00:01Superfan Abbasila arrives at one of Dakar's World Cup fan zones, decked in the colours of the Senegalese flag.
00:09But this year's tournament is historic for Africa as a whole, with ten teams qualifying.
00:16And that's not lost on fans.
00:20During the World Cup, all of the African countries that are part of the World Cup come together,
00:26like before when we wanted to make the African Union, through soccer, God willing, we can make an African Union.
00:34Because if Ivory Coast plays, it's Africa who plays. If Senegal plays, it's Africa who plays.
00:43Nine African teams made it through to the knockout stages.
00:47South Africa was eliminated on Sunday, but Morocco beat the Netherlands the following night.
00:53I think we are growing, Africa. Yes, we are growing.
00:58Because 19 out of 10 has qualified to the second stage.
01:04It's something that, yes, I think is really good.
01:07African sports analyst Colin Udo says a number of internal factors have kept the continent's teams from reaching their potential.
01:15But he says they're also undervalued by the international community.
01:20Because for too long, there has been a dismissal of African football.
01:24And when you look back and think to the fact that whenever there's the Africa Cup of Nations,
01:29you see European teams speaking of trying to hold players back.
01:33And even recently, coming into this World Cup, you had the Italy coach,
01:38Gennaro Gattuso, saying that African teams should have less places at the World Cup.
01:43You had the UEFA president saying similar things.
01:47So Africa has always had quality.
01:51I think now the world is beginning to see it.
01:54And with everything left to play for, Africa's World Cup fans are only getting started.
02:01Well, this flash leads.
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