JOHANNESBURG, May 24 - The Ivory Coast represent Africa's best hopes of a ground-breaking achievement at the World Cup finals, fuelled by a runners-up performance at the African Nations Cup finals in Egypt earlier this year.

They are boosted by a clutch of well-known names including Didier Drogba and Kolo Toure who have played at the highest European levels with Chelsea and Arsenal respectively.

No African side has made it to the final four at a World Cup tournament and the five representatives from the continent at the 2006 event are bereft of real experience.

Although newcomers, the Ivorians carry hopes of being able to emulate, or even better, the achievements of Cameroon in 1990 and Senegal four years ago -- both of which were unexpected and captured the imagination of fans around the globe.

This ambition is tempered by a tough group for "The Elephants", whose first-round opponents are Argentina, the Netherlands and Serbia & Montenegro.

The basis of faith in Ivorian potential rests in a talented squad and an experienced coach who is heading to his fourth World Cup with a fourth different team.

Henri Michel was previously in charge of France, Cameroon and Morocco at final tournaments since 1986 and has amassed a talented squad for his fourth visit.

Led by the goal-scoring acumen of Drobga and the defensive acumen of Toure, the Ivorians have a competent outfit with increasing competition for places.

Drogba scored nine goals in the qualifiers and was effectively partnered by Racing Lens attacker Aruna Dindane in a difficult group.

Dindane's recent injury woes allowed PSV Eindhoven's Arouna Kone and newcomer Amare Diane to stake claims to play alongside Drogba at the World Cup finals but only Kone made Michel's final 23-man squad.

Bonaventure Kalou, Didier Zokora and Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboue were among key players who helped the Ivorian side to finish as runners-up at the Nations Cup finals in February.

STARK CONTRAST

Seeking only their second continental championship, the Ivory Coast lost on post-match penalties to hosts Egypt in the final in Cairo.

Defeat in the lottery of the shootout contrasted starkly with the fortuitous fashion in which the Ivorians secured their first qualification for the World Cup finals, taking top spot in their group when perennial qualifiers Cameroon missed a last-minute penalty.

Had Cameroon scored it, they would have gone to the World Cup finals instead.

It was a remarkable reprieve for the Ivory Coast, who led throughout the qualifiers only to lose at home to Cameroon in their penultimate game and seemingly throw away their World Cup hopes.

They were granted a rare second chance on a dramatic final day of qualifiers in October.

Coach Michel had to suffer through a hail of criticism at the end of last year, even after the Elephants beat Sudan in their last qualifying match on Oct. 8 to reach the World Cup finals.

Their appearance in the final of the Nations Cup has silenced those who wanted a change in the coaching department.

The success for the national side comes at a time of political instability in the west African country, for decades regarded as the model former French colony but now beset by ethnic conflict.