Al-Ahram Weekly | Sports | For all Africa

		20 - 26 June 2002 Issue No. 591 Sports	Current issue Previous issue Site map
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875		Recommend this page

For all Africa
Celebrations following Senegal's dramatic World Cup quarter-final entry stretched across a continent whose other standard-bearers fell by the wayside

Click to view caption
Clockwise from top: Henri Camara is swamped after scoring the extra-time goal that propelled Senegal past Sweden and into the quarter-finals; supporters of the team make their presence in the stands felt; the Swedes lay on the field, dejected after their upset loss; Camara, his jersey peeled off, is carried on the shoulders of a teammate
Just before playing Sweden for a place in the World Cup quarter-finals, Senegal coach Bruno Metsu told his injury and suspension-hit squad they were playing for Africa as well as their country.
Metsu's pep talk must have struck a cord within his players, for 104 minutes later they had done what only one other African country before them had: reached the quarter-finals of a World Cup.
After taking an 11th-minute lead through Henrik Larsson on Sunday, Sweden succumbed to the exploits of Senegal's attacking midfielder Henri Camara, who beat Captain Johan Mjallby to equalise eight minutes before half-time and again to secure the dramatic 2-1 winner 14 minutes into extra-time.
The win pushed Senegal into the quarter-finals, emulating Cameroon's achievement in 1990. But in Korea and Japan Cameroon did not live up to their promise as African champions. A superstar- packed Nigerian side failed to qualify and South Africa and Tunisia were also eliminated.
Suddenly Senegal, playing in the World Cup finals for the first time, became the footballing capital of a soccer-mad continent. "There was a huge shout here after the goal. Everybody is so happy," said Robert Loufimpou, a taxi driver in the Congolese capital of Brazzaville, who was among thousands displaced by fighting that left about 100 dead last week. "Senegal's result is great for Africa," he said.
In Egypt, people congratulated each other with the word mabrouk, forgetting in their moment of African unity that it was Senegal which deprived them of a World Cup seat. "They deserve it," said Adel El-Husseini, an engineer, sitting in a street café. "They are good representatives of the continent and we are all proud of them." Sharbat, a sweet drink offered on festive occasions, was on the house, El-Husseini told patrons.
"People who think Africa cannot win the World Cup may soon eat their words because I see Senegal going all the way. No team can stop them now," said Chukwudi Okeke, a businessman in Nigeria's business hub Lagos, Africa's biggest city.
Camara's golden goal, after he latched on to Pape Thiaw's clever backheel, ghosted past Mjallby and netted off the post, kicked off endless festivities in Senegal. The streets of the capital Dakar were lost under a wave of red, gold and green national colours that topped even the party after Senegal beat reigning champions and former colonial power France in the tournament's opening match.
Some held high the pictures of marabouts -- spiritual leaders -- who gave thanks for Camara's golden goal that secured the victory over a team that finished top of the toughest group.
"My marabout told me at 5 o'clock this morning to go out and prepare the banners because Senegal is going to win the match," said student Bockar Seck.
Daniel Dabo, a fellow student from the southern Casamance province where Christians and animists have fought a long separatist war, said: "I went to make offerings for Senegal and killed a chicken. God has respected my wishes."
Cars in Dakar crammed with more supporters and flags than seemed possible hooted in celebration and chased wandering sheep from the roads of dusty suburbs as they jostled towards the jammed traffic at the heart of the city.
The focal point of the festivities was again the presidential palace, with thousands of fans pushing themselves up against the railings.
President Abdoulaye Wade came out to greet the crowds, just as he had done against France two weeks ago.
Once again, state television abandoned its normal programming and simply ran interviews with supporters and endless footage of the crowds converging on the city centre.
As the initial excitement waned, the tooting of car horns gave way to the familiar sounds of children's football matches.
Asked for post-match analyses, fans who had already screamed themselves hoarse kept shouting Camara's name, adding time and again, "The World Cup is coming to Senegal."
"I'm normally a Fadiga fan," said 17-year-old drama student Rosalie Ndiaye. "But today Henri Camara showed us what he was made of."
Fellow supporter Ousmane Sarr agrees. "He is somebody special, somebody who maybe needs a bit of reassurance. But we have every confidence in him. He is someone who can go on to be even better. He really showed that against Sweden."
Mjallby said he and his Swedish side had never heard of Camara before the World Cup. Now they will never forget him.
"We had never heard of Henri Camara before," the central defender told reporters. "But unfortunately we have now and I don't think we will forget him. The fact that we didn't know anything about him does not give us any excuses now. We knew Senegal were a strong team and we should have done better. It is definitely the most devastating defeat of my career. I think we will all take some time to get over it."
Camara's heroics turned him into a national hero in his home country but his uncle, Seydou Ndiaye, says it wasn't always like that. Relaxing in the living room of Camara's family house in Dakar after a long day's celebration, Ndiaye remembers his nephew's temporary fall from grace. "Henri has had his share of setbacks," Ndiaye said. "He is a sentimental sort of person, sensitive to criticism and there are times when he felt the public had turned against him."
Ndiaye cites in particular Camara's difficult time at the African Cup of Nations in February. "Henri missed a couple of goal scoring opportunities and the fans weren't going to forgive him quickly. The Senegalese can be like that. They are very passionate, very attached to their team, but not easy."
Coach Metsu has hinted in the past that Camara needs to be nurtured while Ndiaye regards Metsu as an extremely positive influence. "This is a coach who knows how to be a real friend to players. He knows how to dig deep into their psyches and get the best out of them."

Send a letter to the Editor Recommend this page

ARCHIVES
Letter from the Editor
Editorial Board
Subscription
Advertise!

WEEKLY ONLINE: www.ahram.org.eg/weekly
Updated every Saturday at 11.00 GMT, 2pm local time
weeklyweb@ahram.org.eg

Al-Ahram Organisation