2015 African Cup of Nations Kicks Off Amid Absences of Key Veterans
The 2015 African Cup of Nations begins this Saturday in Equatorial Guinea, where Africa’s 16 best teams will battle over three weeks to claim the continental crown and succeed Nigeria as champions. However, some familiar faces and tournament veterans will be notably absent.
Among them are Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto’o. Both retired from international football in 2014 after the World Cup. While Eto’o was firm in his decision, Drogba was reportedly approached multiple times to reconsider, but to no avail. This edition will mark the first time in a decade that the Elephants and the Indomitable Lions compete without their star leaders in Africa’s flagship tournament.
The Big Names Missing
Others miss out due to coaching decisions. Striker Demba Ba, now with Besiktas, openly criticized coach Alain Giresse’s team selections, suggesting Giresse does not control the list decisions and lacks authority in the locker room. West Ham midfielder Alexandre Song also retired early from international football at just 27.
Some players failed to qualify with their teams. Emmanuel Adebayor and Togo were eliminated by Guinea and Ghana. Vincent Enyeama, captain of the reigning champions Nigeria, is sidelined, while Mehdi Benatia was unable to participate after Morocco withdrew from hosting due to the Ebola outbreak.
Injuries also take their toll; for example, Cheikh Diabaté is sidelined for at least four months.
A Chance for New Stars
While these absences are felt, they open the door for emerging talents and new stars to shine during the 2015 AFCON. For those eager to discover the continent’s rising stars, check out our report on the top 10 players to watch.
