FEATURE-Soccer-Troubled African game marks 50th anniversary

By Mark Gleeson

LONDON, Feb 7 (Reuters) - African soccer exports a myriad of talent around the world but the success of the continent's teams on the global stage has not lived up to the predictions.

Both Pele and former England manager Walter Winterbottom are credited with forecasting that the continent would produce a World Cup winner by the end of last century but to date Africa has had only two quarter-finalists -- Cameroon in 1990 and Senegal in 2002.

As the game in Africa celebrates its 50th anniversary on Thursday, it continues to battle problems of resources and infrastructure.

African nations have won world championships at age-group level and two Olympic gold medals but these triumphs have been clouded by later admissions of age cheating.

The continual exodus of African footballers to Europe in search of higher wages and more prestige has been a double-edged sword for the game.

Performances of national teams have got better with the influence of the professionals but many domestic leagues have been stripped bare of talent and marquee players.

FIFA GRANT