The upcoming African Cup of Nations, set to kick off next Saturday, is anticipated to witness fierce competition with the participation of several prominent teams eager to dethrone Senegal, the reigning champions.
Morocco, building on its unprecedented success in the World Cup as the first African team to reach the semi-finals, aims to capitalize on this achievement.
Meanwhile, Egypt, a seven-time titleholder, looks to Mohamed Salah for assistance in securing the championship after the heartbreak of losing the 2021 Africa Cup final on penalties.
Nigeria, the homeland of this year’s best African player, Victor Osimhen, and Ghana, led by Mohammed Kudus, strive for their respective fifth titles.
Ivory Coast, as the host nation, seeks to leverage home support.
Sadio Mané, who scored the decisive penalty in Senegal’s 2021 final victory over Egypt, commented, “This competition will be one of the toughest tournaments since its inception, given the participation of all major footballing nations on the continent.”
Originally scheduled for June and July last year, the 34th edition of the tournament was postponed to avoid the tropical rainy season in Ivory Coast.
This rescheduling means that the event will once again clash with the mid-season of the European leagues, forcing many top clubs to cope without some of their star players for up to a month.
Napoli will have to do without Osimhen, Liverpool without Salah, and Bayer Leverkusen will miss four players – Victor Boniface (Nigeria), Amin Adli (Morocco), Odilon Kossounou (Ivory Coast), and Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso), potentially undermining their quest for victory in the German Bundesliga.
Safety concerns arise again after eight people were killed and 38 others injured in a stampede during the previous edition in Cameroon.
Group Stage Overview:
Group One: Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau
– Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau, the host nation, kick off the tournament on Saturday, with Nigeria facing Equatorial Guinea the following day.
– Ivory Coast then takes on Nigeria on January 18 in a crucial match expected to determine the group’s leader.
– Nigeria, a perennial contender, seeks to claim their title again after their last triumph in 2013.
Group Two: Egypt, Ghana, Cape Verde, Mozambique
– Egypt and Ghana, the heavyweights in this group, clash on January 18 to decide the group’s leader.
– “The Black Stars,” led by former Irish international Chris Hughton, welcome back Inaki Williams, who recovered from illness.
– Cape Verde and Mozambique, facing each other for the fourth and fifth consecutive times, respectively.
Group Three: Senegal, Cameroon, Guinea, Gambia
– Senegal faces a tough task to retain their title, beginning with navigating through a group that includes five-time champions Cameroon.
– Mane, absent from the last World Cup due to an injury sustained with Bayern Munich, spearheads Senegal.
– “Indomitable Lions” of Cameroon, seeking to add a sixth title, are led by Vincent Aboubakar, the top scorer of the 2021 Africa Cup with eight goals.
Group Four: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Angola
– Algeria, boasting a talented team featuring former Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez, downplays their title chances.
– Burkina Faso aims to reach the final for the first time in their 13th appearance, guided by Leverkusen’s calm defender Edmond Tapsoba.
– Angola returns to the tournament after finishing fourth in 2021.
Group Five: Tunisia, Mali, South Africa, Namibia
– Tunisia and South Africa aim for their second title after triumphs in 2004 and 1996, respectively.
– Tunisia relies on experienced captain Youssef Msakni, with a strong midfield featuring Aymen Abdennour and Issa Diop.
– South Africa led by Percy Tau, who plays for Egypt’s Al Ahly, with veteran Temba Zwane joining the squad.
– Mali participates in their thirteenth tournament, while Namibia appears for the fourth time.
Group Six: Morocco, Congo, Zambia, Tanzania
– Morocco, the first African team to reach the World Cup semi-finals, eyes their second AFCON title.
– Coach Walid Regragui’s team boasts a mix of youth and experience, with PSG’s Achraf Hakimi leading the defense.
– Congo, two-time champions, seek a return to glory with captain Franck Evina, while 2012 winners Zambia aim to replicate their success under coach Avram Grant.
– Tanzania, in their third AFCON appearance, aims to make an impact.
With 24 teams divided into six groups, the tournament promises intense competition across six stadiums in five cities.
The final is scheduled for February 12 at the Hassan Wattara Stadium in Abidjan.
