The month-long 21st edition of the FIFA football World Cup kicks off in Russia on 14 June 2018, marking 88 years of a tournament that attracts the most eyeballs worldwide. During this period the game has been dominated by Europe and South America with European nations winning it 11 times and South American countries nine times. There is clearly a huge gap between nations from these two continents and those from Africa and Asia. FIFA has been making efforts to ensure more representation from Asia and Africa and the progress of African countries does give rise to hopes of the World Cup going to the continent in years to come.

The upcoming World Cup will see ten nations from Africa and Asia, including Australia, in action. With over 119 players from these teams playing in top leagues in Europe, Asia and America including the English Premier League, Spanish La Liga, French Ligue, Italian Serie A and the German Bundesliga, many teams have raised their standards, specially those from Africa. Senegal has 21 players in European leagues including Sadio Mane of Liverpool, Diafra Sakho of West Ham United, Idrissa Gnaya of Everton, Kalidou Konlibaly of Napoli and Keita Balde of French club Monaco.

Senegal, ranked 32 in the world, is in Group H along with Poland (6), Colombia (13) and Japan (44). With the talent in their ranks, they could well spring a surprise just as in 1990 Cameroon in their second appearance at the World Cup defeated holders Argentina in the opening match in Rome and became the first African country to reach the quarterfinals of the tournament.

Tunisia, known as Eagles of Carthage, who are the highest ranked among African and Asian nations at 28, have been drawn in a group rated to be among the strongest having Belgium, England and Panama. Even though Panama is ranked 49th in the world, they are a tough side while Belgium is ranked at five and England at 12. Over a dozen Tunisians play in English and European leagues including Ajben Abdennou who plays for French side Marseille and Yoann Touzgar for Auxerre.

Nigeria, known as Super Eagles, have in their ranks players like Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi and captain John Obi Mikel who currently plays for a Chinese side having earlier played for Chelsea. Kelechi Promise Iheanacho (21) currently plays for Leicester City in the centre forward position having moved from Manchester City.

Three times African Nations Cup winners, Nigeria, who are currently 41 in the FIFA rankings and managed by German Gernot Rohr, have since the 1994 World Cup in USA qualified six times out of seven missing out the World Cup of 2006 in Germany. Their best ranking was in April 1994 when they were number five.

Nigeria are in the group with Argentina (4), Croatia (18) and Iceland (21). The going is indeed tough but the team has the talent and capability of pulling off an upset.

Egypt (30), known as the Pharaohs, are in the group with hosts Russia (65), Uruguay (17) and Saudi Arabia (63), and would find the going tough for Russia at home can be formidable while Uruguay are a strong side having in their ranks players like Suarez who plays for Spanish side Barcelona and Edison Cavani who plays for the leading French club Paris Saint Germain. Egypt does have a class player like Salah who plays for English Premier League side Liverpool and has in the current season been a fairly prolific scorer. They also have Mohammed Elneny who plays for Arsenal.

Morocco (48) are in a group with Asian qualifier Iran (34) along with heavyweights European champions Portugal (3) and Spain (8) so it is virtually curtains for Morocco and Iran after the first round since the top two teams qualify for the next round.

The going does appear to be difficult for South Korea whose best performance was in 2002 when the World Cup was jointly hosted by them with Japan. The Koreans reached the semifinals. In the upcoming tournament, the Koreans ranked 62 are placed with holders Germany, Mexico (16) and Sweden (25) who knocked out three times winners Italy in the qualifying stages.

The Koreans have in their ranks a player like Son Heung-Min who  plays for Tottenham Hotspur as also Ki Sung-Yueng of Swansea City and Lee Chung-Yong of Crystal Palace, but the other teams in the group are tough nuts to crack.

The other Asian nation which, too, has tremendous talent is Japan, ranked 44. But it is in a group with Poland (6), Colombia (13) and Senegal (32). Almost 18 Japanese players are playing in the top leagues such as Yuto Nagatomo for Italian Serie A side Internazionale, Hiroki Sakai for French side Marseille and Gotoku Sakai for German side Hamburg. Another Japanese player who has been doing well is Shinji Okazaki for Leicester City in EPL and Borussia Dortmund’s Shinji Kagawa. Australia ranked 43 too have a tough group with France (7), Peru (10) and Denmark (19).