The second half of the dynamic conversation with Akwesi from AfriCaaans continues, exploring the world of international football with a keen focus on African teams like Nigeria, Ghana, and Gambia (01:17), and their performances in World Cup qualifiers. The discussion delves into the frustrations and potential of African teams (05:26), the challenges they face, and the stylistic matchups against European and other international teams (11:18).

Additionally, the episode covers the prospects of World Cup hosts Canada (10:53), the USA, and Mexico (02:15), offering insights into their current form, squad depth, and tactical needs ahead of future tournaments (20:16). The talk also touches upon issues like player development, coaching strategies, and the potential for non-European teams to excel on the World Cup stage (22:16).

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Opening and closing music courtesy of Jeremiah Alves - "Evermore".

Welcome to the second half of our interview with Awei from Afrika.

2

We're going around the world in

less than 80 minutes talking all

3

things international football.

4

Enjoy.

5

Africaaans FC: Looking across the

pond, can we take a moment and

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say, Nigeria, will you ever fly?

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Will you, ever do anything?

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it's frustrating for me.

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as an African, it's frustrating to

see a team with that much talent.

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Like I've said this for years,

Nigeria has more Stryker.

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Talent than some countries

have quality players yet.

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Technically they haven't lost

they just haven't won the games

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they needed and now they're at

risk of missing another World Cup.

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But hey, at least I get to play in af on.

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That'll be fun.

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And so just seeing the games, I watched

a lot of games, this window because

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this was the window I figured would

be where teams would either separate,

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our groups would get much tighter.

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in many ways you saw the

Moroccos, Egypts Ghana.

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For the instance, we were able to give

us a little bit more breathing room.

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But you saw the likes of

Nigeria who needed six points.

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You only get four and now

they're at risk of not being

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able to play out of their group.

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So I think.

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Looking at calf World

Cup qualifiers was fun.

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Just seeing the drama, stress

of teams trying to perform My

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best friend is Gambian, and

my next best friend is Kenyan.

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that three, three game where Gambia

decided defending was for no one,

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and Kenya decided we'll score today.

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The group chat was alive that day,

but Gabi is another one of those teams

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where they just can't put the full

performance down and they have talent.

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They're a young, emerging side, but

lack the maturity to see out games.

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There's no reason that game should

have been at three, three, let alone

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three, two, that game should have

been five one by the time Kenya scored

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their second goal, but they weren't

able to put away their opportunities.

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And when you're in high pressure

situations, you can only learn

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it's seeing teams react to this.

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Anytime something goes wrong against

my team, I'll always post or tweet out.

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I still say Twitter, I don't care.

40

adversity is free, so let's

see how you react to it.

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And we saw Ghana React adversity.

42

We saw Gambia React adversity poorly and

we saw Nigeria kind of react, but then

43

not really do what they could have done.

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So watching how those teams

react and then vice versa.

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Looking at, say, going back to CONCACAF

Canada in the us, how are they gonna

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react to the adversity that they face

now, the pressure that they have, both

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were expected to play for a trophy,

neither did what do they do with that?

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Becomes much more fascinating.

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We have the rest of World Cup.

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club soccer then June the tournaments

World Cup qualifiers and Europe kickoff

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seeing how teams react to adversity

is the thing for me, because that's

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something that, you don't always see,

so you can only evaluate what as fans.

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We only get to see the games.

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You don't get to see training and

we don't get to see what's going on

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with them personally players wise.

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So you only see the games and

you can only evaluate the games.

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all you can do is watch and make

assumptions based off of that and

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then try to build the best, script

of what is actually happening

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and then make judgements and make

it, and make moves off of that.

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But seeing teams reacting to the

pressure of World Cup qualifiers is

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always fascinating because you see

the passion in the players, you see

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the passion in the fans, but you also

see the pain and that comes with the

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losses and the missed opportunities.

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And all you got to do is

watch it and it's free.

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see how you react to it.

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PSP: That's right, and there'll be much

to react in the next nine to 12 months.

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There's gonna be a few inter

confederation playoffs, which you never

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Be part of those.

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I've seen my fair show.

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Those Nope.

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You wanna observe and

not be participant in.

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Africaaans FC: No, true.

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PSP: just on Nigeria.

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I have to throw this in there.

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2006 I was with you.

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Yes.

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Nigeria were a defacto of mine.

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, Most of my other countries were

not going to the Men's World Cup.

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So Nigeria were a team.

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I would get behind.

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But after Ghana started to, get

into the main draw of the World

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Cup, I was cool with Nigeria.

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I was neither here nor there with Nigeria.

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it's tough because the Super Eagles,

underperform and frankly, the

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country has inferior joll of rights.

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Am I right?

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Africaaans FC: I agree.

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They are not top three in

West African gel of rice.

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They are not top three.

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I will go that far and say it because,

Sierra Leone fried rice is much better.

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I know too many Nigerians and

that's their argument every time.

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If I wanted to eat sandpaper, I would

eat sandpaper, but I'm not gonna do that.

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So I believe in flavor and good food.

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I'll send all my ING fans to this podcast,

This is how I feel about your food.

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Come at me.

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I agree, the frustrating thing with

Nigeria is like you see the talent, right?

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And it's just, you don't ever

see them put it all together.

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And it's frustrating because

again, as an African, you want your

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best teams, your biggest stars.

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Nigeria has arguably the biggest stars.

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the last two African players of the

year and to quote Ghana fans after they

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lost to Uruguay, but Uwe was out of

the World Cup because of other results,

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we'll all be going home together.

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at some point I'd like to see the best

my continent can offer at the World Cup

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but we will have just better stories,

which is unfortunate because Nigeria is a

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side that I feel that they match up well

with teams that aren't in the region.

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It's, you're in Canada right

do you follow any other sports

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other than football?

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PSP: Yeah.

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Africaaans FC: What do you follow

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PSP: baseball.

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Basketball, American football.

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Africaaans FC: there?

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PSP: football.

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Yeah, for sure.

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Africaaans FC: Yeah, I'll use an American

or like Canadian collegiate term, right?

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I think they, Nigerian and some

African sides match up well against

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the best teams in the planet.

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And for a lot of people, a lot

of Africans, it's the Europeans.

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We match up well with the Europeans.

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'cause apparently Africa and Europe

are just two different levels.

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That's a whole nother

conversation, Jamie Kerger.

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But

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I find that African teams match

up better with African teams.

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And some of those matchups where

they can't get through right in Conka

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calf Conka calfing is a thing, right?

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A team knows how to game the system, Get a

call from the ref, grow the grass an extra

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inch to slow down the pace or speed it up.

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But if you play teams like Dr.

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Congo sometimes you

struggle with African sides.

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But I think they would do well

against a lot of European sides

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based off not only their style of

play, but the players that they have.

133

And Nigeria's the same way, but they

have to get past Rwanda And Rwanda

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says, no, we have endured enough and

we will not endure your rice either.

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So you'll get a win, but nothing else.

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Some teams just match up

better against other sides.

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you don't get to see those

teams play when the stakes.

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Are high against teams who can match

their quality because they can't get

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away through the team that just knows

how to get under their skin and be

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able to get the results that way.

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And it's unfortunate for

Nigeria, but as a Ghanaian,

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I enjoy it so much.

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PSP: Yeah, it's like a nice warm bowl of

jollof, Ghanaian that's not mistaking for

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Jollof people talk about.

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Africaaans FC: Yep.

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PSP: yeah, it's hearty.

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there is an element of UR because the

last few ACON tournaments, Ghana have gone

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home early or haven't turned up at all.

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Nigeria have deep and it

has not been a nice time,

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Africaaans FC: No.

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I supported everyone.

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the Ivorians.

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Hey, I'm bilingual.

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I can support you in French.

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I'm here, I am here.

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Let's go elephants.

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Dj, you played at Chelsea.

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Every African Chelsea.

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Let's take this home for us.

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But they just don't match

up well for whatever reason.

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And that's just the nature of it.

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Do you find that when you're

looking at African sides, they don't

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match up well against their peers.

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There are teams that, for whatever

reason, always get results.

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But then you see them play a Switzerland.

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You see them play like a Sweden.

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You see them play even I'm throwing

Poland into this conversation

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because it's a name, but.

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You see them and you like, yeah,

we're a better team and we'll perform

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better, but get them to Africa send

'em to Madagascar and it's a struggle.

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we can't beat Madagascars

because on that day.

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They've got the results.

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Do you find that the same

as Africa or is it just

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PSP: Yeah.

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Africaaans FC: underperforming

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PSP: Yeah.

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I see that, especially in Africa.

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There are times we see it in the Asian

Federation as well with certain teams,

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Africaaans FC: Yes.

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PSP: yes.

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the idea of playing down to your

opposition, I'll use an NFL analogy.

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A team like the Kansas City

Chiefs, during the regular season

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Africaaans FC: Yes.

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PSP: they'll often win by

one score against a team.

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They should be, throwing two or three

touchdowns against, but they're,

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They know they're good.

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They do just enough.

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But in tennis, some of these teams

in calf, they, they're not doing just

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enough against some of the teens.

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They should be beating.

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They're drawing, they're losing in some

cases, but when they make it to the.

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A tournament to use, like the carism

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Africaaans FC: yeah,

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PSP: up against teams they're not

expected to perform well against.

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it does make you wonder.

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Morocco on the other hand they

shopped everyone last World Cup.

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They went to the semi finals.

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They matched Croatia,

they took it to France.

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It'd be interesting to see if

another team from CAF can get

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the semi finals time around.

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Africaaans FC: Morocco is a fascinating

case study before the tournament, they

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chose their players over their coach.

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Which is the more interesting thing.

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And that to me is like a do you

actually, and look at them now,

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Morocco has become the model child

in African football where it's look

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at them recruiting all their players.

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Look at them hosting all the tournaments.

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They are now the child who came

home with all A's in school

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and mom and dad love 'em.

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And everyone else was just like, I don't

like you, but you're winning so fine.

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But they chose their players and at the

result, and they were a team that decided

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just to be pragmatic with how they played.

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They weren't trying to be pretty, they

just said, we're gonna play this way

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'cause it's gonna get us that result.

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But they do have the fluidity if they

need to play possession they can If they

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need to play transition game, they can do

they have the depth, they are recruiting,

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they're always adding to their depth.

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They're not afraid of necessarily,

oh, we have too many, no, get

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as many players as you can.

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Have them play well, compete.

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And bring your best 23 to 26 and then

get a system that is easy enough to

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translate to the pitch and get results.

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I do think an African team can have a deep

run, just 'cause it's gonna be longer,

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how the format is for this World Cup.

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I don't know if I'm gonna bank on

Morocco repeating it, but they would

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be on the list for me from African

teams based off how they look as a

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team that could easily have another

deep run for the World Cup next year.

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They're going to make it.

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Let's not pretend like they won't, D

Congo is another group I think Senegal

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is one of those teams that on paper

they have the names, but they feel

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like the team that is holding on to

a generation of one cycle too many.

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And so I feel like if they can make it

through, it'll be one last run for them.

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But I don't know if they can

necessarily, they're the names, but

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It be like they feel they really do.

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They feel like a Saudi Arabian team

where you see all the names like, oh

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man, those were big names four years ago.

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okay.

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I guess that's why they're all playing

in Saudi Arabia or some of them are.

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Cameroon not making the World Cup is

disappointing, but I've been a Cape

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Verde Dark Horse team for the last

five years, so I'm finally happy seeing

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a return on my investment with them.

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if you have to pick a team based

off form right now, it would be

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Morocco and then probably TiVo.

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Those two teams, could walk into any

competition and get a deep run for Africa.

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Do you think an African team

or a CONCACAF team will make it

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further at the next World Cup?

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PSP: Okay, so that's a good point

you've raised Mexico seemed to have.

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I it around with a Gade and the new

generation that he's bringing through

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Canada Depth is gonna be an issue

as we've talked about, Jesse Ma is

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doing his best, but injuries happen.

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You have to navigate around

injuries in an expanded format.

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Although objective to the World Cup

is get out the group, get a win,

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get points, and get out the group.

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Anything beyond that is gravy.

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The US is a team that has a fan

base that believes they can win the

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World Cup and manages who's been

told to go and win the World Cup.

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I'm not convinced they necessarily had

the players to win, said World Cup.

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Now, coming back to your question,

I gotta say an African team.

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If it's not Mexico, it's probably

gonna be an African team.

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You just got guys.

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calf squads who are getting

regular playing time.

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don't see

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The US Canada, it's that depth issue.

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and Mexico, they're the kings of round 16.

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So why would they

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Africaaans FC: Yes.

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PSP: different to that?

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Canada and African team

get to the quarterfinals?

269

Yes.

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Africaaans FC: Yes.

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PSP: we've narrowed it down

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Africaaans FC: that is interest.

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I tend to agree with you we've talked

about depth, and I think I'll ask

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you a cand question in that sense.

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'cause apparently this

is now my interview.

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This is great.

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I love it.

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every podcast is a conversation.

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It's back and forth and you go, what

do you think this Canada side is

280

missing for you to take them, for

lack of better words, more seriously?

281

they have names and we've talked

about depth, specifically.

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What is the thing that you think

that they are missing to take that

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next step To be taken seriously

for the world's perspective.

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What do they need to push forward

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PSP: Let me touch on the women's team

quickly because I was thinking about

286

this the other day when Casey Stoney was

doing her media availability, her head

287

of the series against Argentina, and

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Africaaans FC: Yes.

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PSP: with them is they have

issues in the final third.

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They're very good at playing wide and

getting into the box, but it's getting

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the ball into the back of the net.

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That's a problem for them.

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On the men's team, I think they

solved the goal keeping issue

294

they had at the World Cup in 2022.

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they have two or three guys who

can fill that spot, defensively.

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I in assuming Alfonso Davies is

gonna be back for the World Cup?

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Africaaans FC: Yeah.

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PSP: They should be fine fallback.

299

Centerback is a concern, but in the

international game not easy to find a

300

centerback with a Canadian passport.

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So I would say yeah, just center back

and the set piece, defending the set

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piece, if they can either bring in a set

piece closer, if they have someone in

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there already improving the set piece

tactics, I think that will go a long way

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to addressing issues at the World Cup.

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What do you say?

306

Africaaans FC: That's interesting

because most Canadians would

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say their back line is set.

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I think most Canadians will see what the

emergence of Moise bonito with Derrick

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Cornelius, both of them playing in

France and the top League, league earn.

310

They feel they're at a good enough level

and bonito has just skyrocketed, literally

311

'cause he's just that quick of a player.

312

But also his rise has been very

much unforeseen by a lot of folks.

313

So most Canadians will say their

back line is fine midfield.

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Between stack and Kne, they feel

you have a solid enough set there.

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I think if you look at the nines, there's

a reason they brought in Daniel Jemison

316

and David they're trying to find another

nine who can play with Jonathan David.

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getting more opportunities will help.

318

on the right side, to me, look

like all Ahmed is a good story.

319

Jacob Schaffel are good stories.

320

I think though if you look at

that, the outside midfielder

321

are the winger position.

322

That is, to me, the difference

between this team, especially under

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Jesse Marsh who wants to play quick.

324

He wants to play fast.

325

He wants to press, and he wants players

who are, who have the IQ to really.

326

Impact the game you saw that with

Tejon starting against the US

327

picking his spots And they missed

that with no Jacob Schaffel.

328

I still think Jacob Schaffel Berg

is best used as a substitute.

329

Either the first 45 aren't going

well, you put him on to just go gas.

330

Just press and go.

331

Ali Ahmed, is a good steady

player who can give great

332

moments as he did against the us.

333

But I think he's less

interchangeable with Tejon.

334

I feel that Tejon is better starting

than coming off the bench, which

335

leaves the left midfield I said

earlier I think Jesse Marsh has

336

about 90% of this team penciled in.

337

the left midfield position

is the most curious spot.

338

can we still try to recruit a

player like Luca COO show who's

339

at Barley and doing things?

340

If you get a player like Kim at the

championship level, I think that's a

341

good enough player that you can put in

front of Alfonso Davies when healthy.

342

That makes Alfonso Davies.

343

I think the bigger threat, because him

on the ball is great, but I think you put

344

more pressure and more stress on a defense

when he's off the ball because he could

345

be three steps behind you, but the second

he takes off, he's al, he's winning that

346

ball and making the defense have to backup

and respect that speed and that pace.

347

I think would do wonders for this

team, especially in possession,

348

having to back them off.

349

I think that left midfielder,

left winger position.

350

is the biggest thing to address

from a starting 11 standpoint.

351

When you're talking the whole 23.

352

Yeah, like full back depth.

353

I know Richie is there,

I know Sam Kuby is there.

354

I am notorious in my family for not

celebrating things, so I don't expect

355

things to be there the next year.

356

though many are expecting that, looking

at the track record and unfortunately

357

the players just haven't been healthy.

358

they need to find some depth

at the fullback position.

359

Is that Nico Seeger?

360

I hope so.

361

I prefer I'm in a midfield,

but I don't make those choices.

362

Can they find another fullback both

left and right that can come in and

363

supplant and give some minutes that's

the big question and maybe they

364

have to look for younger players,

coming through the youth ranks.

365

Or make waiting for players

who are still emerging.

366

That's where people mention Joquila

Marshall Rudy, who was at TFC, now at,

367

CF Montreal, a player like him to emerge

would do well, but to me, I think the

368

biggest question mark for that team is

that left midfield position that left

369

striker, that left a winger position.

370

If they fix that, offensively

they look dangerous and fast,

371

they are the transition team, the

pressing team, Jesse Marsh wants

372

PSP: that's some great points you've

raised and that, would be a game changer

373

if they get the right person in into that

374

On the left side.

375

about someone from to see who's

been around the national setup?

376

Africaaans FC: Theo can still offer

something for the national team.

377

he is a winger, stuck in a striker's

body, he either has to be a camp for

378

this team or find space out wide.

379

And at TFC, unless you're Italian,

you're not playing out wide.

380

unfortunately Theo is Romanian Canadian,

so he's not gonna get those spots.

381

But I think he's a player that

I haven't given up on yet.

382

I think when he broke into the national

team, he certainly showed his quality,

383

he showed his promise that was there,

but he just, it's been interesting

384

watching his journey through clubs and

then watching Liam Miller, who finally

385

got a good spot at Preston North End.

386

Where it felt like Liam was making the

right moves, every five, six months

387

Theo was getting pulled from the club

and then sent to another And you don't

388

wanna label a player but after a while,

if the kettle is black, it's black.

389

All I know is the player has gone

to many spots and just hasn't been

390

able to break through consistently.

391

And, but the talent is still there.

392

So maybe this is a player who hasn't put

it all together, or this is just a talent

393

set that coaches look and say, maybe we

can, we are the people, the hubris of

394

coaching, the hubris of a team saying We

are the ones who can unlock this properly.

395

And maybe someone is

eventually able to do it.

396

He's still early in the season with

TFC, but he's a player who still has

397

the potential and is still young enough.

398

But I think with this team.

399

It's gonna get late very early.

400

And so he needs to start to

put up performances, right?

401

We're all talking, Canadians are

talking about Jayden Nelson because

402

how he started the year and I think

Jayden Nelson is a solid shout for the

403

Gold Cup to get some opportunities.

404

And he's another player who on the left

side could provide something that could

405

be helpful and useful for the team.

406

But he put in the results and he's put up

numbers and he's a good, Theo started off

407

starting and now is still fighting for

his spot, we'll see what that looks like.

408

But I think for him, if he can start

to put together some good performances,

409

it won't go unnoticed because

he's a player who does have that

410

pedigree of being part of this team.

411

And I think he can offer

something to this team still.

412

PSP: No doubt now.

413

There is a tournament coming up

before we got couple 14 tournaments.

414

Gonna feature Canada, New Zealand,

Ukraine, and TiVo I, and see

415

how Jesse Marsh experiments.

416

It'll be in Toronto.

417

You'll be there.

418

Africaaans FC: I'm

planning on going there.

419

I've told the group chat an

African team is coming to Canada

420

and they're like, we ride at dawn.

421

I hope you have $300.

422

But yeah, I think it'll be a good matchup.

423

I was talking with, one of my YouTube

compatriots about they approach those two

424

games, they play Ukraine on the seventh.

425

TiVo on the 10th, and the

Gold Cup starts on the 14th.

426

And I'm of the opinion that they

might split the squad and have maybe.

427

As many players as they

can for those friendlies.

428

And then send players back to

their clubs for the club World Cup.

429

Maybe you send them back if they're

able Or you try to see as many

430

players as you can then take a pool

from those players going forward.

431

you'd have to set your

squad for the Gold Cup.

432

I'm curious to see how Jesse Marsh wants

to run this, because I don't think you're

433

gonna play a team of that quality anywhere

in the Gold Cup, not named Mexico.

434

if you want to prepare players

unfamiliar with that level,

435

those two teams are perfect.

436

if you want to test players getting

ready for the World Cup, that's a

437

different conversation How do you

think Marsh should approach this?

438

PSP: you mentioned it best earlier

in the interview about national teams

439

not having a lot of time to prepare

with these guys when they come from

440

their thinking about the group.

441

you're probably gonna get a Uafa team

might get A team from CAF or Asia.

442

I would definitely be.

443

the Ukraine game like it's a

dress rehearsal for the World Cup.

444

Africaaans FC: Yep.

445

PSP: not saying you go out with a

second string lineup against Corvo,

446

but this is African champions.

447

Give them their flowers.

448

Maybe have a bit more of a

scenario analysis in that game.

449

Maybe that's the game where you say that

could be our third game in the group.

450

We need X number of points.

451

do a scenario analysis

452

Africaaans FC: Yeah.

453

That's true.

454

I think when you're playing

different teams, conquer calf

455

doesn't looked like any type of

world beaters in world football.

456

They are looked at as one of

the I mean are we the worst

457

confederation in the world?

458

Not named Oceania.

459

Is Oceania even considered a federation?

460

PSP: It's there.

461

Africaaans FC: I.

462

PSP: slot now.

463

Africaaans FC: New Zealand

doesn't have to fight.

464

New Zealanders are happy

They don't have to go to

465

intercontinental playoff every year.

466

They were happy when Australia left

and now they're happy this is here.

467

there was a bit of European hubris,

when it comes to some North American

468

sides that was the whole conversation

when Canada played Belgium.

469

we didn't expect them to play so directly

and forwardly and it caught us off guard.

470

Canada, in CONCACAF can't hide.

471

everyone knows what they are.

472

Everyone knows what they want to do,

so they're going to not let them do it.

473

They want to run, they'll sit

back and that's how it is.

474

But I feel like with European sides,

maybe they just won't take them seriously.

475

And then you'll have another

situation where it's yeah, I know

476

Canada had a good matchup, but.

477

We are Ukraine or we are Poland,

or we are insert European

478

country and we can handle them.

479

So I think you have a

better chance of there.

480

When it comes to African sides, I

feel like African sides will just,

481

unless they're playing Europeans,

they think they can play with anyone.

482

that might be a game for Canada where it's

similar to the game against the US at the

483

Nations league, where I think they just

match up better stylistically better with

484

co tival because co tival will play a up.

485

They wanna play up and down game fine.

486

They'll do that.

487

They have the legs for it, they're

not afraid to, and if Canada

488

wants to play that game too, I

think that suits them better.

489

So you might get to see what that game

looks like if a team lets you play.

490

You won't have as much respect, say,

made with some European sides because

491

there is that European hubris that comes

with all the best players are in Europe,

492

so we are the best that comes with it.

493

PSP: Yeah.

494

There's gotta be a shift I think

the world is catching up to Europe.

495

those days are over.

496

The elitism is on the wane.

497

we've gotta start taking the other

confederations more seriously

498

than the Europeans used to.

499

Africaaans FC: true.

500

But from the European perspective,

haven't, the other confederations

501

made semifinals at the World Cup?

502

Will it take an Asian country, a CONCACAF

country, an African country, winning the

503

World Cup for the sport to be respected?

504

for them not to have that European hubris

world where we're just playing this

505

lowly country from insert federation.

506

Will it take one of them

winning it for respect?

507

Or do we just need to keep

stacking good performances?

508

PSP: Okay.

509

I'll meet you halfway there.

510

'cause I think that has been

disrespect and this is something

511

that, that's annoyed me.

512

As much as I don't like the 40 18 format,

do think it is, good that Africa now

513

gets nine spots for 54 or 55 countries.

514

'cause I got five is ridiculous.

515

And thought that's what I'm talking

about when I'm talking about, disrespect

516

Africaaans FC: Yeah.

517

PSP: my beef is with FIFA you can't tell

me South America deserves five spots

518

when they have 10 teams qualifying.

519

But it is what it is.

520

with this current format, it is a bit

more spread out, which I appreciate.

521

Although we'll see what happens

when we get to the tournament.

522

Now to ask you a question

about how do we, yes.

523

I think with more upsets, or more teams

from non UA confederations putting

524

out Europeans, I think there'll be

more respect coming down the line.

525

Will we see a team from Conf Asia or.

526

Calf winning the World Cup would be nice.

527

this is probably gonna be one of the

most spread out world Cups in history.

528

There's gonna be a lot of travel.

529

I dunno if the Europeans are up for that.

530

They did seem to battle in Qatar with

the weather and the early kickoffs.

531

So it's might the opportunity.

532

Africaaans FC: Yeah.

533

I think yes, you'll look and say

there's more top European teams, but

534

I think give them the opportunity.

535

every man falls at some point

and giants aren't that tall when

536

everyone else is average height.

537

get them on the pitch, let

them play and see what happens.

538

'cause I, again, when African sides,

I think African sides match up well

539

stylistically, physically with that.

540

I think the thing that is more curious

is we haven't had an African side dictate

541

the pace metronome of a game in a while.

542

most African sides, when they come

to these competitions, counter,

543

But we haven't seen that in a while.

544

If you see that emergence

Morocco can dictate a game.

545

Morocco will play whatever game they

want to play that day, and it'll just

546

come down to what results they get.

547

If you get more of them, I think that

will start to also continue that shift

548

because it's not like we lack talent.

549

It's not, at least from the African

standpoint, we do not lack the talent.

550

We just lack sometimes

the mentality to do it.

551

But then also the tech, the coaches

willing to push us that's my

552

most frustrating thing with some

European coaches coming to Africa,

553

We're gonna get, all the fans will say,

where's the swashbuckling footballs?

554

They'll say where's the up and down?

555

Where's the style?

556

Where's everything?

557

And those coaches will say if.

558

We score.

559

If we prevent them from scoring, we

can just get one and we'll be fine.

560

And then you have a whole generation

built off a low block or a midblock,

561

but when they go to their clubs, they

are scoring and dancing over everything.

562

So get me the coaches who will let

them play football, how they know

563

it, but get them in a mentality

where they don't fear anyone.

564

in 2026, you could see.

565

three African teams in the quarterfinals.

566

You could.

567

Because I think they have the

talent when it comes to concacaf,

568

it's gonna be adrenaline, CONCACAF

will be straight adrenaline,

569

because Mexico has the pressure.

570

Canada will be them.

571

And then the US, as long as they play

in America, apparently they'll be fine.

572

Unless they play, Mexico.

573

And that's the weird thing

with conka calf teams.

574

They match up specifically

with teams in Conka calf.

575

But then outside of that, it's a struggle.

576

we'll have to wait.

577

And then Asia is a, I don't know

who, I don't know what to trust

578

coming out of Asia because,

guitar somehow won the Asia Cup.

579

They somehow won that.

580

I have thoughts, but they somehow won it.

581

did the thing.

582

PSP: as someone born and raised

in Australia, I have many

583

thoughts and they're not positive.

584

So let's do this, let's get

some therapy going here.

585

'cause I wasn't pleased when Qatar

won the bit, 'cause they were up

586

against the US and Australia for 2022.

587

they have a unique program for,

nurturing or bringing in talent.

588

It helped them win their first cup,

589

Africaaans FC: Yeah.

590

PSP: Prior to 2022.

591

we saw the real Qatar

592

They did get found out internationally

593

Africaaans FC: agree.

594

PSP: on the world stage they

managed to regress positively

595

and win the Asian Cup again.

596

we're seeing the real Qatar, once again

in qualified they are projected to squeeze

597

into the playoffs if they're lucky, but

on the outside looking in, is what you get

598

for a small nation tried to grow quickly,

but unfortunately there's still gaps that

599

it's gonna take time for them to catch

up to the likes of Iran and Saudi Arabia

600

that are vigor in terms of population.

601

It's gonna take time for

them to build that talent.

602

the way they've gone about it,

can talk about the ethics of that,

603

Africaaans FC: What ethics, Sir,

I am not telling you where I live.

604

This will be worldwide.

605

we're gonna leave that comment there.

606

everything was ethically done.

607

We all know this.

608

There is nothing fishy

about this whatsoever.

609

PSP: I'll say this, if they do have the

next World Cup off, I won't be bothered.

610

I'll leave with that.

611

Africaaans FC: we're talking

about FIFA who gave every other

612

federation a game in the next

613

Ethics.

614

Ethics, of course, yes.

615

ethics

616

PSP: Australia mysteriously

dropped out of the race for that.

617

I guess someone in the A FC said,

yeah, we're not endorsing you.

618

Africaaans FC: Yeah.

619

that's a sad thing.

620

I think Australia did a good job

with the Women's World Cup, it's

621

disappointing we don't see Australia even

if it's an Australian New Zealand bid.

622

they have the infrastructure.

623

the temperature would be the issue.

624

their winter or fall But they did it

well and deserved a shot, I'm frustrated

625

with just giving, like if the bid was

626

just Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.

627

That makes sense because Morocco,

on an African standpoint, have been

628

stepping up and they have been putting

the infrastructure dollars in and

629

they've done a good job of hosting.

630

They're hosting AF Con, they hosted

WAF Con, they're hosting WAF Con again.

631

Again, they've shown that they can

host these events, but, give it to

632

the country Ronaldo's playing for

looks left, looks right, reasons.

633

Yes.

634

PSP: It's not an accident

Ronald ended up in Saudi Arabia.

635

Very strategic.

636

Maybe he is been watching

on that since he's a kid.

637

Africaaans FC: Yeah,

that's, very believable.

638

I won't let so believe.

639

Yeah.

640

That man was always just, yeah, after

Holland Madrid yeah, Saudi Arabia.

641

It seemed like the next

best choice for my life.

642

good for you,

643

PSP: No, it's a great chat.

644

we've covered a lot.

645

pretty much gone around

the world In 80 minutes.

646

Africaaans FC: Yep.

647

PSP: hope you don't have jet lag.

648

Definitely get

649

Africaaans FC: feeling good.

650

PSP: and something to

eat, on arrival home.

651

And I'm sure we'll do this again.

652

Africaaans FC: We will.

653

PSP: I look forward to that Where can

they find your work on social media?

654

Africaaans FC: All right, so I am

on Blue Sky, at Africans FC Africans

655

with three A's On Twitter, It's

Africans FC three A's you can find

656

me on all podcasting platforms.

657

Africans, three a's fc.

658

And on YouTube, where I'm going

to be, I did a little bit of stuff

659

on the, Canadian as national team.

660

I cover Canadian and African football.

661

you can find me on YouTube

for video content if you like.

662

The smooth sounds of me at 5:00

AM in the morning talking to

663

you as if it's jazz at noon.

664

I do a lot of that, but outside of that,

those are all the places you can find me.

665

Most podcasting platforms,

the same name there.

666

But, you'll see that, I think we'll

put the name in the description and

667

you can find, actually I'll give you

my, my tiny URL and it has all my,

668

links there so you can find me there.

669

PSP: Fantastic.

670

We'll include that in the show notes

and you'll be able to follow on, 'cause

671

there's a lot of football still to come.

672

Africaaans FC: Indeed.

673

PSP: I've been your host Neil Wallace,

Bruce, and this has been an episode PSPI.