Football In Africa

Without doubt football (that is, soccer) is the most popular sport in Africa In the past twenty years African football teams and players have gained a solid international reputation. Today, hundreds of footballers from all over Africa play on first division professional soccer teams in Europe, South America and in the United States. Beginning in 1970 the continent of Africa was given one guaranteed place in the World Cup championships. Based on the great improvement in African football, by 1986 Africa was awarded two places, and in May 2002 at the World Cup inSouth Korea and Japan Africa was represented by five teams: Cameroon, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia. Only Europe and South America had more national teams represented at the World Cup than Africa! In 2010 Africa will host the world's largest sporting event, The World Cup, for the first time in history when the tournament comes to South Africa. This is a clear testimony to the international development and importance of African football!