The simple reason that AFCON games are low scoring affairs

[Scipio Africanus]

African attacking play is simply not good enough. Poor decision making in the final third, poor final balls compounded by poor technique etc.

Give most of these African "minnows" keeping the score in this AFCON down to 0-0 or 1-0 to a European power like England, Belgium, Spain, Netherlands, Germany or France, even Croatia and they would rack up at least 3 goals regularly.

Those consistent square balls hit with pace and accuracy from the wings behind the defense (Germany), or tightly controlled defense splitting passes combined with clinical finishing (France), or intelligent runs into space combined with clinical passing and finishing (Spain), or dead accurate delivery of set pieces and crosses (England). No African team can do any of the above consistently.

No wonder the last time an African team was in the quarters of the WC was in 2010(Ghana) and prior to that was in 2002(Senegal) and prior to that was in 1990 (Cameruin).

African teams simply have to improve in the final third!

[EMIR KONGI JAFFI JOFFA]

Yup! The team's are mostly rubbish tbh, the lack in the fundamentals of the game. Even the so called power houses are suspect, I don't even think the likes of Algeria. Morocco, Cameroun and Egypt can beat ukraine.

[maceo4]

You guys are funny, na today? We are playing African teams at this tournament and folks were busy shaking even predicting we would lose 4-0. This is the same continent that couldn't get a single team out of the group stages in the last WC. Its teams are meh in the grand scheme of things. Some WC individual players here and there but overall not that great, then the tourney has also been watered down with 24 teams. Really the neutral spectator wouldn't find too much entertainment not like the Euros or the Copa America. This one na Gold Cup type quality and I'm sure few of us paid attention to that...

[Odas]

It's NOT what it seems, so I differ from you two brothers (Emir and Scipio) in above. This is football, a team game, where in addition to luck (own goal, bad call, or a simple error in a goal-mouth scramble), any team can beat any team in any given day. Thus, ...

[aruako1]

Have we considered that most teams have not had time to gell due to very little time for training camps and late release of players? For instance, Nigerias strikers played together for the first time in the tournament - that would not happen in the Euros or World Cup. We will see more goals from tomorrow.

[Scipio Africanus]

Have we considered that most teams have not had time to gell due to very little time for training camps and late release of players? For instance, Nigerias strikers played together for the first time in the tournament - that would not happen in the Euros or World Cup. We will see more goals from tomorrow.

Maybe but really how much time do you need to gell with your teammates before you learn to cross the ball properly, or look for an open man in the box and pass in his direction instead of shooting the ball from insane angles? Or take a proper free kick with the right bend towards onrushing teammates etc? No I think the problem is deeper than that.

[Tobi17]

Maybe African teams have gotten better?

[aruako1]

Have we considered that most teams have not had time to gell due to very little time for training camps and late release of players? For instance, Nigerias strikers played together for the first time in the tournament - that would not happen in the Euros or World Cup. We will see more goals from tomorrow.

Maybe but really how much time do you need to gell with your teammates before you learn to cross the ball properly, or look for an open man in the box and pass in his direction instead of shooting the ball from insane angles? Or take a proper free kick with the right bend towards onrushing teammates etc? No I think the problem is deeper than that.

These things typically happen where teams have not gotten into their stride. And yes, with some teams there are issues but the top teams have players that can do these things. Besides other AFCONs have been higher scoring.

[airwolex]

Lol let is wait untill it is all done and dusted

[Scipio Africanus]

Have we considered that most teams have not had time to gell due to very little time for training camps and late release of players? For instance, Nigerias strikers played together for the first time in the tournament - that would not happen in the Euros or World Cup. We will see more goals from tomorrow.

Maybe but really how much time do you need to gell with your teammates before you learn to cross the ball properly, or look for an open man in the box and pass in his direction instead of shooting the ball from insane angles? Or take a proper free kick with the right bend towards onrushing teammates etc? No I think the problem is deeper than that.

These things typically happen where teams have not gotten into their stride. And yes, with some teams there are issues but the top teams have players that can do these things. Besides other AFCONs have been higher scoring.

To be honest it is probably because of a mix of factors, including the reasons you put forth but I stick to my point that African teams in general are poor attacking wise.

[TonyTheTigerKiller]

Maybe African teams have gotten better?

Cheers.

[Scipio Africanus]

Maybe African teams have gotten better?

Not attacking wise. We still see the same terrible decision making and lack of composure in the final third from African teams that we saw at World Cups that happened decades ago.

Egypt, a 7 time AFCON winner, has never won a game, A SINGLE GAME(!) at the WC!

Cameroon, a 5 time AFCON winner, last won a game at the WC in 2002, twenty years ago, against Saudi Arabia with the dominating score of 1-0. Germany beat Saudi Arabia 8-0 in that WC. Even Ireland managed to beat them 3-0.

Germany scored more goals at the 2014 WC than Cameroon have scored in their entire WC history.

Better ko, cocoa butter ni. Chei men, we gats to improve or it will be the same sorry story at this year's WC.

[Bigpokey24]

After match day 1 ..the op has made his judgement .first of all the tourney started 3 days ago... smh I thought this tournament was a month long...some of you should go and watch the FA cup , league cup epl etc... we are enjoying our low scoring Afcon

[Scipio Africanus]

The most goals Nigeria have ever scored at a WC is 7. That was at WC 1994 when we had wingers who knew what their job was i.e. beat your marker AND supply a decent final ball. Finidi supplied the assists for all 3 goals against Bulgaria. Notice he didn't try to take crazy shots from impossible angles. If we had the kind of wingers we have had since for that game Nigeria would have probably lost 1-2 to Bulgaria.

[Scipio Africanus]

After match day 1 ..the op has made his judgement .first of all the tourney started 3 days ago... smh I thought this tournament was a month long...some of you should go and watch the FA cup , league cup epl etc... we are enjoying our low scoring Afcon

I dey enjoy am too.

I hope you enjoy the WC too, when our low scoring African teams are given the boot in the first round as usual, unless they listen to the great and almighty Scipio.

[Scipio Africanus]

Una don fire me up now.

Victor Moses doing the same tight angle shot nonsense against Croatia, when he had many beautiful passing options in the box at 3:09 of the clip below.

[The YeyeMan]

Germany scored more goals at the 2014 WC than Cameroon have scored in their entire WC history.

Because they battered the mighty South American team - Brazil.

[Bigpokey24]

The most goals Nigeria have ever scored at a WC is 7. That was at WC 1994 when we had wingers who knew what their job was i.e. beat your marker AND supply a decent final ball. Finidi supplied the assists for all 3 goals against Bulgaria. Notice he didn't try to take crazy shots from impossible angles. If we had the kind of wingers we have had since for that game Nigeria would have probably lost 1-2 to Bulgaria.

Finidi had 2 assists..yekini had the other.

[Scipio Africanus]

The most goals Nigeria have ever scored at a WC is 7. That was at WC 1994 when we had wingers who knew what their job was i.e. beat your marker AND supply a decent final ball. Finidi supplied the assists for all 3 goals against Bulgaria. Notice he didn't try to take crazy shots from impossible angles. If we had the kind of wingers we have had since for that game Nigeria would have probably lost 1-2 to Bulgaria.

Finidi had 2 assists..yekini had the other.

Thank you. The point stands though. You saw the quality of each assist. Pinpoint. No wild crosses or stupid tight angle shots.

[Scipio Africanus]

Germany scored more goals at the 2014 WC than Cameroon have scored in their entire WC history.

Because they battered the mighty South American team - Brazil.

Yeah, Brazil, who won more games at the 2002 WC(7) than we have won in our 6 WC appearances(6). Chei! Qatar go sweet o!

[Bigpokey24]

The most goals Nigeria have ever scored at a WC is 7. That was at WC 1994 when we had wingers who knew what their job was i.e. beat your marker AND supply a decent final ball. Finidi supplied the assists for all 3 goals against Bulgaria. Notice he didn't try to take crazy shots from impossible angles. If we had the kind of wingers we have had since for that game Nigeria would have probably lost 1-2 to Bulgaria.

Finidi had 2 assists..yekini had the other.

Thank you. The point stands though. You saw the quality of each assist. Pinpoint. No wild crosses or stupid tight angle shots.

That team were already Afcon champs

[The YeyeMan]

So players won't be able to cross well until they are AFCON champions?

[Scipio Africanus]

Cameroon were reading my thread. They have used intelligent attacking player to temporarily rubbish my rantings and show how minnows should be disciplined. They have scored 4 against Ethiopia! Oya continue