Buzzin Football

Brazil legend Pele famously claimed that an African nation would win the World Cup by 2000.

Although that prediction turned out to be spectacularly wrong it the fact the event will be hosted in the continent this time around will no doubt engender great pride in the players, most notably those of host nation South Africa.

Indeed, the location of the tournament is likely to give all African players a footballing lift as well as an emotional one.

By in large, the World Cup follows a simple rule – it is won by a country from the continent which is hosting it.

This rule was broken in 2002 when Brazil won the tournament hosted by South Korea and Japan. However, few would argue that Asia sides are on a par with their African counterparts.

Although World Cup Betting Odds this year’s hosts will face a struggle to make it to the knockout stages – they face France, Mexico and Uruguay in their group – other African teams might stand a better chance.

Ghana will face a tough task to qualify from Group D during the 2010 Football World Cup which also contains Australia, Germany and Serbia, but they have some quality players and Michael Essien could help them spring an upset.

The Ivory Coast – another team blessed with some very talented footballers – have also face hard going. They will play Brazil, Portugal and North Korea and Didier Drogba will have to be in top form if he is to fire his side into the last 16. Perhaps what the side need is a quality manager to get the best out of them.

If, as has been rumoured, Guus Hiddink takes the reins before the start of the tournament, then Ivory Coast’s chances of progressing should improve greatly. After all, he is the man who took South Korea to the semi-finals in 2002.

For their part Algeria face a less daunting task than many of their African counterparts. England are the only real footballing force they will face in Group C. However, it’s doubtful the African side will have enough quality to see off the USA and even Slovenia could prove to be a challenge and it’s a shame one of the stronger nations didn’t land what would have been a relatively plum draw.

After his last prediction was proved wrong, Pele shifted the deadline for his prediction forward by ten years, meaning an African nation will have to triumph at this World Cup to spare him more blushes.

It doesn’t look like happening, but it’s highly likely a few new African footballing heroes will be created this summer.