By Lilian
And so it is that in the first time since I started following the World Cup, I find myself without a national team to support at this year’s tournament. For Cameroonians of a certain generation, our World Cup viewing experience took off in earnest during Italia 90 when we beat Argentina in the opening game.
We made our debut in Spain in1982 but television broadcasts only took off in Cameroon in 1985 so memories of the tournament are murky in the national imaginary. In 1990, whilst the majority of the football world scrambled for their atlases to locate this African nation, the Indomitable Lions proved they meant business by reaching the quarter finals of the tournament before losing to England (which explains why I would not be supporting England this year). Proving that 1990 was not a one-hit wonder, Cameroon qualified for successive world tournaments and in the process, helped increase the number of qualifying countries from the continent represented at the tournament from an insulting three to a paltry five.
When we failed to make the cut for this year’s tournament, I took some comfort in the fact that other so called football giants of the continent were on the home bound flight too. Forgive this sort of schadenfraude but it comes with the love of the game. There are the highs: reaching the quarter finals in Italia 1990, winning the African Nation’s Cup four times (thrice at Nigeria’s expense), winning Gold medal in Sydney and of course the icons like Eto’o, Lauren, Geremi, Mboma and the legend that is Roger Milla. The love of the game is the one thing that can temporarily unite Cameroonians of various political and linguistic differences. In a country of over 280 languages and dialects, football is one language we can speak very well.
In the absence of one’s national team, good sportsmanship partly prescribes that one throws their weight behind a close friend or a neighbour. In 2002 I had no qualms supporting the other Lions when the Indomitable Lions were knocked out. So this time, I have been thinking about who to support. Not a straightforward affair.
For starters, there is Togo and Angola, both new comers to the party. With memories of their thumping by the Indomitable Lions at this year’s African Nation’s Cup still fresh in my mind, supporting them will be awkward. But who does not love an underdog story?
Ghana! I am a huge admirer of Kofi Annan. So perhaps that should count for something.
Tunisia? When I was in Tunis late last year, I shamelessly bargained with a trader at the souk by offering to support Tunisia at this year’s tournament if he gave me a good deal on those slippers I had my eyes on. I did not get the slippers.
Ivory Coast then? But we beat them twice in the qualifying rounds of the World Cup. Someone please tell me why they are in Germany and not us? Okay! Okay! Bad looser! I know. I know. I admit that elephant meat was too tough for us to chew in Egypt this year. There goes my bit of good sportsmanship for you. I love Meiway’s music. And if winning the tournament could stop the civil war there, I’d gladly support.
Alright! Surely the magnitude of a tournament such as the World Cup demands that we throw aside petty football rivalries for the sake of the continent? Point of correction: Firstly, the rivalries are not petty. We thrive on them. Secondly, the magnitude of the tournament depends on whether one’s country is part of the fiesta or not. Perhaps for my sanity, I should just follow the tournament and not support anyone. But when you are a football fan, it does not quite work that way. But in my thinking we need ample proof to push those FIFA dudes to allocate more space for Africa at the tournament. And so, true to being proudly African, Team Africa then it is. Bring on the feast!
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