The 2018 Soccer World Cup is an apt metaphor for how traditionally winning and economically leading nations can be overtaken by those that have historically been regarded as perennial laggards. South Korea’s historic and unprecedented victory over Germany, and Nigeria’s solid and courageous display, should be a salutary lesson to countries in the global south. With Africa punching below its true economic potential, the moral is that with hard work and industry it is possible to be globally competitive. Certainly, it is a no-brainer that Africa needs to overcome psychologically limiting and debilitating strictures, as well as unlearn bad habits of short termism and profligacy. The continent needs to transcend trite rhetoric and clichés. In his book Breakout Nations in Pursuit of the Next Economic Miracle, Ruchir Sharma presciently notes that the overriding and indeed critical key to economic success for breakout nations is "if there is no wind, row". Hitherto, winning and consistent ...
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