Claude Le Roy backs Nigeria and DR Congo as future World Cup winners

Claude Le Roy, the veteran French coach best known for his long and distinguished career in African football, has named Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo as the two countries he believes are most likely to one day lift the FIFA World Cup.

Le Roy, who guided Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions in the late 1980s and earned the nickname “the white wizard” for his achievements across the continent, drew on his decades of experience in African football when making his prediction.

Over the course of his career, he managed several national teams, including Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Congo and Togo, giving him a rare and wide-ranging perspective on the strengths and challenges facing African football.

Speaking about his observations, the 76-year-old expressed particular admiration for the progress of the Congolese national team.

The Leopards reached the semi-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, their first last-four appearance since 2015, a run that he described as both inspiring and instructive.

“I was very impressed with the DRC’s campaign,” Le Roy said. “It was not only a source of pride for their supporters but also a warning for their opponents, because every game against them became a difficult one to prepare for.

Their performance demonstrated how far the team has come and how competitive they have become on the continental stage.”

Reflecting on their dramatic clash with Côte d’Ivoire during that tournament, Le Roy praised the spirit shown by both sides. “It was a contest between two nations who played without fear and with nothing to lose,” he explained.

“Both had endured difficulties in the group stage, but their ability to come back strong and reach such a high level was remarkable. That is the type of mentality that can take a team far, even on the world stage.”

Le Roy’s confidence in the DRC stems not only from their recent results but also from his personal connection with the country. He spent four years coaching there and witnessed first-hand both the obstacles and the potential that shape Congolese football.

Despite limited resources and infrastructure challenges, he was struck by the extraordinary depth of talent available.

“Congo is a footballing nation brimming with quality,” he said. “The raw ability, the passion, and the determination of its players are immense.

With proper support and continued development, I am convinced that the DRC has everything required to compete at the very highest level.”

Alongside DR Congo, Le Roy singled out Nigeria as another nation with the capacity to achieve the ultimate prize.

The Super Eagles, three-time African champions, have long been considered among the continent’s footballing powerhouses. For Le Roy, their vast pool of players, both domestically and abroad, combined with a strong footballing culture, makes Nigeria one of the likeliest candidates to eventually deliver Africa’s first World Cup triumph.

“If an African country is to win the World Cup in the future,” he concluded, “then the Democratic Republic of Congo or Nigeria are the two most probable to do it.

Both nations have a wealth of talent, an abundance of passion for football, and the kind of determination that can carry them to global success.”

Le Roy’s words carry significant weight in African football, given his decades-long association with the game on the continent.

His prediction highlights not only his respect for African talent but also his enduring belief that the continent will one day celebrate a World Cup champion.