Pape Diouf, the former president of Olympique de Marseille, and Stephen Keshi, the coach of the Nigerian national team, both express confidence in Africa’s prospects. Diouf predicts that two African teams will advance to the second round, emphasizing that Africa has the potential to surprise many during the tournament. Keshi echoes this sentiment, highlighting Nigeria’s strength and emphasizing the team’s goal of advancing past the group stage.
Avram Grant, the former Chelsea coach, shares a similar outlook, believing that African teams have the capability to produce excellent results in Brazil. He suggests that with the right mentality, countries like Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Nigeria could even reach the quarter-finals, potentially making history for African football.
Overall, there’s a collective sense of optimism and belief among African football enthusiasts that the 2014 World Cup could be a watershed moment for the continent’s teams. While the challenges are significant, there’s a strong belief in the talent and potential of African footballers to make a mark on the global stage and potentially defy expectations by achieving unprecedented success.