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World Cup: Oliseh Predicts African Glory

Agency Report

— April 27, 2014

Former Nigeria captain Sunday Oliseh is convinced an African country will eventually win the FIFA World Cup, but believes poor preparations are currently a key factor in holding back development.
The former midfielder represented the Super Eagles between 1993 and 2002, helping lead the side to the Africa Cup of Nations crown in 1994 before going on to claim the gold medal at the Olympics two years later.
Oliseh, also a Bundesliga winner with Borussia Dortmund, believes teams like Nigeria, Ghana and the Ivory Coast have the potential to go far on the global stage, but insists improvements need to be made in terms of preparations if they are to have a realistic shot at the crown.
“I think an African country will eventually win the World Cup. What is lacking now, it’s simple to say; what is wrong is that we don’t plan well. We leave the planning until late,” he told CNN’s Human to Hero series.
He continued: “Africans need to learn how to start pressurizing the opponents. Football has changed now. It’s no longer football where you pick individuals and expect them to do well.
“Now it’s more about team work, team dynamics, team schemes, things that are planned out like how to look at the opponent, how to bring about antidotes to the opponent’s playing star.
“When it comes to physical strength and bursts of speed, you can’t beat an African. But what is lacking now is just that technical and tactical know-how. Then we’ll get it.”