France legend tips Bafana to surprise at 2026 World Cup – ‘There is belief and a possibility’

Former France defender Marcel Desailly believes South Africa could enjoy a great run at the 2026 World Cup despite not being tipped to go far.

Bafana Bafana sealed a return to the World Cup for the first time since 2010 when they hosted while they had last earned qualification in 2002.

However, a Round of 16 exit from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations dampened the spirits somewhat but there is hope that veteran coach Hugo Broos can right his wrongs at the World Cup where South Africa will play co-hosts Mexico, South Korea and European team that will be either Denmark, North Macedonia, Czech Republic or Republic of Ireland.

Desailly, who won the World Cup with France in 1998, feels South Africa cannot be discounted among the African teams that made it, even though some think the likes of Morocco, semi-finalists in 2022, Ivory Coast and African champions Senegal have a better chance.

Marcel Desailly has faith in Hugo Broos

“It’s quite simple – you’ve got the opportunity, out of the nine African teams that have qualified, to play this World Cup in a new format, so even being second or third, you can qualify yourself [for the knockouts],” said Desailly as quoted by SABC.

The former Chelsea defender also thinks South Africa, who did not go past the group stage at the previous World Cups in 1998, 2002 and 2010, are in safe hands by having an experienced coach like Broos, who won AFCON 2017 with Cameroon and led Bafana Bafana to third place at AFCON 2023.

“So preparation will be key, and you are lucky you have a smart coach who knows exactly what he’s talking about, he’s tasted victory [at a major tournament], so he knows and has led them to third position during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations,” he added.

“So there’s the belief that the coach will prepare the team well, no matter who is coming, because you are not favourites [to win] anyway – this is the truth.

Ex-France star wants Africa to surprise

“But there is belief and a possibility, and that’s why we love football because you never know; it’s not like other sports where the best team is supposed to win most times.”

After Morocco made history by being the first nation to reach the semi-final of a World Cup four years ago, Desailly hopes to see more African countries getting to the latter stages of the competition and even winning.

“In football you can still produce [a result] if you have that confidence, and we are so proud of Morocco for having been able to reach the semi-final of the World Cup for the first time in Africa’s history, and we’re looking forward to the next one,” he said.

“Yes, Senegal, Morocco, but Bafana is in the system so we hope they will have that capability of understanding the pressure and transpose it into performance.”

Desailly was speaking during the World Cup trophy tour in South Africa.