SLOWLY BY SLOWLY, African teams are exiting the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil, but the biggest shame thus far is seeing Ivory Coast come so close yet so far to progressing from the group.

The Elephants had their destiny firmly in their hands heading into the final Group C clash against Greece, but somehow conspired to hand the initiative back to the Greeks, who started the day in third place with just a point, two behind the Africans.

A draw was all Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure and co. needed to secure second place behind group leaders Colombia, who finished with maximum nine points and will now face Uruguay in the last 16—Greece will take on Costa Rica.

Ivory Coast players had been promised double bonus from 16 million to 32 million Cote d’Ivoire Francs (FCFA) by the country’s President Allasana Quatalla if they managed to beat the Greeks.

In the end they lost 2-1 and missed the opportunity not only to progress to the knockout round but to earn more money—maybe the double your bonus incentive isn’t so significant given that most of these players are multi-millionaires, but reaching the last 16 of a World Cup should at least be.

Consequently, the Elephants became the second African team on the early plane back home after Cameroon, who left without a point and importantly an injured pride of a nation famed for standing up to the challenge at the biggest stage.

As for Greece, the meeting with Costa Rica, a team that has caused the biggest upsets at this year’s finals, offers them their biggest threat so far.

Cost Rica topped group D with seven points after wins over Uruguay, Italy and draw against England—such a remarkable achievement by a team that no one gave a chance to get even a point against the three former tournament winners.