Any hope for Africa?

Group D: Angola, Iran, Mexico and Portugal
– Group C: Côte d’Ivoire, Argentina, Netherlands and Serbia and Montenegro
– Group E: Ghana, Czech Republic, Italy and USA
– Group G: Togo, France, Korea Republic and Switzerland
– Group H: Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Spain and Ukraine.

So what chance do Africa’s five hopefuls really have in the 2006 Soccer World Cup?
The next few days will provide an answer to a tricky question that even the staunchest supporters of Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Angola, Tunisia and Ghana cannot respond to with much confidence. Africa holds the key to possible drama and excitement.

Expectations are understandably modest this time and it seems even qualifying for a place in the second round might be too much for the continent to expect.
The Tunisians may have grown fat on European contracts, but signs are that the Elephants of Ivory Coast could be even better.

With World Cup-pedigreed Nigeria, Cameroon and Senegal failing to qualify, the continent’s hopes now rest on the broad shoulders of Chelsea forward Didier Drogba and his Côte d’Ivoire compatriots.
The fact that the entire continent is banking on a side that is making a first appearance at this level says a lot about the calibre of the other hopefuls.

Observers believe that this star-studded but unproven side’s run to the final of the African Nations Cup early this year provided valuable experience that will come in handy in this event.

The former England coach, Graham Taylor said in 1990: “It is possible that an African country will win the World Cup. And if and when they do, I have a funny feeling that the rest of the world can forget about doing likewise for some considerable time.” – Sports reporters