Let's begin with a bit of education; what is the ‘Comfort Zone’? The comfort zone is a certain situation or environment where one feels the most comfortable or at ease. It's also the way of life in which we feel coziest.
Specifically with regards to football, it is a level in which a team or group of teams have reached a level of performance or achievement and are contented with it. Until present, it has felt almost transgressive to talk about the possibilities of an African team lifting the World Cup trophy. Most of the continent’s nations have done more harm than good.
In a World Cup event, qualified teams from all over the continent have different level of interest in the prestigious World Cup trophy - most make up the numbers while few makes their number count. Historically, the level of interest exhibited by most South American teams is in stark contrast with its African counterpart.
With the AFCON trophy and World Cup qualification being the primacy of major African teams because that is the level we feel comfortable thus, craving anonymity at the quadrennial tournament. When we get onto the global scene, it's apparent we perform like we are on the wrong stage, wrong crowd with the wrong intention because we are outside our Comfort Zone. We then tend to become nervous and isolated prompting us to participate and perform as a representative from Africa. However, in this context comfort is a thing of concern.
For all of this tragic occurrence, Northern African Football uni-cephalous ruler Egypt should have a large share of the blame. Dominating Africa by clinching 7 continental titles with their superior ball skills. Despite their success at continental level (country & club), they've been unnoticed on the world scene, as no victories were recorded in their two appearances at the 1930 & 1990 editions and they're presently perceiving qualifying for the quadrennial tournament "a bridge too far". This portrays their mediocre satisfaction and interest in comfort.
Generally, Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002) most recently Ghana (2010) are Africa's only ever World cup quarter finalists. It underlines the "Advanced Spectator" roles being played by African teams as a whole in the mundial despite being represented in 12 editions. This stat also resonates the fact that African teams find it a bit much difficult to adapt outside of their Comfort Zone; thus limiting boundaries.
Imminently, i think Nigeria are the most vulnerable, being aware of their recent upgraded status-quo, they're likely to be sufficient with it, thus plunge deep into their Comfort Zone and could prompt them to turn out as African champions rather than a contender at Brazil. Not necessarily pulling a Spain-esque stunt (Euro 2008 winner subsequently World Cup 2010 Champion), but taking a clue from the "La Roja", thereby distinction from being African Champion and World Cup contender.
World Cup winning teams such as host Brazil, Argentina, Italy and co. never get satisfied with previous achievements, they tend to go an extra mile to fuel their hunger for success. Referencing Abraham H. Maslow, an American Psychologist in his famous work, Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs; "Needs are arranged in a hierarchy of importance, ranging from the lowest need level" and also "Only unsatisfied needs can influence behavior". This gives a crystal clear picture of what the ultimate motivator to move out of a Comfort Zone is; "Hunger".
From my own perspective, excluding the level of tacticality and technicality of a team, it takes a positively psyched hungry minded players to maximize his innate skills thereby producing effective and efficient results.
Indisputable Liga BBVA Champions and UEFA Champions League finalist Atletico Madrid also showed that beyond the glitz and glamour exhibited by city rival Read Madrid, the flair and tacticality possessed by Catalan giant Barcelona, the team with the hungriest drive would always thrive above unfocused and satisfied teams with best set of players respectively.
Atletico Madrid situation changed the moment they realised their comfort zone isn't that comfortable, thus, stopped chasing the 'After-best' spot and started craving for the top spot.
African teams can follow suit in this Atletico-like paradigm; deserting mediocrity, goalsetting, unquenchable hunger and willingness to do absolutely everything needed to achieve success are what is required to successfully move out of the comfort zone.
I suppose the real issue that confront teams after being charged up with words similar to this is whether or not they are guilty of being complacent.
On a final note, "taking no risk is the greatest risk", so a bold step outside of the Comfort Zone is worth it, as there lies the "Ultimate Price".
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