Former Manchester United and France striker Louis Saha has challenged African national teams — including South Africa’s Bafana Bafana — to embrace a winning mentality if they are to make history at the FIFA World Cup later this year.

Bafana Bafana’s early exit in the first knockout round of the Africa Cup of Nations was a disappointment, but Saha believes it should not define their World Cup ambitions. According to the ex-forward, belief and mindset are the most important tools African teams must carry into the global tournament.

For years, African nations have been labelled as exciting but unlikely contenders for the World Cup title. Saha insists that perception must change, starting from within the teams themselves.

“The mentality African teams need now is to truly believe they can achieve something special,” Saha said in an interview with CoinPoker. “They must believe they can at least reach the quarter-finals, and South Africa should see themselves in that category.”

With the World Cup set to take place across Mexico and the United States from June 11 to July 19, Saha also pointed to climatic conditions as a possible advantage for African sides. He noted that many African players are accustomed to playing in intense heat, something that could work in their favour.

“African teams can do amazing things at the World Cup,” he added. “Playing in hot conditions is normal for them. That experience matters.”

Saha echoed sentiments previously shared by African football legends such as Yaya Touré, Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto’o, stressing that African teams must stop seeing European or South American nations as untouchable.

“They shouldn’t have an inferiority complex. Confidence is key,” he said.

Taking his belief a step further, Saha stated that an African nation is capable of winning the World Cup outright. He highlighted Morocco’s recent performances as proof of Africa’s growing competitiveness on the world stage.

“An African team can win the World Cup — they have the quality,” Saha said.

“Teams like Argentina, Brazil, France and Germany are strong in decisive moments, but African teams are now ready to truly compete with them.”