Twenty years ago, the trajectory of African football was clearly marked. Cameroon had just beaten world champions Argentina at Italia 90 before being cruelly knocked out in the quarterfinal – the furthest an African team had gone at the time – by England, despite dominating for long periods of the game.

Pele was even moved to predict an African World Cup winner by the end of the century. But like most of Pele’s predictions, this didn’t come true.

African players offered something new, but the continent soon became an enormous academy for European clubs to plunder.

One look at the number of Africans player in the Champions League provides evidence of how far football on the continent has come. But an examination of the African Cup of Nations and the continent’s successes – or lack thereof – at World Cups since 1990 reveals a national game in a sorry state of decline.

In the three World Cups prior to 1990, African countries made leaps each time, going from their first win to first place in the knockout stage to Cameroon’s first appearance in the quarterfinals.

Nothing has changed since.

Ghana were denied a place in the semifinals of the 2010 World Cup in dramatic fashion when Uruguay’s Luis Suarez handballed on the line to prevent Dominic Adeyeh’s goal. But those who cry “unfair” forget that the African team were the beneficiaries of a handball decision in an earlier match between Australia and Serbia – a call would have knocked Ghana out of the group phase had it been reversed.

Senegal, Nigeria, Cameroon and Ghana have all provided great stories at World Cups but never success.

The African Cup of Nations two years ago saw appalling football and this year’s has been little better. As nice as it is to see small countries like Gabon, Sudan and Zambia make a mark on the tournament, the competition simply isn’t the same without the big guns of Egypt, Nigeria, Cameroon and South Africa, all of whom fell short of qualification in calamitous circumstances.

South Africa didn’t qualify because they misunderstood the rules and played for a draw against Sierra Leone instead of a win.

Part of the problem is what noted football writer Jonathan Wilson calls “The Papa Bouba Diop template.” The former Fulham midfielder, affectionately called “The Wardrobe,” made a name for himself as an incredibly athletic, muscular and all-round physical specimen. Since then European clubs have fallen over themselves to find another such player. This has prompted top academies in Africa to create athletes rather than the skilful players – like Jay-Jay Okocha, Roger Milla and Abedi Pele – who first captured the world’s imagination.

Corruption, government interference and – in Egypt’s case – social uprisings have all cost large countries a place at the African Cup, diminishing the quality of football and denying fans the chance to see Samuel Eto’o and co. African football may not necessarily be going backward, but in a continent of such potential, that can only be seen as a failure.

A pointless pleaA small request to the Lebanese Football Association, a request it is easy to assume will go unnoticed by the powers that be: Please replace Rahif Alameh with someone who has a clear vision, incorruptible nature and a genuine love of football and development.

Nominees for the post haven’t emerged yet, and the ink of Alameh’s resignation is barely dry, but the turn of events offers the perfect opportunity to continue Lebanese football’s upward curve.

The stadium ban is lifted, attendances are slowly increasing and the national team is in a period of unprecedented success. A sport that has been looked upon as a joke in this country is now a point of excitement for local fans who love football.

The LFA has always been the subject of corruption and frustration. A lack of funds has beset the organization and an unwillingness to revitalize the game has stunted football in this country and now the time is right to bring in young blood who can take the sport to the next level.

The association is no longer just expected to administer the game; it is now in a position of great responsibility and ideally placed to strike and lay down a blueprint for further generations.

The Youth and Sports Ministry is genuinely trying to expand sports in this country, and the entrepreneurial spirit that it has passed on to the organizations of smaller sports should be passed on to the football federation.

Alameh spoke of a $1 million reserve – despite constant claims when in office that the federation was skint – that can be put to good use, building municipal playing fields and creating initiatives spearheaded by Lebanon’s current generation of internationals.

So much can be done if the right person is chosen. Sadly, such an appointment is impossible in such a politically minded country and organization where personal interests always trump collective goals.