Editor's note

This year's World Cup was the most disastrous outing for African teams for 30 years. Why? Wycliffe W. Njororai Simiyu puts it down to an over-reliance on a few outstanding talents, many of whom either failed to blossom or were injured in play.

And if it comes down to a penalty shootout this Sunday, here’s a tip for whoever takes on the job: aim for the middle. Stephen Woodcock lays out the mathematics to explain why.

Julius Maina

Regional Editor East Africa

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Nigeria’s players react after the loss to Argentina in the 2018 world cup. EPA-EFE/Tolga Bozoglu

Why African teams fell short at the World Cup - again

Wycliffe W. Njororai Simiyu, University of Texas at Tyler

A great deal of hope was placed on a few outstanding African players whose abilities did not blossom at the World Cup.

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