Manager: Vahid Halilhodic

Key player: Didier Drogba

Best: Round one (2006)

World ranking: 16

Widely considered to be Africa's strongest team, the Ivory Coast sailed through their qualifying group. A 1-1 draw with Malawi in Blantyre meant they were the second African side to reach South Africa from the qualifiers. Chelsea's Didier Drogba came on as a substitute to score the crucial equalising goal for the visitors after Jacob Ngwira's opener.

The Elephants put on an exciting show at the 2006 finals in Germany but failed to progress beyond the first round, largely because they were drawn in the 'group of death' with Argentina and Holland. The side has undoubted talent in the shape of forward Didier Drogba, who is firing on all cylinders for Chelsea this season, Manchester City defender Kolo Toure, and Sevilla midfielder Didier Zokora, to mention just three. The excitement that Africa may finally have a side to challenge for football's biggest prize could well be justified.