SoccerClub takes a look at the prospects of Africa’s representatives at the Fifa World Cup.

Africa’s best will measure their strength against the best at the World Cup in Russia this month.

Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Tunisia and Senegal will attempt to close the gap on Europe and South America’s powerhouse teams at the global showpiece.

MOROCCO

Having missed the previous four World Cups, the Atlas Lions should have an incredible appetite to excel. However, they are in the extremely tough Group B – alongside 2010 champions Spain and Portugal, the reigning European title holders.

Their opener is against Iran, who are expected to be the whipping boys in this group. If Spain and Portugal can cancel each other out, then Morocco will aim to at least get a point from one of them to progress to the next phase.

Herve Renard, the coach of this Morocco team that made it to the World Cup for the first time since 1998, won’t necessarily pin his hopes on a defender, but Juventus centreback Medhi Benatia will nevertheless be a hugely influential player.

NIGERIA

A lot of Africa’s hopes at the World Cup rest with the Super Eagles, who are something of a constant feature, seeing that they have been at five of the previous six tournaments.

Their impressive qualification display, brushing aside Cameroon, Zambia and Algeria in what was very much the ‘Group of Death’ in the Caf qualifiers for the World Cup, suggests if they carry that form to Russia, they could be unstoppable.

Nigeria will face familiar foes in Argentina, but also have to contend with Croatia and debutants Iceland when they meet in Group D.

Captain John Mikel Obi, at age 30, will look to show his class in what might be his final World Cup. Chelsea’s Victor Moses, who plays a more advanced attacking role for the Super Eagles than at his club, has also shown himself to be an effective goal poacher.

TUNISIA

With England’s poor track record at major tournaments and Panama an easy target as first-timers at a World Cup, Tunisia could be among the surprise favourites alongside Belgium in Group G. Beat Panama, try to upset England and hope for the best against Belgium – probably the best approach for coach Nabil Maaloul as the North Africans aim for a knockout berth.

Tunisia have injury doubts, though. Youssef Msakni’s knee surgery could keep him out, but he remains hopeful, even though reports suggest he definitely won’t recover in time to play in their opener against England on 18 June. Msakni has scored 14 goals in 51 appearances for Tunisia and his contribution during the qualifying rounds was immense: three goals in seven matches.

EGYPT

The Pharaohs have finally made it to the World Cup finals after more than two decades of trying.

Coach Hector Cuper, a man with a long history of coming close but not going all the way in several tournaments as a club manager, will fancy Egypt’s chances, given that perhaps only Uruguay are heavy hitters in Group A.

The Pharaohs will take on Russia, Saudi Arabia and the South Americans in the fight to make it to the last 16.

Only one player comes to mind: Mohamed Salah. The Liverpool talisman who, as at the end of April, had scored 43 goals in 47 matches for his club, has been a revelation in the Premier League and will be the man to watch for Egypt.

SENEGAL

You wouldn’t be too far off in arguing that coach Aliou Cisse’s men, on paper, at least, have the best squad of all the African teams. Each of their players, with Sadio Mane probably the most in-form, are capable of being match-winners.

Their qualification was impressive, despite that controversial replay with South Africa because Fifa found the match to have been fixed. Group H of the World Cup doesn’t seem all that tough with Poland, Colombia and Japan, but these sides boast good players too.

Mane stands out because of his form at Liverpool over the past two seasons. He managed three assists and one goal for Senegal during the qualifiers – statistics that don’t do justice to how influential he is for the Lions of Teranga.

4 – The number of times Argentina and Nigeria have met in World Cup group action. La Albiceleste have triumphed in all four matches: 2-1 in 1994; 1-0 in 2002; 1-0 in 2010; and 3-2 in 2014

– This article first appeared in the June issue of SoccerClub magazine