In 1990, Milla's charismatic Cameroon team charged to the quarterfinals, prompting Pele to forecast an African winner by the end of the century. He was wrong - and in four World Cups since then the best African showing was Senegal's quarterfinal finish in 2002.

This week, Ghanaian great Abedi Pele made an even braver prediction than his Brazilian namesake. He reckons an African team will win the 2010 mundial, with home-continent advantage giving them an edge.

For Pele, Ghana's Under-20 World Cup victory in Egypt last month was a happy omen, suggesting that familiar conditions and sympathetic crowds will do the same trick at SA 2010.

There's no doubt home-continent advantage is real: every past World Cup won by a European team has been in Europe. Conversely, every mundial held outside Europe has been won by a South American team.

Even so, the bookies are backing Spain and England, along with Brazil and Argentina, to lift that fabled lump of gold on July 11. Patterns are there to be broken, after all.

But Africa's six-nation army cannot be dismissed. Featuring all the powerhouses of modern African football bar Egypt, it's the strongest battalion the continent has yet mustered.

It's also bigger than ever: the five conventional qualifiers, plus hosts South Africa. And even Bafana Bafana, thanks to home advantage, will not be as outgunned as Togo and Angola were at Germany 2006.

But the continent's best hopes of smashing the quarterfinal barrier lie with Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Ghana - three teams who enjoy coaching stability, attacking brilliance and a core of World Cup experience.

Can one of those sides win it? It's still a long shot, given the tiny margins for error: none of the African defences are as formidable as those of the seeded giants. Goalkeepers and fullbacks are often the weak links.

But history beckons furiously; the World Cup finals will not return to this continent for decades after 2010. It's now or never for Africa.

Ivory Coast

The Elephants were given a hellish first-round draw in 2006: they lost narrowly to Argentina and Holland before clobbering Serbia and bowing out. They're stronger now, with all their kingpins harder and wiser .

The formidable Didier Drogba is showing no sign of decline. Yaya Toure is the leading defensive midfielder on the planet, while big brother Kolo is in his prime at 28. Under the guidance of Bosnian coach Vahid Halilhodzic, the Elephants qualified with ease and they're widely rated as the leading African challengers. But their rearguard is worrisome. There is no compelling partner for Kolo Toure in the heart of defence, with West Brom's Abdoulaye Meite a notch below world class. The same goes for keeper Boubacar Barry.

World Cup record: Qualified 2006. Odds to win: 29/1. Rising star: Christian Koffi Ndri Romaric (Sevilla).

Nigeria

The Super Eagles qualified by the skin of their beaks - they owe Mozambique a favour for beating Tunisia in the final round. But under the wily Shaibu Amodu, in his fourth stint as national coach, Nigeria have cause for optimism.

They will enjoy huge expatriate support in SA and the team has rich experience in most positions. Captain Joseph Yobo is one of the world's most commanding defenders.

Much will depend on the ageing Nwankwo Kanu's creativity. Since the retirement of Jay-Jay Okocha, Nigeria have lacked subtlety - and if Kanu is unfit or off-form, ideas will be scarce.

Holding midfielder John Obi Mikel needs to add some attacking zip to his game, while veteran keeper Vincent Enyeama could prove a weak link.

World Cup record: Second round 1994, 1998, qualified 2002. Odds to win: 81/1. Rising star: Victor Nsofor Obinna (Malaga)

Ghana

In Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari, the Black Stars boast one of the world's mightiest central midfield partnerships. Add in the elegant guile of a match-fit Stephen Appiah, who has found a job at last with Bologna, and Ghana look pretty scary.

But there are weak points. Coach Milovan Rajevac is unproven at international level. Centreback John Mensah lacks a seasoned partner. And the paucity of striking options is worrisome: Junior Agogo is a powerful forward, but he's more baseball bat than rapier.

Precision will be needed - and it may come from Dominic Adiyiah, the eight-goal sensation of the Under-20 World Cup.

World Cup record: Second round 2006. Odds to win: 41/1. Rising star: Dominic Adiyiah (Fredrikstad, Norway)

Algeria

Egypt have many admirers in SA, but the Desert Foxes richly deserve the 2010 slot they wrested from the Pharaohs. Their ranks include no household names, but that will change.

Algeria have been the sleeping giants of Africa: for most of the 1980s they were the continent's leading side. This generation possess all the hallmarks of the Algerian game: polished technique, functional flair and a taste for physical combat.

Watch out for striker Rafik Djebbour, now at AEK Athens but tipped to join Celtic in this transfer window. And if his epic performance in Khartoum is anything to go by, young keeper Faouzi Chaouchi could be a match winner in SA. Coach Rabah Saadane, 63, was in charge when Algeria went to the 1986 World Cup - so he knows the ropes.

World Cup record: Qualified 1982, 1986. Odds to win: 151/1 Rising star: Faouzi Chaouchi (ES Setif, Algeria)

Cameroon

The Indomitable Lions have risen to 14th in the Fifa rankings - the highest position in Africa. But can they raise the quarterfinal bar they set in 1990?

In a word, yes. The squad features a richly promising blend of youth and experience. The Spurs duo of Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Sebastien Bassong are excellent new additions, while young Alex Song has matured into a formidable destroyer.

As Arsene Wenger points out, the Cameroonians are known as "the Germans" in African football circles - and Song typifies their Teutonic steel.

Samuel Eto'o, Geremi and Rigobert Song have all been around the block several times - though many believe Rigobert, 33, is now a liability. His nephew Alex may replace him in the heart of defence when push comes to shove.

World Cup record: Quarterfinals 1990, qualified 1982, 1994, 1998, 2002. Odds to win: 67/1

Rising star: Alex Song (Arsenal)

South Africa

Carlos Alberto Parreira's Bafana Bafana will be much improved when June rolls around. About half the squad (the home-based contingent) will be in peak physical condition following two intensive camps - in Brazil in January and Germany in March. No other team will be as fresh.

Also, five key players who are inactive at their European clubs - Benni McCarthy, Kagiso Dikgacoi, Bernard Parker, Elrio van Heerden and Macbeth Sibaya - will have gained match sharpness in friendly clashes. Steven Pienaar, the team's best player, will be back in harness.

Home crowds will pump adrenaline into Bafana's veins and, as hosts, they will be seeded - unlike the other African sides. Provided they raze the mental wall that currently looms between them and the back of every opposition net, Bafana should reach the second round. They're the jokers in the African pack.

World Cup record: Qualified 1998, 2002. Odds to win: 81/1 Rising star: Katlego Mphela (Mamelodi Sundowns)