Johannes Bonfrere, the Dutch coach who led Nigeria to some of their greatest achievements in the 1990s, has tipped France to reach the final of the FIFA World Cup 2026, citing the outstanding individual quality of Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele as the driving force behind Les Bleus' campaign.

Speaking from his home in the Netherlands, the 76-year-old offered his assessment of the tournament after watching France's match against Paraguay the previous evening.

France's individual brilliance sets them apart

"I've been watching the World Cup 2026 matches on my television. Last night, I watched the France-Paraguay game. The referee didn't do well in the match, but I think France's strength lies more in the individual qualities of their players, especially Dembele and Mbappe," Bonfrere said.

He added that those qualities, combined with the overall depth of the squad, would make France a formidable opponent for any side left in the competition.

"It is possible, yes, that France will meet Spain or Argentina in the final. It will be a very good final. Spain have team unity, and Argentina too. So it will be a strong final, but I think Dembele and Mbappe will prove difficult to contain," he said.

Collective spirit drove Super Eagles' golden generation

Asked whether he had coached a Nigeria side with comparable individual talent, Bonfrere was quick to distinguish what made the Super Eagles of his era special — not individual brilliance alone, but a fierce collective spirit.

"Nigeria had plenty of talent. We built a team that was collective and cohesive in its play. The players fought for every ball and fought for one another. Yes, they had individual skills, but they played together," he said.

He credited that unity for two landmark achievements — Nigeria's gold medal at the 1996 Olympic men's football tournament and the silver medal at the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations. "It was a fantastic period," he reflected.

Africa's hopes rest with Morocco and Egypt

With Nigeria absent from the tournament, Bonfrere turned his attention to Africa's remaining representatives. Of the continent's 10 teams at the FIFA World Cup 2026, only Morocco and Egypt advanced to the Round of 16.

"Morocco finished fourth at the 2022 World Cup. Now they are in the Round of 16, together with Egypt. It's good, but with the Super Eagles not at the World Cup, Africa can look up to Morocco," Bonfrere said.

He also highlighted Egypt's potential, pointing to Mohamed Salah as a decisive factor. "Morocco did well in the last tournament and they are expected to do even more. Egypt, with Mohamed Salah, are also a good side and can go further in the tournament," he added.

Bonfrere also used the occasion to criticise the standard of refereeing at the FIFA World Cup 2026, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.