he five African representatives at the 2018 World Cup in Russia-Nigeria, Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia and Senegal-are ready to do the continent proud when the tournament kicks off in Russia next June. It was not an easy ride for the five qualifiers, but they all braced the odds to win their group tickets. For example, not even the most incurable optimist of Moroccan football would have predicted that the Atlas Lions will beat the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in Abidjan to qualify.