Bacary Sagna France World Cup prediction backs Les Bleus to lift the trophy while praising Morocco and African football’s remarkable progress

Former France international Bacary Sagna has tipped Didier Deschamps’ France to win the FIFA World Cup, saying the reigning European giants remain the strongest contenders despite their hard-fought Round of 16 victory over Paraguay.

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Speaking during a FIFA World Cup virtual media roundtable organised by SuperSport on Monday, Sagna said France have consistently shown an ability to improve as major tournaments progress rather than dominate from the opening match.

The former Arsenal and Manchester City defender argued that the team’s narrow knockout victory reflected resilience and experience instead of vulnerability.

“I still believe France has a good chance to win the World Cup because the national team never started a competition on the high. It has always been a build-up,” Sagna said.

The 42-year-old predicted France would overcome Morocco in the latter stages of the tournament before going on to lift the trophy, while also praising captain Kylian Mbappé and the squad’s composure in pressure situations.

According to Sagna, France possess exceptional depth across every department, giving Deschamps more quality options than any other nation still competing in the tournament.

Beyond his assessment of France’s prospects, Sagna highlighted what he described as the remarkable rise of African football, insisting the gap separating African nations from Europe’s traditional heavyweights has narrowed significantly over the past decade.

The former right-back credited stronger football governance, better youth development programmes and improved domestic structures for the continent’s growing competitiveness on the global stage.

Sagna, however, believes Africa’s biggest hurdle is no longer technical quality but confidence.

“Africa needs to be aware that it has talent. They should not start or finish games with a complex of inferiority,” he said.

The former defender expressed confidence that an African nation would eventually reach a FIFA World Cup final, identifying Morocco as the continent’s current benchmark.

Sagna attributed Morocco’s sustained success to long-term investment in player development, particularly through the Mohammed VI Football Academy, which has produced several members of the national team and strengthened the country’s football pathway since its establishment in the late 2000s.

Reflecting on Senegal’s elimination from the tournament, Sagna admitted he was disappointed but resisted placing responsibility on the coaching staff.

Instead, he said the players should accept greater accountability for failing to manage crucial moments during the closing stages of matches.

Sagna also expressed surprise that Nigeria failed to qualify for the World Cup, describing the Super Eagles as one of Africa’s traditional football powerhouses.

“When I landed, I saw Alex Iwobi and I was like, ‘Shouldn’t you be on the field?’ Then I realised they had not qualified,” Sagna said.

The former defender encouraged Nigerian supporters to remain patient, expressing confidence that the national team would return stronger in future competitions if fans continued to back the players and coaching staff.

Sagna also reflected on one of the defining moments of his own career, revealing that he initially considered representing Senegal before eventually committing his international future to France after receiving approaches from both countries around the same period.

Encouraging young footballers eligible to represent more than one nation, Sagna urged them to make personal decisions rather than bow to external pressure.

“Follow your heart,” he said. “There is no wrong choice when you represent your country.”

France entered the 2026 FIFA World Cup among the pre-tournament favourites after reaching the final in 2022 and winning the competition in 2018. Under Deschamps, Les Bleus have established themselves as one of international football’s most consistent teams, regularly progressing deep into major tournaments through a blend of experienced leaders and emerging talent.

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Sagna’s assessment reflects that track record, with the former defender convinced France are once again building momentum at exactly the right stage of the competition.