THANKS AFRICA...WERE EGYPT THERE?!!

South African people should feel proud as they simply made all the people of the black continent proud. The World Cup 2010 that came to Africa for the first time was nothing but a complete success given the pre-event negative impression and fears of staging the world soccer showpiece in South Africa.

But things have gone smoothly...
True, maybe there is something here or there, but all in all, the competition has gone on with no explicit security implications. This is thanks to the government, the organising committee and the decent people of South Africa.

The 19th edition of the World Cup saw five African countries failing to get through the group stage with the host country South Africa, Cameron, Nigeria, Algeria and Cote De'voir producing humble displays and posting awkward results.

Only the surprise Ghana squad amazingly drove their way through to quarter final and had to end their adventure in a controversial penalty shoot-out showdown against South American heavyweight Uruguay.

Ghana's World Cup departure sparked debate about how to simply breach Fifa's fair play code. Uruguay' striker Luis Suarez, used handball skills to deny an injury-time decisive header from black stars' substitute Dominic Adiyiah.

Suarez's punishment of red card and penalty in this particular case was not enough and I guess FIFA would look to change their unfair rules that allow a player to continue to cheat, using his two hands at the goal-line to stop elimination of his team and infringe all fair-play rules, then become a national hero in his homeland!!

No doubt, Ghana's football future under the reign of my best friend Mr. Kwesi Nyantakyi the GFA president is guaranteed. I wish all GFA members all the best in their endeavor and professional approach towards football in Ghana.

Anyway, we, as African soccer fans, are very delighted with the black stars displays, and equally as important, their civilized behaviours throughout the tournament. In the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Ghana qualified for the second round in their very first appearance at the tournament. Four years later in South Africa, they showed the world their real worth.

Unfortunately, Egypt missed the world soccer gala in the African lands, though the pharaohs dominated continental football with their three back-to-back African Cup of Nations titles in Cairo 2006, Ghana 2008 and Angola 2010.

Egyptian people, who share all their African friends ups and downs, were impressed to see African fans carrying a noticeable banner in South Africa WC match saying "Egypt is here".

TV cameras caught the crowds with the emotional banner, a feat which alerted the world of the rude absence of mighty Pharaohs squad.

On behalf of all Egyptians, I would like to thank the SA and soccer fans from across the black continent for remembering Egypt in the World Cup 2010.

Thanks Africa.
Abdelaziz Abuhamar
www.superkoora.com