( CNN ) -- Didier Drogba is backing his Ivory Coast team to make history by becoming the first African country to reach the final of the World Cup next year . Drogba is contemplating a big challenge by the Ivory Coast in South Africa . The Chelsea striker scored the decisive goal as the Elephants sealed their place in South Africa with a 1-1 draw against Malawi on Saturday , but he is now looking ahead to the finals with relish . `` It is going to be a challenge , '' the 31-year-old told reporters . `` To make it to the final will not be easy because there are great teams like Brazil and Germany who have won the World Cup for many years . `` But my teammates and I want to make history and want to change the way the world sees African football . Can an African team win the World Cup next year ? `` I hope that we 'll be the team that is going to go to the final and win the competition . '' Ivory Coast have joined Ghana as definite qualifiers from Africa , with three other places up for grabs in the final round of matches in November . Drogba is one of several stars in the Ivorian squad with Champions League experience , including Barcelona 's Yaya Toure who is anxious to erase memories of their failure to qualify from the group stages in the 2006 finals in Germany . `` At the last World Cup we played really well in Germany , but we were unlucky because we were in a very tough group with Argentina and Holland and so went out in the first round , '' he said . `` But I think with this kind of experience , it will be possible at South Africa 2010 to do much better . Perhaps we can make the quarterfinals and then semifinals , this is something we can achieve . '' Coach Vahid Halilhodzic is also upbeat after seeing his side fight back from a goal down against Malawi to top African Group E. `` We are very proud to participate in the World Cup for the second consecutive time and this time it is going to be better , '' he added .
Didier Drogba targets the World Cup glory with African powerhouses South Africa . Drogba scored crucial goal as Ivory Coast clinched qualification for Germany . Ivory Coast exited in group stages at the World Cup finals in Germany in next year .