The ongoing Nations cup has turned in a tricky fashion with no clear favourite to win it.Most of the big teams like the defending champions Zambia, Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa were forced to draws during their opening games, and dropped crucial points that might cost them a place in the knockout phase.The opening few games have not been exciting owing to lack of goals. The goal drought has been attributed to the lack of striking talent on the continent.We are yet to see the likes of Abedi Pele, late Rashidi Yekin and Jay jay Okocha. Currently, there is currently scarcity of natural strikers. There has been no improvement from strikers involved in 2012 AFCON in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. Didier Drogba and Christopher Katongo were flying high last year but are now close to retirement and their performances have suddenly declined.A country like South Africa has resources and infrastructure for development of players but they leave much to be desired.Though the hosts managed to get past Angola during their second game, they were less impressive against Cape Verde in their opening game that ended in goalless draw. The Bafana Bafana lacked spark upfront with minimal creativity.Bafana coach Igesund seemed very skeptical on his playmakers’ role as experienced Siphiwe Thabalala had to be replaced by less impressive Serero. South Africa is relatively a developed nation but this does not reflect in the most popular sport on the planet.The hosts have been average for a long time and have failed to produce to the nation’s expectations. SAFA need to critically investigate the reason for continued average players but one noticeable aspect is that they get louder cheers for usually ineffective tricks and flicks. They are more excited by gestures like the Shibobo than they do for well executed passes.With so much potential in terms of infrastructure, many players should be coming close to the ranks of current Everton midfielder Steve Pienaar, who is retired from international football.Coaching and development seem to be another worrying factor across the continent. For example, the current golden generation of ASEC Mimosa academy as the likes of Toure brothers, Solomon Kalou, among others, slowly vanishes.Didier Drogba, Didier Zokora and Kolo Toure are not getting younger. Hannover 96; striker Didier Ya Konan currently leading Ivory coast attack alongside Arsenal man Gervinho will never be as good as Drogba during his time at Chelsea. To some extent it must be accepted that Africa has just lived through its most productive phase of individual quality.There are visible signs of collapse from one generation to another.Inconsistency seen in countries like Nigeria and Egypt justifies incapacitated development of young players. .