(JT) The 2010 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament begins on June 11 and with a total of six African countries participating, our continent has perhaps its best chance ever to win the trophy.

In the history of the World Cup, the Cameroon team is the most successful African team, having passed to the Quarter-Finals stage in 1990, after shocking Argentina and surprising the world. Many remember that July day in 1990 when Cameroon was facing England, and with many people in Ethiopia glued to their radios, cheering for Cameroon to finally bring the trophy to Africa. Cameroon was leading England by 2-1 most of the game. But  with less than 10 minutes remaining, England was awarded a penalty, to tie the game 2-2. England was awarded another penalty during the extra time and ended up winning the game 3-2, and crushing the hopes of millions of Africans. Since that day, no African team has reached the Quarter-finals round again.

While the current host country South Africa has a weak team for the 2010 tournament, Africa will once again be represented by its historically top teams, the G4 - Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Nigeria. Otherthan watching Ethiopian runners at the world stage, nothing else excites people in Ethiopia more than following the English premier league and World Cup football competitions. Some Ethiopians continue to support African teams at the World Cup. But having been disappointed by their own Ethiopian teams as well as by the poor performance of African teams, some Ethiopians also support non-African teams during world cup tournaments. 

• VOTE on the right: Who do you support in the upcoming 2010 World Cup?

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(Video from 1990 games)