ONE of the world's most respected soccer coaches, Arsene Wenger, has tipped the Didier Drogba-led Ivory Coast as the African team to watch in the World Cup.

ONE of the world's most respected soccer coaches, Arsene Wenger, has tipped the Didier Drogba-led Ivory Coast as the African team to watch in the World Cup.

The Arsenal coach has joined an array of top soccer personalities who are in the country for the World Cup, which gets under way today.

Wenger's prediction coincided with the arrival of the Elephants at OR Tambo International Airport yesterday morning.

Speaking at the Castrol Index event in Johannesburg, Wenger said Ivory Coast will do well even if their captain, Drogba, is ruled out of the Cup because of injury.

Ivory Coast, who have a tendency of freezing at major international competitions, have brought along Drogba, who injured his arm in their 2-0 win over Japan last week.

"They have a quality team, the good thing about them is that they have excellent players who are doing well at various big leagues in the world," said Wenger.

He went on to pick Spain, Argentina, England and Holland as the teams he is predicting to reach the semis.

Commenting on Bafana Bafana, Wenger said Aaron Mokoena and company have been doing well in the build-up to the World Cup.

He said it was important for the home side to do well, adding that Bafana's success will contribute to the spectacle of the World Cup.