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Issue # B > Tuesday 27Jun06 (Special Edition)

Whether their WC committee will be ready aside, will the National Sides of Africa be ready for the challenge in four years?

I think you have to be inclined to say .. .. yes!

A few things to remember as the countdown to 2010 begins in two weeks  .. ..

• I must confess, I gave all the CAF sides a 0% chance of doing anything, but even tabloid-riddled TOGO managed to turn a few heads .. .. Regardless of their buildup, CAF sides proved this WC that they can be competitive on European soil and should only feel more at home next time .. ..

• CAF sides always look a little impatient and frantic – Notice all the rushed, unforced long shots that go ‘Pando’ .. .. A wee bit more discipline is needed from their playmakers .. .. And, they actually could use a CLAUDIO REYNA-type who will slow the pace down, keep possession and distribute intelligently .. ..

• I think the accent in CAF is on their individual National Sides .. .. As GHA prepped to play BRA today, the GHA camp was inundated with best wishes from the capitals all over AFRICA and even received a $100,000 check from a member of the Saudi Royal Family .. .. They even had to ask their own President to STOP calling .. .. Seriously – All the ‘chokers’ (ESP) come from nations where the domestic league takes precedence over the National side, but the CAF will get behind their National sides and should be even a bigger threat in 2010 .. ..

• And, finally, GHA proved today that they were not afraid of BRA and kept coming at them with pace and didn’t deserve their final scoreline .. .. That attitude will be important when the world comes to them .. ..