Africa’s big five

Five nations are representing Africa in the 2014 World Cup. Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Algeria and Cameroon are all promising to cause a major upset in Brazil as they prepare to showcase the growth and development of African football at the global soccer competition this summer.

Brazil 2014 is arguably one of the most open and difficult to predict tournaments especially for the participating African nations. With West African countries dominating the African representatives at the tournament, and Algeria being the only north African nation at the World Cup.

Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o said African nations have the ability to be a competitive force at the World Cup in Brazil despite not getting the respect they deserve.

African teams have often struggled at World Cups. Cameroon was the first side from the continent to reach the quarter-finals in 1990. Thereafter, Senegal and Ghana have since matched that feat and Eto’o believes the improving quality of players like Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure means the five African nations can make a major impact in Brazil.

Pe0ple think Africa are just there for the show,” Eto’o, who is in line to play in his fourth World Cup finals, told africanfootball.com.

The provisional squad lists for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil have been confirmed, with all 32 teams selecting the players who will represent their nations on the global stage between 12 June – 13 July 2014.

Each coach now has until 2 June to trim down their selection to the final 23-man squad to compete at the tournament. That final side will be announced on 5 June at 12:00 CET onFIFA.com, along with extensive profiles for all the players who will be taking part.