By Jay Kitchen

Africa 2010 World Cup has shown us an array of ups and downs so far, along with some blunders that may cost some teams a chance to move on in the world’s biggest sporting event.

America can certainly be considered one of the prime victims, and with no chance of any recourse or justice may be done in by a referee’s decision.

There is always animosity towards the match referee before any game. The head man will make a mistake on the field at some point, but for the U.S. national team, that moment could be costly.

Coming back from a 2-0 deficit in the second half in a must-have some type of result game against Slovakia, the Americans seemed to have gone ahead with a goal from Clint Dempsey near the end of the game. But just as the red, white and blue started to celebrate, the goal was disallowed by referee Koman Coulibaly.

It set the game into a frenzy. American players appealed and questioned Coulibaly about the goal being taken away. It did not matter. No goal for the Americans and a 2-2 final score.

The backlash has been all over ESPN and other world-wide media outlets. Coulibaly lost his credentials to officiate as referee in the center at the World Cup for the time being. At the time, a U.S. player was also grabbed in the penalty area, which also could have resulted in a penalty kick for America.

America got a point with the draw, but missed out on qualifying to the next round. Their game against Algeria in mid-week will determine their moving on. They do have a good chance to win and advance. A tie might also see them advance, but it would be complicated.

Algeria is one of Africa’s representatives, and will likely not advance themselves, but still stand in America’s way. With advancement, the Americans will be where many predicted they should be--in the final 16 of the World Cup.

Fellow Group 3 team England also needs to get a positive result. England, under Coach Fabio Capello, was hired to lead the English to their first World Cup since 1966. If you think that the U.S. would be upset if they did not move on, it would be a national disaster in England. Star player Wayne Rooney has to step up in their game against Slovakia. Capello said he would step down as national coach if the English don’t get to the second round.

America’s biggest rival, Mexico, has done well in Group H where a French team, runners-up at the last World Cup and winners in 1998, boycotted their weekend practice after popular player Nicolas Anelka was sent home after a confrontation with unpopular coach Raymond Domenech.

With the win-or-go-home games coming up soon, Africa, and its millions of fans, may be disappointed with their team’s efforts and results after years of hope.

South Africa, the host nation, raised the hopes of a nation and a race with their opening game tie with Mexico last week.

But with Siphiwe Tshabalala’s goal in the first game followed by a loss to Uruguay, the excitement is somewhat gone. The Bafana Bafana now plays France, with a slight chance of the host advancing, something every host nation has done in prior World Cups.

South Africa has seen little since their spectacular start. South Africa has only one point after two games. Even a win over France, which would be a major upset, may not be enough. Many were hoping that the quest for the hosts to move on would continue. Still, the hosts played well in their games and made the nation proud.

Nigeria also will likely bow out as they have zero points in Group B. Argentina should win that group.

Algeria in Group C is in last place with one point but is still the surprise team to make the World Cup.

Ghana is a major player in Group D, one point ahead of powerful Germany, to the surprise of many. Ghana, a strong defensive squad, is a usual fixture at the World Cup.

Cameroon, with some players playing in top leagues in the world, has no chance to advance. Star player Michael Essien had a quality season at powerhouse Chelsea in the English League, but fell way short at the Word Cup in Group E.

Ivory Coast, also with players such as Dider Drogba, who is one of the best strikers in the world but got hindered with a broken arm, has no chance to advance out of Group G.

The lack of African teams’ success was not too much of a surprise to some. But Ghana, not one of the most skilled or talented teams, can be one of the more physical teams, and with a good draw in the next round, can advance to the quarter-finals and have the whole continent behind them.

Africa still has hope in its teams, and they are still making the biggest party in the world, something that the world has not seen before.

Elimination rounds begin next week.