A veteran football coach reveals numerous reasons why prodigiously gifted players from the continent never lived up to the hype

Despite the imposing performances of African teams at age-grade tournaments, it has become troubling that these feats so far have not borne fruit at senior level.

The troubling part is that most of the players discovered at these championships never justify the projections on them, as they end up failing to realise their potential.

The likes of Philip Osundu, Moussa Traore, Nii Lamptey, Ishmael Addo, Macauley Chrisantus, Dominic Adiyiah and Sani Emmanuel took the world by storm and were tipped for greater things thanks to their exploits at youth level.

Sadly, before the applause died down, they disappeared from the footballing fraternity.

For those who never went into oblivion easily, they play in obscure football leagues where they struggle to get first-team action.