Appiah tips Senegal to make Africa proud at Russia 2018

Ghana coach James Kwesi Appiah believes Senegal will be Africa's best performers at the Fifa World Cup in Russia next year.

The Lions of Teranga, who make a return to the big gathering for the first time since 2002, are one of five teams carrying the continent's hopes of reaching the last four of the global showpiece for the first time ever.

Nigeria, Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco are the other four teams.

“I believe all the teams can do very well but the team that I trust to go much further is Senegal,” Appiah told Ghana Web.

"The reason is because they have good players and all that matters is to get them to play as a team."

In just their second World Cup tournament, Senegal have been drawn in Group H, which also includes Poland, Colombia and Japan.

"The group is not that bad and I think they can go through easily," Appiah added.

“They [coaches and players] should sit down and say that we are going to win the tournament. 

"Once they go into the tournament with that mentality, I believe they have a strong team capable of scoring goals and doing well."

At Korea/Japan 2002, Senegal reached the quarter-finals, becoming only the second African side to do so after Cameroon in 1990, before Ghana repeated the feat in 2010.

Their captain at the time, Aliou Cisse, now coaches the team.

Appiah, meanwhile, led Ghana to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.