Ghana’s Black Stars have been Africa’s only shining lights at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, with all five other competitors from the continent dropping out in the first round.

AllAfrica.com assesses their tournaments and just what went wrong…

ALGERIA

Pre-tournament aim: Second Round
Finish: First Round

Algeria were arguably the weakest of the six African participants and went out of the competition with just one point and no goals scored.

In coach Rabah Saadane they had an experienced campaigner with the national team, who led them in the 1986 World Cup, but it appeared that by the time they reached the 2010 event, there was trouble brewing in the camp.

This is a fatally-flawed side who were out of their depth at this level, and it was an achievement just to reach the finals at the expense of bitter north African rivals Egypt.

They were not humiliated, certainly, but the fact they could not manage a goal in 270 minutes of football gives a clue as to their limitations, and the mindset with which they entered each game.

They suffered only two narrow defeats, both 1-0 to Slovenia and the USA, but they never really looked like winning those games either, while they harried and harassed England into a 0-0 draw, a game that was their “final”.

Record:

Played: 3

Won: 0

Draws: 1

Lost: 2

Goals For: 0

Goals Against: 2

Tournament rating: 3/10

CAMEROON

Pre-tournament aim: Quarterfinals
Finish: First Round

There are just no positives to be taken from Cameroon’s campaign, It was a disaster.

Perhaps the signs were there in their sloppy showing at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola in January, but few would have foreseen this capitulation.

It was desperately disappointing for the Indomitable Lions, who lost all three matches – against Japan, Denmark and Netherlands – with problems both on and off the pitch.

Their French coach Paul Le Guen made some questionable decisions, such as playing star striker Samuel Eto’o on the right side of midfield against Japan, and he was confronted by the senior players in the side ahead of the Denmark game, who wanted him to pick fewer youngsters and more senior players.

It created a poor environment for teamwork and while they quite obviously tried, at this level you get found out very quickly if you are not playing as a unit.

Le Guen held his ground, and in doing so probably lost the support of Eto’o and his teammates. Would it have been better had he relented and given in to their concerns? Who knows, but Le Guen quit his post shortly after his side finished their final fixture.

The Indomitable Lions enjoyed good support, including that from the South African fans who remember Cameroon as the first team the country played upon their return to international football in 1992, but a lack of belief in the coach’s game plan and team selections ultimately cost them dear.

Record:

Played: 3

Won: 0

Draws: 0

Lost: 3

Goals For: 2

Goals Against: 5