WHY AFRICAN NATIONS ARE UNDERPERFORMING: CHELSEA LEGEND DIDIER DROGBA

Didier Drogba

Former Chelsea legend, Didier Drogba has explained why it is difficult for African nations to compete well at World Cup events.

Last Sunday marked the start of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup, with the host nation falling to Ecuador 2-0.

There has never been an African nation in the World Cup semifinals, and it doesn't look like that will change in Qatar.

Senegal, which earlier this year won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), fell to the Netherlands 2-0 despite playing without their top player Sadio Mane, who has since been ruled out of the competition due to injury.

On Wednesday, Tunisia and Denmark drew 0-0, and Morocco drew 0-0 with Croatia.

Drogba thinks African teams struggle due of the continent's diversity, even if Cameroon and Ghana have yet to play their first matches.

The Ivory Coast's all-time leading scorer told the BBC: "[Sadio] Mane on his own could not have performed much better than what we saw in the game [Senegal against the Netherlands].

"It's very difficult for African teams because you have got individualities. They are very good at their clubs, especially those playing in Europe.

"But when they come together, it becomes more difficult for the manager to find the right system. To play the right guys at the right position, to keep that intensity that's required when you play at that kind of level."