Popular gospel singer and convener of the Hallelujah Challenge, Nathaniel Bassey, has shared his thoughts on the recurring struggles of African football teams in major international competitions amid the ongoing 2026 FIFA worldcup.
Reacting after a recent match involving Argentina, Bassey said he was not taking anything away from the South American side or football icon Lionel Messi, whom he described himself as a fan of, but wondered why African teams often fail to maintain their momentum despite making strong starts.
He questioned whether the repeated setbacks were due to the superiority and experience of their opponents or something deeper.
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“Taking nothing away from Argentina, and of course also being a Messi Stan, I’d still like to ask, what is it about African teams and not being able to finish well even after a strong start? And more so when almost crossing the finish line?
“Is it that the other teams are just more superior? Or more experienced?” he wrote.
Bassey, however, offered his own perspective, suggesting that the problem is more psychological than technical.
“Personally, I think it’s a mentality issue. There’s just something about the way they think, especially toward the end of these games, that switches them off,” he added.
Source: Sports Archives – New Telegraph
