Five great African World Cup victories

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Five great African World Cup victories

It is Africa's big day at the World Cup on Monday as Algeria and Nigeria bid for a place in the quarter-finals against Germany and France respectively. Here are five memorable African victories at previous World Cups:

Algeria 2 West Germany 1 (1982)

The North Africans were at their first World Cup finals and given little chance against the reigning European champions in the clash in Spain. The Germans thought it was done and dusted. "One player even said that he would play against us with a cigar in his mouth," Algeria's full-back Chaabane Merzekane said later. The over confidence cost dearly as the Algerians prevailed 2-1 with Rabah Madjer scoring nine minutes into the second-half. The Germans pulled level through Karl-Heinz Rummenigge only for Lakhdar Belloumi to hit the decisive goal. "We respected the German team and we respected their country, we were just delighted that we had also made them respect ours," said Belloumi.

Cameroon 1 Argentina 0 (1990)

Argentina opened the 1990 tournament in Italy as defending champions against a Cameroon side with few recognised stars. However, Francois Omam-Biyik's headed goal, helped by an awful goalkeeping error by Nery Pumpido, gave them an astonishing 1-0 win in a game that their raw tackling saw them reduced to nine men. "We hate it when European reporters ask us if we eat monkeys and have a witch doctor. We are real football players and we proved this tonight," said Biyik. Cameroon exited the tournament in the quarter-finals, heads held high. The Argentines, with Diego Maradona their sole creative outlet, somehow made it to the final but left unloved through a mix of their diving and brutal attitude on the pitch.

Nigeria 3 Spain 2 (1998)

Nigeria reached the World Cup second round in 1994 and arrived at the 1998 tournament as Olympic champions. However, Spain had a squad packed with top talent and were fancied to end their title drought that stretched back to the 1964 European championship. But veteran goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarette gifted Nigeria's second equaliser by Garba Lawal and Sunday Oliseh's cracking third sealed a remarkable victory for the 'Super Eagles'. It was later revealed the Nigerian players ignored coach Bora Milutinovic's tactics. "We changed the formation inside the field, before we prayed. And that was what worked for us," said Lawal. "We know our normal game so we all decided to play what normally works for us."

Senegal 1 France 0 (2002)

In a repeat of 1990, another talented but largely unknown African team took on the defending world and European champions and global superstar Zinedine Zidane. The Senegalese, coached by Frenchman Bruno Metsu, rattled their opponents from the start and it was no surprise when midfielder Pape Bouba Diop popped up to score in the 30th minute. France and their coach Roger Lemerre seemed incapable of reacting and lost 1-0. France finished bottom of their group and retreated home early. Senegal got to the last eight and on the back of it players like Diop earned big money moves to top European clubs.

Ghana 2 Czech Republic 0 (2006)

The Czechs were one of the dark horses for the World Cup after reaching the Euro 2004 semi-finals. Ghana were not given much hope especially after opening with a 2-0 defeat by Italy. However, with just over one minute on the clock, as Asamoah Gyan gave the 'Black Stars' the lead firing past Petr Cech. Czech defender Tomas Ujfalusi was sent off in the 66th minute and eight minutes from time Sulley Muntari -- who was sent home by Ghana this week scored. "You know as a coach you always have your luggage packed so you are ready to go. This is part of the job and in African countries they are very emotional. If the king dies, there is a new king. But now I am a hero in Ghana," said their Serbian coach Ratomir Dujkovic.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-06-30