World cup talk is here again. With Africa this time around being represented by four of its strongest teams(CIV, Cameroun, Ghana, and Nigeria), plus two other teams, though with no intimadating pedigree, which can not be written off(SA and Algeria), pundits have tipped at least one African team making it to the Semi-final for the first time. How true is this? July 2010 is just around the corner.

Now, let's take a review at Africa's past performances in the global mundial, with a discussion on African teams that have 'pretended' and  contended in past editions.

The subject of debate is: Which African team has had the best performance at the world cup?

THE NOMINEES, IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER, ARE:
1, Cameroun @ Italia 90:: Spearheaded by ageless Roger Milla, who made the team by presidential fiat, the Indomitable Lions shook the whole footballing world, beating defending champion, Argentina, and topping the group. The team was the first African team to enter WC Quarter final and it took two penalties for England to send the packing.

2, Nigeria @ USA 94: Qualifying for the world cup for the first time after decades of fruitless efforts, the SE arrived USA red hot, spitting fire.  Bulgaria, which eventaully finished 4th place, were the first victim of Eagles' merciless form. They Europeans were drubbed 3 nil. With a 2-1 defeat to Argentina and 2-0 spanking of Greece, Naija team ended topping the group.
At the knock-out stage, Nigeria was 3 minutes aways from cruising into the Quarter final when a Roberto Baggio equalizer suddenly dashed their hope. The rest is history. Another ET goal from the Italian saw the SE crash out of the mundial. Despite not going beyond second round, the Nigerian team went home with their heads high. The whole world commended their entertaining play, which was a departure from the physical, gbugbugbu style African teams are known for.

3, Nigeria @ France 98 Having won the olympics a couple of years earlier, beating powerhouses like Argentina and Brazil, the SE went to France with very high rating. And they began the campaign in a manner confirming their pre-tournament rating, spanking a star-studded Spain, and leading a group in a WC, is definitely no mean feat, forget about how complacency saw them being humiliated by Paraguay in their last group match. Still basking in the euphoria of beating a star-studded Brazil two years earlier, the Naija men were already talking about meeting Brazil at the Q/final as if their opponent in the second round, Denmark, had come to the tournament with disabled footballers. They paid the price by a 4-1 humiliation in the hands of the Danes. The defeat of Spain and topping of the group were the highlight of this SE's showing in France, and that is what qualified that performance for a nomination.

4, Senegal @ Korea/Japan 2002 Senegal qualified for the world cup silently. Having fallen down the pecking order in African teams rating since 1992, Senegal had been relegated to a grade B team in Africa. But unknown to many, they were putting their house in order again. Not even their beating Nigeria and getting to the final of the year's edition of ANC, made people take them seriously. Nobody expected they can spring any surprise in Korea/Japan. Parading a team that had virtually all the players plying their trade in top teams in France, teh Teranga Lions shhok the footballing world by surprise in the opening game, defeating defending world and European champions, France. To show that it was no fluke, the team scaled through to second round and handed star-studded Swedish side a 2-0 defeat, thanks to two world class goals from Henri Camara. It took 94 minutes of play for the skilful Turkish to send the Africans packing. A very wonderful show from the Senegalese, no doubt.

5, Ghana @ Germany 2006 After playing the world only in their dreams for more than 4 decades, the Ghanaians finally made their way to the global mundial. And they followed Nigeria and Senegal in the tradition of first-timers springing surprise. The Ghanaians had a very fantastic showing at the mundial, beating highly rated Czech republic and USA, though lost to eventaully winners, Italy. At the second round, the Ghanaians were not horrible against a far more veteran Brazilian team, but they can't withstand the superior firepower of the Ronaldo-led Brazilian team. They chop three unreplied goals, but they left Germany with their heads high

6. CIV @ Germany 2006: With stars spread over top clubs in Europe, the Ivorians arrived Germany with the whole Africa banking on them to do the motherland proud. Unfortunately they were grouped in a group of death. They had decent showing against the star-studded Argentine and Dutch team, only that all the Drogbas, Aruna Kones, Aruna Dindanes forgot their scoring boots in Abidjan. Insignificant to mention that they defeated Serbia and Montenegro. The team deserve at least nomination for African best performance in WC

7. Morocco @ France 98 The North Africans also had a decent showing in France 98, with Mustapha Hadji running the show. But for Brazil controversially and suspiciously losing to Norway in the last match, the Moroccans would have made it to the second.


Now let's open the floor. Which of these African teams, or any other I might have omitted, had the best showing in world cup?

Thread revived.

It is between Cameroon 1990 and Senegal 2002 performances.