There has never been an African winner of the FIFA World Cup and, if the World Cup 2014 odds tips are to be believed, the wait will go on after this year's tournament has ended.
It really does look to be a tall order for the continent to provide a winner in 2014.
However, there are five African teams taking part in Brazil, so which teams have the best chance and are worth following in the World Cup betting?
Ivory Coast
The Ivory Coast have often been seen as the most talented side on the continent, especially when Didier Drogba was in his prime.
However, they have equally often failed to live up to their billing, not having won the African Cup of Nations since 1992 for example.
However, they impressed in qualifying, remaining unbeaten and topping the preliminary group before beating Senegal in the play-off 4-2 on aggregate.
Their two previous World Cups have ended in disappointment in the group stages, finishing third each time, though they were drawn in tough groups, against Argentina and Holland in 2006 and Brazil and Portugal in 2010.
Cameroon
Cameroon play in group A alongside hosts Brazil, Croatia and Mexico and will not be expected to make the knockout stages of the tournament.
They reached the quarter-finals in 1990, losing out to England, but since then have only won one game in four different tournaments and, in South Africa four years ago, they lost all three group games for the first time.
They also had difficulty qualifying, initially losing out to Togo, only to be awarded the game when the opposition were found guilty of having fielded an ineligible player.
That "victory" put them top of the group and they went on to beat Tunisia in the play-off.
Nigeria
Nigeria have consistently been seen as one of the African sides capable of eventually moving up and taking their place among the best in the game, though it is not expected this time.
However, apart from playing Argentina in the group stages, they also face Iran and Bosnia-Herzegovina and so qualification through to the last 16 is a realistic prospect.
The Super Eagles went through the qualifying stages without defeat and beat Ethiopia in the play-off.
They have reached the last 16 in the World Cup twice before, in 1994 and 1998, and will be aiming for at least that in Brazil.
Algeria
Algeria face a group including Belgium, Russia and South Korea and are outsiders to get through to the last 16.
However, their recent form in tournaments has not been encouraging, having failed to make the 2012 African Cup of Nations and becoming the first team to get knocked out of last year’s tournament.
Despite this, they did well in World Cup qualifying, winning all but one game in the group stages before beating Burkina Faso in the play off.
Their last two World Cups, in 1986 and 2010 have seen them finish bottom of their group, without winning a single game. If they improve on that record in Brazil, it will be regarded as a successful tournament.
Ghana
Ghana are considered to be one of the better African teams, but they have been handed a very tough group in Brazil, having to play Germany, Portugal and the USA.
They have been semi-finalists in the last four African Cup of Nations and were just a penalty kick away from making the semi-finals in the last World Cup, missing that last minute spot kick against Uruguay.
With such a tough group this time, making the last 16 would be considered a big success.
It really does look to be a tall order for the continent to provide a winner in 2014.
However, there are five African teams taking part in Brazil, so which teams have the best chance and are worth following in the World Cup betting?
Ivory Coast
The Ivory Coast have often been seen as the most talented side on the continent, especially when Didier Drogba was in his prime.
However, they have equally often failed to live up to their billing, not having won the African Cup of Nations since 1992 for example.
However, they impressed in qualifying, remaining unbeaten and topping the preliminary group before beating Senegal in the play-off 4-2 on aggregate.
Their two previous World Cups have ended in disappointment in the group stages, finishing third each time, though they were drawn in tough groups, against Argentina and Holland in 2006 and Brazil and Portugal in 2010.
Cameroon
Cameroon play in group A alongside hosts Brazil, Croatia and Mexico and will not be expected to make the knockout stages of the tournament.
They reached the quarter-finals in 1990, losing out to England, but since then have only won one game in four different tournaments and, in South Africa four years ago, they lost all three group games for the first time.
They also had difficulty qualifying, initially losing out to Togo, only to be awarded the game when the opposition were found guilty of having fielded an ineligible player.
That "victory" put them top of the group and they went on to beat Tunisia in the play-off.
Nigeria
Nigeria have consistently been seen as one of the African sides capable of eventually moving up and taking their place among the best in the game, though it is not expected this time.
However, apart from playing Argentina in the group stages, they also face Iran and Bosnia-Herzegovina and so qualification through to the last 16 is a realistic prospect.
The Super Eagles went through the qualifying stages without defeat and beat Ethiopia in the play-off.
They have reached the last 16 in the World Cup twice before, in 1994 and 1998, and will be aiming for at least that in Brazil.
Algeria
Algeria face a group including Belgium, Russia and South Korea and are outsiders to get through to the last 16.
However, their recent form in tournaments has not been encouraging, having failed to make the 2012 African Cup of Nations and becoming the first team to get knocked out of last year’s tournament.
Despite this, they did well in World Cup qualifying, winning all but one game in the group stages before beating Burkina Faso in the play off.
Their last two World Cups, in 1986 and 2010 have seen them finish bottom of their group, without winning a single game. If they improve on that record in Brazil, it will be regarded as a successful tournament.
Ghana
Ghana are considered to be one of the better African teams, but they have been handed a very tough group in Brazil, having to play Germany, Portugal and the USA.
They have been semi-finalists in the last four African Cup of Nations and were just a penalty kick away from making the semi-finals in the last World Cup, missing that last minute spot kick against Uruguay.
With such a tough group this time, making the last 16 would be considered a big success.
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