players to those aged 23 and under, but even within that range there are various different ability levels represented. Naturally,... 

10 African Unknowns Who Should Be January Transfer Targets

This article profiles 10 African players who should be January transfer targets for Premier League sides. “When the winter’s in full swing and your dreams just aren’t coming true, ain’t it funny what you’ll do.” For most EPL sides, that means reeling through a list of obscure contacts, pulling out the chequebook and heading to your local transfer list to track down... 

Japan’s Shinji Okazaki Can Be a Surprise Star at World Cup 2014

The World Cup has an endearing habit for throwing up surprises and for hurling new and unexpected stars into our living rooms and into the communal global footballing psyche. It could well be that Japanese frontman Shinji Okazaki is the relative unknown that can make a surprise impact at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, adding his name to a list that includes the likes of Pele, Francois Omam-Biyik and... 

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