As Africa could not get a representative in the knockout stages of the FIFA Club World, Kaizer Chiefs legend Shaun Bartlett has suggested why.
Africa had four teams in the first edition of the expanded Club World Cup, as Al Ahly, Esperance de Tunis, Mamelodi Sundowns and Wydad Casablanca gained entry from CAF.
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Record CAF Champions League champions The Red Devils crashed out of the tournament without a single win and finished bottom of Group A, that also had Palmeiras and Inter Miami, who both progressed and while FC Porto finished third.
Esperance could also not get out of Group D, as they ended in third, behind Flamengo and Chelsea, with at least one win against Los Angeles.
Sundowns, meanwhile, also finished third in Group F, behind Borussia Dortmund and Fluminense, with one win against Ulsan HD.
And lastly Wydad lost all their group matches against Manchester City and Juventus, who both went through and Al Ain, who ended up in third.
"The biggest observation regarding African teams is a question we've been asking ourselves in the Betway Premiership, when it comes to the striking and conversion rate is too low, you can't create 14 opportunities and only have two shots on target," Bartlett suggested on omniaudioafrica YouTube Channel.
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"It's small margins but the higher you go in football, on the continent and internationally, that makes the difference. You look at Wydad, players like Cassius Mailula and (Thembinkosi) Lorch, they were unbelievable, Lorch especially, he put himself in the map.
"We have the talent on the continent but it's just a matter of developing it early and even when it comes to the striking force, those are things you teach a player at a young age, what to do in certain positions, it's something that stays with you for life. That's something we need to improve on," the former Charlton Athletic striker added.
