Sports critic Mahmoud Shoukry has emphasized a significant shift in the balance of power within African football, noting that smaller teams have managed to unsettle their larger counterparts at the outset of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Shoukry underscores the evident impact of African academies on national teams, citing the likes of Ismaïla Sarr, a graduate of a prominent academy in Senegal, and Lamine Kamara, a talent echoed in Namibia’s national squad.
During his interview on the “CAN 2023” program, hosted by journalist Basant Akram on Cairo News Channel, Shoukry predicted that the surprises may extend beyond mere embarrassment, potentially posing a threat to the aspirations of football powerhouses.
Winning the title, he believes, will not come easily for prominent teams like Egypt and Algeria.
The coach of the Moroccan national team, Walid Regragui, has also cautioned against a repetition of what transpired in the matches of Egypt and Tunisia against Mozambique and Namibia.
The sports critic further commented that Tunisia did not show significant respect for Namibia in terms of lineup composition, with some players who were supposed to be substitutes appearing in starting positions.
He noted that Tunisia’s squad has a higher average age than Namibia’s, and the technical and physical disparities were evident, particularly in Tunisia’s defensive line.
Shoukry observed clear weaknesses in Tunisia’s defensive strategies, coupled with a lack of creativity in their attacking play.
