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South Africa rescue a Fifa World Cup 1-1 draw against Czechia at Atlanta Stadium, US; Teboho Mokoena's 83rd-minute penalty keeps Bafana Bafana alive.[Lars Baron/AFP]
I am not sports fan. I suspect that’s because I never excelled in any sports. But for some strange reason I am World Cup addict; the kind that wake up to watch group matches and record those they cannot watch live for later self-tainment. I miss no match at any stage of the cup.
I then hibernate, reemerging four years later for this strange ritual. For decades, I watched as African nations were considerd the underdogs of the FIFA World Cup.
The continent was dismissed, before a ball was even kicked. But over the years, I have been delighted to watch African teams shatter expectations, delivering some of the tournament’s most unforgettable upsets and historic runs. From iconic victories to heartbreaking nearmisses, African teams are slowly earning the world’s respect and fundamentally changing the global perception of the continent’s footballing prowess.
