I Am a Football Nationalist

Utrecht — I hate nationalism. But when it comes to the World Cup, I make an exception. This is when Africa becomes my country.

When Cameroon failed to qualify for the 1990 FIFA World Cup semi-finals, I was devastated. It was as if I had once again been reminded that Africa and its people were unable to rise up to their capacity and show the world that they count. I hate to see this biased 'Africanness' in me, but it is a fact. I am a football nationalist.

This year, my nationalistic pride began to swell when the list of the five teams that will represent Africa in the FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil were announced. In a split second, my choice was made: Nigeria first, Ghana second, Ivory Coast third, Cameroon fourth and Algeria fifth.

Don't ask me why Algeria is my least preferred African team at the World Cup. But I will say this much, I feel Algerians are Africans who are not very 'African'. In my opinion, their culture and traditions are more similar to the people who live in the Middle East. Nigeria is first on my list because its army contributed to ending the ten year civil war in my country. Ghana and Ivory Coast are both like siblings to me. Cameroon is in another category altogether; for it was the lions of this country that made it possible for the Pan-African football spirit to be born in me.

A gift from lions

It all started during the 1990 FIFA world cup in Turin, Italy. On 8 June of that year, the start of the World Cup coincided with my 18th birthday which I was celebrating in Kono, Sierra Leone. While the opening games were celebrated with lots of food, drinks, games and dancing, my birthday passed unnoticed. All eyes were focused on the opening match between the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon and the Argentinian team.

I watched the match outside with hundreds of football fans. The television screen hung on the rooftop of a house owned by a popular Lebanese businessman. When the Cameroon team was in possession of the ball, the crowd went wild. We shouted and sang victory songs in support of them.

It was in the 67th minutes of the game that I received my first birthday gift: a header from Omam Biyik shook the Argentina net and flooded the crowd with euphoria. The World Cup defenders were condemned to a 1-0 defeat. After dispatching Argentina, Cameroon continued to surprise me as they beat a well-fancied Romanian side 2-1, with the 38-year-old legend Roger Milla getting both goals. But then came the humiliating final 4-0 defeat against the Soviet Union. Cameroon still finished top of the group.

The outstanding performance of The Indomitable Lions made me believe that winning the FIFA World Cup was somehow a kind of revolution. I had always believed that in order to put an end to discrimination based on race, colour, religion and sex, an African country needed to win the FIFA World Cup.

Must. Defeat. England.

In the second round, The Lions showed the world that African international football had changed forever. Again, Roger Milla scored two goals in two minutes against Colombia. His outstanding performance was evidence that Africans prefer age and experience to young and new. Colombia stole a late goal but to no avail - they were out. Cameroon became the first African country to qualify for the quarterfinals.

In the quarterfinals Cameroon faced England. This was when my adrenaline reached its highest peak. I prayed to the gods for Cameroon to excel and make Africa proud. Defeating the English meant a lot to me. Cameroon was not only representing Africa but it was fighting to free me from my inferiority mind-set and mental slavery. This match will live long in my memory, mostly because The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon made the British team struggle.

Playing to score

At the end of the game it was a remarkable 3-2 win for England but not without them having to fight their strongest fight. In my country, almost everybody believed that Cameroon had been robbed of their victory by poor officiating. It was then I realised that as much as I would have loved for Cameroon to bring home the FIFA World Cup, their strength, speed and experience alone was not enough to win against the techniques of the British team.

To excel in the next FIFA World Cup, Africa must learn how to play to score. And they need some luck too.