Zinedine Zidane, World Cup winner in 1998 and finalist in 2006 with France, has tipped Ivory Coast as the African team to watch in next year's World Cup finals.

The tournament will be held on Africa for the first-team, prompting questions over which country from the continent has the best chance of lifting the famous trophy.

South Africa, the hosts, are unlikely to progress too far with Cameroon - boasting Samuel Eto'o up front - and the Ivory Coast most likely to reach the latter stages.

Didier Drogba and co are in a tough Group G, alongside Brazil, Portugal and North Korea, but Zidane has tipped them to come good.

"The Ivorians should kick-off in a very high spirit, winning their first match or it will be sad," he told France Football magazine.

"The ball is in the court of the Ivorian coach. He has the men: he only needs to know how to use them. The team can withstand Brazil if the coach knows what to do.

"Cameroon can possibly do well, even if not as well as the Ivoty Coast. They are a strong team too."