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Africa's best bet: Ivory Coast

Cape Town - Bookmakers are favouring Ivory Coast to be Africa's leading side at the 2014 FIFA Soccer World Cup

Ivory Coast are firm favourites amongst football fans around the globe to be Africa's most successful team at the 2014 Soccer World Cup and leading South African bookmakers Flashbet, have installed Ivory Coast as favourites to be the continent's top side.

Ivory Coast are playing in their third consecutive Soccer World Cup but will be hoping to do better than at past tournaments. In 2006, the Elephants failed to progress after being drawn in a group with Netherlands and Argentina. The draw was not kind in the 2010 edition where Ivory Coast found themselves in a pool with Brazil and Portugal. As a result Ivory Coast again failed to progress into the knockout stages of the competition.

Ivory Coast have a relatively 'easy' group consisting of Colombia, Japan and Greece. However, Ivory Coast will be well aware of the fact that there are no easy games at a Soccer World Cup.

Ivory Coast are bringing a wealth of talent to the 2014 Soccer World Cup where players like Yaya Touré, Wilfried Bony, Serge Aurier, Cheick Toité and Didier Drogba will all be aiming to help Africa's number one ranked side progress to the Round of 16 in Brazil.

Betflash have Ivory Coast at 0.95/1 to be Africa's best country and 108/1 to win the competition.

We asked our fans on the Sport24's Facebook page and the fans seem to agree. Lindina Dugo suggested it was Ivory Coast who would be topping Africa's charts "A team called Yaya Toure...all the way". It's hard to disagree with that.

Ivory Coast fixtures:

Ivory Coast v Japan, Arena Pernambuco. (Kick off 03:00 SA time)

Colombia v Ivory Coast, Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha. (Kick off 18:00 SA time)

Greece v Ivory Coast, Castelão. (Kick off 22:00 SA time)     


Follow Sport24 soccer producer Wade Pretorius on twitter: @wadepretorius

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