Former France star and 1998 World Cup champion Marcel Desailly has singled out Côte d’Ivoire as Africa’s brightest hope for reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, praising their remarkable talent, squad depth, and surging confidence.
Desailly shared his bold prediction in Abidjan during the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour, an event presented by Coca-Cola that has electrified football fans across Africa.
The trophy’s arrival on African soil has reignited passionate conversations about the continent’s football journey and the promise that lies ahead.
Drawing on his experience at football’s highest level, Desailly reflected on both the strides African nations have made and the hurdles they still face.
He emphasized that while Africa’s well of talent runs deep, persistent grassroots challenges have long held back its footballing progress.
“We lose a lot of players because our academy is not up to the level,” Desailly explained. “Our league in the various African countries are also not up to the level to be able to maintain the players and grow them up before they go to Europe.”
Despite these concerns, the former AC Milan and Chelsea star was quick to acknowledge the remarkable improvement in the quality of African squads in recent years.
Desailly pointed out that what now sets African teams apart is the newfound depth and consistency that once eluded them.
“So yes, when you look at most of the teams now in Africa, you can see that inside the team there are a lot of first-choice players in Europe. So the potential is there”.
While Côte d’Ivoire remains his top pick, Desailly insisted that Africa’s hopes do not rest on one nation alone. He believes other teams can match or even surpass Morocco’s inspiring 2022 World Cup semi-final run.
“The quality is there, the belief is there,” he noted. “As Morocco did by reaching the semi-final, Senegal can do the same thing. Ivory Coast can also.”
“We are now hoping that, now that there are nine African teams in the system, one of them will reach the final.
“Maybe Ivory Coast, even though I love Ghana. I believe that the Ivory Coast has the potential to reach the final…”
Yet, Côte d’Ivoire has never moved beyond the group stage in its three previous World Cup appearances in 2006, 2010, and 2014.
Desailly’s words carry a personal resonance. Born in Accra, Ghana, and having forged a stellar career in Europe, he brings a heartfelt, authentic perspective.
As anticipation builds for the 2026 tournament, the World Cup Trophy Tour is igniting hope across Africa, hinting that this generation could finally make history on football’s grandest stage.
