Can an African team win the 2010 Fifa World Cup on the shores of their home continent? It's a question that's been posed plenty of times since South Africa won the right to host the World Cup way back in 2004.

And I believe that watching the 2010 African Nations Cup in Angola in the past few weeks has brought me closer to a conclusion. Unfortunately, that conclusion is a total, unhesitant, palpable 'NOT A CHANCE!'

The performance of Africa's five World Cup qualifiers at the Nations Cup (South Africa, of course, did not make it to Angola) have, in fact, left me with little confidence that an African side can even make it as far as the last 16 of South Africa 2010.

Perhaps it is because I have, for the previous four Nations Cups - Mali in 2002, Tunisia in 2004, Egypt in 2006, and Ghana in 2008 - had the pleasure of attending the tournaments, and experiencing some of the vibe that goes with the continent's soccer showpiece.

I don't know, maybe it also has to do with those garish "African-themed" outfits SuperSport's presenters have been forced to wear during the television coverage of the tournament.

But there is something about Angola 2010 that I have found distinctly uninspiring.

Only occasionally have Africa's World Cup qualifiers shown glimpses of their true talent. The Ivory Coast were my pre-tournament favourites, but their performance in Angola has left me doubting whether they will make it out of a group containing Brazil and Portugal.

The Ivorians have a potent attack, but defensively, they look totally lost at sea. The ease with which Algeria punctured the Ivorian rearguard in the quarterfinal was staggering. Ronaldo and Kaka must be licking their lips in anticipation.

If the Ivorian defending was poor, meanwhile, then Cameroon's was a total joke. The Indomitable Lions' defensive shortcomings are illustrated by the fact that Rigobert Song is still playing for them at the age of 33.

Paul Le Guen ultimately dropped Song after erratic displays in Cameroon's opening couple of games, but even after that, the Indomitable Lions conceded another five goals, culminating in a 3-1 quarterfinal defeat by Egypt. Geremi's howler handed Egypt a decisive goal in extra time in that game, while goalkeeper Carlos Kameni was badly at fault for Egypt's opening goal too. It was a litany of errors that Le Guen's side will be able to ill-afford at South Africa 2010.

Next up, Nigeria. Oh dear. The Super Eagles produced some of the most sleep-inducing football I have ever seen at this tournament, particularly in their quarterfinal against Zambia. They missed a few chances in the semifinal against Ghana, but they hardly bombarded the Black Stars' net.

Perhaps the West Africans need to pull a Cameroon in 1990. After a dismal African Nations Cup, Cameroon hauled Roger Milla out of retirement and went on to reach the World Cup quarterfinals. For Milla, read Jay Jay Okocha. Wherever he is, Nigeria badly need his midfield genius.

Don't get me wrong, there are bright sparks among the World Cup qualifiers in Angola. Algeria proved exactly why they are at South Africa 2010 with their thrilling win over the Ivorians. Unfortunately, ill-discipline got the better of them in the semifinal against Egypt.

Ghana, meanwhile, appear to have built well on their success in reaching the last 16 at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Milovan Rajevac has done brilliantly to drag Ghana out of an injury crisis, all the way to the final.

It is unfortunate, however, that by far the best team at this tournament, a team that has pummelled all-comers on the way to the final - Egypt - have not qualified for South Africa 2010. They may well have made an impact, and the World Cup, I believe, is poorer without them.