Africa fall foul of familiar mistakes
For the first time at a World Cup, Africa had six representatives - Algeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, South Africa.
Whether world governing body Fifa will maintain that tally for the 2014 finals in Brazil is debatable after all but one of the sides disappointed in South Africa.
Africa's hopes of World Cup success in 2010 ultimately came down to one kick, a penalty that smacked the bar and soared high into the Johannesburg sky - taking the continent's dreams of a first semi-final appearance along with it.
But had Ghana's Asamoah Gyan converted that spot-kick against Uruguay, it would have disguised what has been a poor tournament for Africa.
The continent registered only three wins from 18 group games - a record that sits uncomfortably alongside South America's tally of 10 from 15.
Playing 'at home' was supposed to help Africa's sides but, as former Nigerian midfielder Jay-Jay Okocha has claimed, perhaps too many thought this perceived advantage removed the need for good preparations.
I’ve been covering African football ever since my first Nations Cup in Burkina Faso in 1998. After leaving desk life at the BBC in London to cover West African sport for the BBC from Senegal in 2007, I relocated to Johannesburg to report on the build-up to the continent’s first World Cup.
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