| One of the indisputable facts about the FIFA World | | | | competition in five attempts and they will also need to |
| Cup is that every tournament has either been won by | | | | improve by the summer. With Argentina, South Korea |
| either a team from the host nation's continent, Brazil or | | | | and Greece in Group B they do have a chance of |
| Argentina. | | | | progressing although they will probably run into France |
| If you follow this logic, therefore, only Brazil or one of | | | | or England at the early stages of the knockouts. |
| the six African nations will lift the trophy in | | | | Algeria looked awful in their opening 3-0 defeat to |
| Johannesburg on 11th July. | | | | Malawi at the African Cup of Nations before |
| According to bookmaker Paddy Power, the African | | | | recovering to finish fourth. Victories over Mali and the |
| team with the best chance is the Ivory Coast. The | | | | Ivory Coast were promising before their meltdown |
| bookmaker offers odds of 28/1 for the Elephants win | | | | against Egypt where they finished the match with just |
| in South Africa. Despite boasting some of the | | | | eight men. I think the Desert Foxes will find it tough |
| continent's best players in Didier Drogba, Salomon | | | | against England and the USA. |
| Kalou, Didier Zokora, Emmanuel Eboue and brothers | | | | Ghana were also handed a tough draw in South |
| Kolo and Yaya Toure, the Ivory Coast were | | | | Africa, being pooled alongside Germany, Australia and |
| disappointing in the African Cup of Nations winning just | | | | Serbia. However, their gutsy performance in Angola |
| one match before their quarter final defeat to Algeria. | | | | should give them great confidence and they were just |
| They also have the problem of facing both Brazil and | | | | a few minutes away from taking the Cup of Nations |
| Portugal in Group G in the summer. Despite their talent, | | | | final to extra time. If Michael Essien remains fit they |
| I think it could be a struggle for the talented side to | | | | could be one to watch in South Africa. |
| even reach the World Cup knockout stages. | | | | Cameroon boast the best record of any African |
| The team with the best chance could be the host | | | | nation at the World Cup although this is not a vintage |
| nation South Africa. Despite their lowly FIFA ranking, | | | | Indomitable Lions side. Whilst they may be good |
| the team's brave performances in 2009's | | | | enough to see off Japan in Mangaung, their matches |
| Confederations Cup - where late goals resulted in | | | | against Denmark and Holland will be crucial. |
| defeats to Spain and Brazil - gave the country heart. | | | | Verdict |
| No host nation has ever failed to get past the first | | | | Whilst the bookmakers may believe Ivory Coast have |
| round of a World Cup and with a bit of luck and the | | | | the best chance of all the African nations, none of |
| momentum a host nation often benefits from in a | | | | them look good enough to challenge the top sides. The |
| major tournament, they could surprise one or two | | | | best chances of some African success come with |
| people. | | | | the hosts South Africa and a gutsy, organised Ghana |
| Nigeria's semi-final defeat at the African Cup of | | | | side. |
| Nations was their fourth defeat at that stage of the | | | | |