Giroud Predicts Senegal, Ivory Coast or Ghana to Surprise at 2026 World Cup
Former France striker Olivier Giroud has tipped Senegal, Ivory Coast and Ghana as the African teams most likely to make a splash at the 2026 World Cup. He left out Morocco and South Africa despite Morocco’s historic semi-final run in 2022 and South Africa’s opening match appearance. Africa has a record 10 nations in this tournament, including Egypt, Nigeria, Tunisia, Algeria, Cape Verde, DR Congo and others. Giroud told BBC Sport that any of his three picks could emerge as the surprise package in a competition where the continent’s depth of talent is stronger than ever. The tournament kicked off with Mexico defeating South Africa 2-0. Many believe 2026 could be the year an African side finally reaches the final.
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