Ivory Coast face huge task to survive first round

Ivory Coast’s hopes of an easier World Cup draw second time round were dashed on Friday as they drew giants Brazil and Portugal in Group G of the first round here.

Skipper and star striker Didier Drogba had hoped for weaker opponents after the west African ‘Elephants’ were grouped with Argentina and Netherlands in Germany three years ago and suffered narrow losses before beating Serbia.

Some African pundits believe the Ivorians can go all the way and become the first African winners of the tournament when it is hosted by South Africa next June and July, but they now face a massive mission just to reach the last 16.

Brazil have won the World Cup a record six times and Portugal finished fourth behind Italy, France and Germany three years ago while no one dare underestimate North Korea, who stunned Italy in their previous appearance in 1966.

Hosts South Africa were also out of luck, getting Mexico, Uruguay and France in Group A, with no guarantee that the belief of coach Carlos Alberto Parreira can make their dream of reaching the second round come true.

France won the 1998 World Cup on home soil and finished runners-up to Italy in 2006 and Mexico are experienced campaigners who traditionally reach the second round.

Ghana, another team tipped to go far, got no favours from the draw either as they must face three-time champions Germany, rapidly-improving Serbia and dark horses Australia.

Serbian coach Milovan Rajevac has promised something special from the ‘Black Stars’ in South Africa and it will take all the wiles of Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari and company to make the top two.

Cameroon, whose appearance in South Africa will be a record sixth for an African nation, must contend with the star-sprinked Netherlands, Denmark and Japan.

Nigeria, who scraped into the finals after trailing Tunisia until the final round of their qualifying group, got two-time champions Argentina, South Korea and Greece and can harbour realistic hopes of making the knockout phase.

Algeria, back after a 23-year absence for a third appearance, face England, United States and Slovenia and are certain to be labelled likely whipping boys ahead of the June 11 start.

Cameroon and Senegal have gone furthest of the African qualifiers for previous tournaments with the ‘Indomitable Lions’ reaching the last eight in 1990 and the ‘Teranga Lions’ repeating the feat 12 years later in South Korea.