Hosts South Africa are perceived as one of the weakest sides in the tournament - and arguably the worst since the USA in 1994, as their 150-1 tournament win odds suggest (Bluesq, 888Sport and Coral).
Goal shy with only a clutch of players playing at the top level in European leagues, they will need every ounce of the nation's backing if they are to go beyond the first-round stage. Bafana Bafana are at least led once again by Carlos Alberto Parreira, back for a second spell in charge and the man who led Brazil to success in 1994.
They are 66s with Sky Bet to go all the way to the final, and 100-1 with Boylesports and Sky Bet to be unlikely runners-up. To be the top African team the hosts are 16-1 (Tote Sport) - with Ivory Coast favourites at evens with Tote Sport.
Potential opponents of Argentina should they progress, South Africa are 7-2 shots to reach as far as the last 16 (Sky Bet) - and 9-1 (Boylesports) to make the quarter-finals.
They are favoured at 1-3 with Sky Bet, Boylesports and William Hill to be knocked out of a group consisting of France, Mexico and Uruguay.
As noted, Ivory Coast, led by Bosnian coach Vahid Halilhodzic and with Chelsea's Didier Drogba as captain and star man, look one of the strongest sides that Africa will ever have fielded at the World Cup finals - save for Nigeria's 1994 and 1998 vintage. Their best players all play in top European leagues, players of the calibre of Eboue, the Toure brothers, Zokora, Dindane, Kalou and Kone - and should they come through a group containing Brazil and Portugal, would be confident of going far.
They are in the top 10 sides in terms of odds on potential winners, made 28-1 to win with six firms including Boylesports, Bet Fred and Sporting Bet, 14-1 with Bet Fred to reach the final and 20-1 (Tote Sport) to be runners-up. Other general win bets include Africa to win the trophy, 16-1 with Bet Fred; CAF at 14-1 to be the winning confederation with Sporting Bet; and 5-4 on there being a first-time winner of the tournament (Sporting Bet) - which would include every country involved in the tournament from the host continent.
Due to the quality of the Elephants' group, odds of 6-5 are being offered on elimination at this stage - a phase they failed to get beyond in their one finals appearance, four years ago in Germany. A last 16 exit is 6-4 - Spain could be potential opponents at this stage - while quarter-final opponents could be Italy - elimination then is 13-2. Semi-final disappointment is also offered at 12-1.
Sky Bet have odds of 40-1 on Brazil or England being potential final opponents, with Spain at 50s, Argentina 66-1 and Holland 70-1 - the latter two both teams they were beaten by at the group stage in Germany in 2006.
Didier Drogba to be top scorer and Ivory Coast to win the tournament is a 175-1 shot, with Chelsea team-mate Salomon Kalou at 600-1 - odds again from Sky Bet.
Of the other African nations, the following prices are being offered on who will go the furthest in the tournament: Ghana 9-2 (Sky Bet), Nigeria 11-2 (Tote Sport), Cameroon 6-1 (Sky Bet) and Algeria 40s (Sky Bet and Tote Sport).
The first three look the best bets, due to their respective groups, World Cup experience and the quality of their first XI. Algeria, who scraped into the tournament via a tense play-off victory over Egypt, are in England's group.
Ghana went the furthest of all the African qualifiers in Germany, reaching the last 16 before bowing out to Brazil.
To be beaten then this time Tote Sport are offering 2-1, with potential opponents likely to be England or the USA. To be knocked out at the group phase they are 8-11 - from a group that includes Germany, Serbia and Australia, while a quarter-final exit is 13-2 - again, offered by Tote Sport.
Cameroon are the most successful African side in the World Cup finals, having reached the last eight in 1990 and reached six finals.
They are 13-2 to do the same 20 years later, a feat that could be possible should results go their way (and they avoid Italy in round two) - and Samuel Eto'o be fit and in form. In a group including Holland, Denmark and Japan - the latter two opponents are beatable - they are 19-10 to reach the last 16, 4-6 to go out in round one (all odds with Tote Sport).
Recommendations
South Africa to be eliminated at the last 16 stage, 7-2 Sky Bet
Nigeria to be top African team, 11-2 Tote Sport
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