Generous hosts may ease African struggle for goals

There were four straight shutouts between Senegal, Tunisia, Morocco and Cameroon and not a whole lot of chances created either.

DOHA, QATAR - NOVEMBER 21: Bamba Dieng of Senegal reacts to a missed chance on goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group A match between Senegal and Netherlands at Al Thumama Stadium on November 21, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

The sample size may be small. But it’s stark.

Africa’s World Cup is five games old. There have been two draws and three defeats. And until the second half at Stadium 974 on Thursday night, when Ghana finally came to life, there had been over seven hours of football without a goal. As it is, the two that Andre Ayew and Osman Bukari got in vain against Portugal still leave African teams on course for a goalscoring cliff-fall in the context of recent World Cup history.