Africa's big guns caught resting on laurels

By Brian Homewood

MALABO (Reuters) - UEFA President Michel Platini, a staunch supporter of Europe's smaller teams, may be casting an envious eye towards Africa which has seen a dramatic levelling out in the last two years.

Poor management, ageing players and outdated coaches are blamed for the downfall of teams such as Nigeria, Cameroon, Egypt and South Africa, who all failed to qualify for the African Nations Cup being held in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

They have made way for the likes of Niger and Botswana, making their debuts at the tournament, Sudan and Libya.

The trend has continued at the tournament itself.

Senegal, whose attack included Moussa Sow, top scorer in Ligue 1 last season, Papiss Cisse, the Bundesliga's second top scorer last term, Mamadou Niang and Demba Ba, went home early after losing all three games.

Morocco, another of the pre-tournament favourites, also fell at the first hurdle along with oil-rich Angola.

Meanwhile, Zambia, whose squad includes only one player from a European first division club, are through to the last eight along with an Equatorial Guinea side based largely on Spanish lower league players, unfancied Gabon and Sudan.

It is all far less predictable than Europe where, despite Platini's encouragement for smaller teams, the qualifying competition for Euro 2012 produced a dull procession of easy wins for the likes of Spain, Germany, Netherlands and Italy.