Vuvuzelas blow for football feast
Ever since South Africa staged a highly-successful World Cup in 2010 interest in African football and players has intensified across the world and there are predictions that record numbers of television viewers will watch Zambia attempt to defend their continental title.
Wanyama will not be among them as South Africa take on Cape Verde in the opening match in Johannesburg today because his nation, Kenya, have not qualified; but like millions across the world he will be digging out his vuvuzela anyway.
“I’ll certainly be watching because it’s a big, big tournament, a very important competition and one of the best in the world,” said the midfielder.
“Every team wants to win it and I dream of Kenya being there one day. We want to qualify for the next one!
“The atmosphere at the African Nations Cup is always special. You could see the atmosphere at the World Cup and I think this will be the same.
“The World Cup did so much for African football because everybody across the world could see how exciting African football was and see how far we have come. The quality of football is improving all the time and you will see that again I think.”
For Wanyama the 2013 tournament is an unpredictable one. Who could say anything different after underdogs Zambia won last time — the Copper Bullets winning a penalty shoot-out 8-7 against Didier Drogba’s Ivory Coast just 19 years after 18 members of their squad were killed in a plane crash in Libreville.
“There will be lots of very good teams there this time,” insisted Wanyama.
“As for the favourites well you have Zambia, they are very good, you have Ghana and you have Ivory Coast. Then of course Nigeria are starting to come back. It’s difficult to predict.
“But maybe I’d say Zambia, because if they can play like they did last time then they have a big chance. They are one of the teams to look for. It was a great story last time. I was praying for them to win because they came so far and the story behind their national team was so emotional.
“They showed the world that you do something special in football. They were the underdogs and they came out and won the trophy. It just shows that you never know what can happen in football — and I felt it too when at Celtic we beat Barcelona, the best team in Europe and some say the best team of all time. That was a very special feeling; the kind that makes everyone in the world want to watch.”
It would be hard for the 2013 tournament to match the emotion that went with Zambia’s victory last time out, but the quality still looks very high. Drogba’s Ivory Coast remain favourites and are ranked 14th in the world by Fifa — not surprising when they also include Yaya Toure in their ranks — while Algeria, Mali and Ghana all feature in the top 30.
“There will be great football and I think a lot of people will watch to see the stadiums and the sights they saw in the World Cup,” said Wanyama.
“It was just amazing to have the World Cup in Africa and it’s changed a lot of things. It changed the way the world thinks about football in Africa and it has changed the facilities too. I think football in Africa is getting better all the time and this tournament will be very close.
“Look at Group D. Ivory Coast, Tunisia, Algeria and Togo. It’s a tough group — a group of death!
“Now in Africa there are lots of good teams, you cannot say one team is a big favourite. You saw it in the last tournament — nobody thought Zambia were going to go that. Now you can see there are many teams trying to do the same.
“It’s very difficult to win the trophy because there are no real underdog teams any more. Zambia have proved that. That’s why this game is so amazing.”
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