Africa’s best XI in World Cup history

Since Africa made its debut world cup appearance in 1974 in the shape of DR Congo, the farthest any team from the continent has reached is quarter finals.

Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana achieved that feat in 1990, 2002 and 2010 respectively whereas Nigeria is also the first African country to reached the round of 16 twice in a row.

Sportsworldghana.com takes a look at Africa’s best eleven players in World Cup history.

Richard Kingson

The agile shot stopper used just one friendly game to get back into the Black Stars team ahead of the 2006 world cup in Germany. He was one of the most outstanding players as Ghana reached the round of sixteen and also the quarter finals in 2010

Ferdinand Coly

He was a pillar at the back for the Terenga Lions in the 2002 World Cup as they reached the quarter finals before losing to Turkey through an Ilhan Mansiz golden goal.

Aliou Cisse

The skipper of the famous Senegalese team at the 2002 world cup. Cisse formed an impregnable partnership with Ferdinand Coly at the back and they put the brakes on all the attackers they faced.

Taribo West

He played ed in three successive world cups (1994, 1998, 2002) and was superb at the back as the Super Eagles reached the second round in the 1994 and 1998 tournaments

John Paintsil

A marauding right-back, Paintsil played all the games for Ghana at the 2006 and 2010 world cup. He never put a foot wrong and was superb at right-back

Omar Daf

An efficient left-back, Daf could also operate as a right back because if being ambidextrous. He was among the best defenders at the 2002 world cup in Japan/South Korea

Bouba Diop

Nicknamed “Wardrobe” because of his giant stature, the late Bouba Diop netted three goals in the 2002 world cup including a stunner against France in the opening game.

Sulley Muntari

Muntari played in three world cups for Ghana scoring two goals and providing one assists. He was one of the key players as Ghana reached the second round in Germany.

Hadji Diouf

One of the stars in the 2002 world cup, Hadji was the live wire pf the Senegalese team. Despite the Teranga Lions reaching the quarter finals, Diouf made the list of the ‘team of the tournament”

Asamoah Gyan

Africa’s leading scorer in the world cup history with six goals and one assist in three tournaments, Gyan’s name can never be erased when one is talking about the performance of the continent players at the Mundial.

His goals against USA and Germany are listed among the FIFA World Cup best goals.

Roger Milla

The star man of the 1990 world cup, Milla is Africa’s second highest scorer at the world cup with five from three tournaments. He is noted for guiding Cameroon to the last eight in Italy.

Formation: 3-4-3

Reserves

Francois Oman Biyik

Austin Okocha

Salif Diao

John Mensah

Sunday Oliseh

Andre Ayew

Peter Rufai

COACH: Bruno Metsu