There are many ways to win a football match. And for a number of the sides competing in this year’s AFCON tournament in Cameroon, the expectation has been that their superstars will swing each game in their favour.
Yet as the tournament has progressed, it’s become clear it’s not as simple as that.
Defending champions Algeria didn’t make it out of the group stages, despite having stellar talents such as Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez and West Ham’s Said Benrahma.
Gabon’s hopes were pinned on Arsenal striker Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, but he played no part.
And the traditionally fancied Nigeria were unexpectedly knocked out in the round of 16 by Tunisia, despite fielding an array of top names including Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho of Leicester City, and Everton’s Alex Iwobi.
Yes, superstar players can sometimes deliver a piece of brilliance that provides a goal that can make the difference, but the pressure to perform on the world stage is intense and they don’t always reach the high standards expected of them. And sometimes a team can end up unbalanced.
Instead, the tournament so far has shown that less fancied nations can spring a few surprises of their own.
Newcomers Comoros won many admirers with their progress out of the group stage, and a thrilling performance against Cameroon in the Round of 16. They were forced to field an outfield player in goal after losing all their keepers to Covid positive tests or injury, and played most of the match with 10 men after losing their skipper early on to a red card. Yet Cameroon struggled to win 2-1 after an heroic performance from their opponents.
The Gambia have exceeded expectations in progressing far into the tournament, and were inspired by their coach Tom Saintfiet’s words before the game to become heroes, which the Scorpions did with an impressive win over Guinea.
And Cape Verde have impressed many by getting out of the group stage and making their supporters back home proud.
All of these have used one very important approach at the heart of their success: teamwork.
Teamwork means every player pulls their weight. Each one knows their job in how the team play and supports every other player. No-one is greater than any other, and the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
In many sports, teamwork and the desire to win can often triumph over greater skill and talent.
It’s the same in life, where people, made in the image of God, can achieve much more when they work together and support one another. We are created for community.
Followers of Jesus are called to unity and mutual support, as the apostle Paul reminds the church in Philippi: “… make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind” (Philippians 2:2)
It’s well worth remembering, in a world where so many long to be superstars, that ordinary men and women, working together, can achieve extraordinary things.
· To find out more about what it means to be a follower of Jesus, take a look at our page on finding faith: www.planetsport.tv/finding-faith