Go To War In Cote d’ivoire
They will kick off their campaign in Group B against Ghana, Cape Verde, and Mozambique.
4. Nigeria
No team going for this year’s AFCON in Cote d’ivoire can boast more attacking firepower than the Super Eagles of Nigeria, who won the title in 1980, 1994 and 2013.
At the last edition, the Super Eagles failed to get to the quarterfinal stage, losing to Tunisia in the round of 16 in Garoau. The team also could not qualify for the 2022 World Cup held in Qatar, losing the ticket to the Black Stars of Ghana on home soil. However, analysts are of the opinion that the team heading to Cote d’ivoire is different from that led by Austin Eguavoen at Cameroun 2021. With the current African Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, Terem Moffi, Ademola Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze the battle of Cote d’ivoire might be different.
To such sports analysts, this array of talents renders the Super Eagles a distinct threat to other big teams at the tournament.
On the other hand, the Super Eagles have disappointed at major tournaments since their last AFCON triumph at South Africa 2013. Some have also called into question the competence of manager Jose Peseiro, who managed to win just one of their last five matches.
The Super Eagles are paired with the host nation, Cote d’ivoire in Group A, alongside Equatorial Guinea and Guinea- Bissau.
5. Cote d’ivoire
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HE power of being the host, coupled with the ability of some of the players has put Cote d’ivoire as among the favourites to go for the title they won in 1992 and 2015. At the last edition, they were eliminated in the round of 16.
The Elephants of Cote d’ivoire may no longer possess superstars such as Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure, but sports analysts believe they still have the materials to win the title this year. And their home advantage will spearhead a successful campaign.
The Elephants are in the same group with Super Eagles of Nigeria, a team that ended their campaign at South Africa 2013 in what has gone into history books as the battle of Rustenburg.
The Elephants have not progressed beyond the quarterfinals since winning the competition for a second time in 2015.
However, some sports analysts believe that this Elephants squad is as balanced as it has been in a while.
With emerging stars such as Simon Adingra, Ousmane Diomande, and Odilon Kossounou, who are expected to complement Franck Kessie and Sebastien Haller’s experience, the Elephants might just spring a great surprise on home soil.
The Elephants will be expected to progress alongside the Super Eagles from Group A, but going by the unpredictable nature of modern African football, it will be an intriguing battle for top spot.
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HE Desert Foxes of Algeria won’t be push overs as far as the race to the AFCON title in Cote d’ivoire is concerned.
Algeria defeated the Super Eagles in the semifinal at Egypt 2019, and went on to lift the title, beating Senegal in the final. But they couldn’t repeat such form at the last edition held in Cameroun in 2021.
However, former Manchester City and Al- Ahli forward, Riyad Mahrez, is still a formidable player in the squad, and is probably one of the most prominent players taking part in this year’s AFCON.
Some sports analysts believe that the Algerians can pull another surprise in Cote d’ivoire to cap Mahrez as one of the players to win the AFCON title twice.
Algeria will face Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Angola in Group D.
7. Tunisia
6. ALGERIA
THE Carthage Eagles of Tunisia stopped the Super Eagles in the round of 16 at the last edition of the AFCON held in Cameroun. That battle of Garoua, in northern Cameroun, is still fresh in memories of many African football fans.
Tunisia are in Group E, with Mali, South Africa, and Namibia. Some analysts are of the opinion that the battle for qualification from the group will be between Tunisia and Bafana Bafana of South Africa. If the Tunisians get their act right from the group stage of the tournament, they could pull a surprise. No doubt, Tunisia is one of the favourites to do well in the tournament.
8. Cameroun
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ONTINENTAL heavyweights, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun have five Nations Cup titles to their name. They had to settle for third place on home soil when the country hosted the AFCON in 2021.
Despite being drawn with holders, Senegal, anything short of success might not go down
Indomitable
Lions supporters.
In 1984 when
Cote d’ivoire hosted the tournament,
C a m e r o u n won it for the first time in
Abidjan. The
Indomitable Lions have beaten the Super Eagles three times in the final, including their victory in the 2000 final in Lagos, when Ghana and Nigeria co- hosted the tournament.
Their poor performances during the 2021 finals elicited mixed reactions. While there was praise for the team’s resilience, the disappointment was pervasive after a semi- final defeat by Egypt on penalties.
Now, observers are worried over coach Rigobert Song’s lack of a settled starting XI, after he used 10 different line ups in the past ten games, making it very difficult for Camerounians to read the team and its true capacity.
With goalkeeper Andre Onana enduring dips in form at Manchester United, and doubts over the fitness of forward Bryan Mbeumo, the Lions may already be wounded ahead of their opener against Guinea.
But some sports analysts believe that as true Lions, Cameroun can prove bookmakers wrong in Cote d’ivoire.
9. Ghana
BIG expectations are also an issue for the Black Stars of Ghana. The fans are raising concern at the form of the Black Stars, who have not reached the last eight of a Nations Cup since 2017.
Ghana were eliminated in the last 16 at Egypt 2019, and were winless and failed to advance from the group stage at Cameroun 2021.
The challenges the team faced were evident in qualifying, as it lacked cohesion, the technical team looked unsettled with changes in selection, and fan apathy was telling after repeated poor performances.
The Black Stars eliminated the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the final lap for Qatar 2022 World Cup, but they have struggled in the first half of all games managed by Chris Hughton so far - with just one of their nine goals scored under him coming in the first 45 minutes.
After needing a last- minute winner to beat Madagascar in World Cup qualifying, and falling to beat Comoros, some Ghanaian fans think ‘ nothing is guaranteed’ for Ghana in this year’s AFCON in Cote d’ivoire.
However, some of their fans are hoping that the Black Stars rediscover their form in the tournament, at least, to qualify for the quarter- finals, which would be a major success.
Will Hughton and his technical crew find a consistent starting XI for the Black Stars to shine and put smile on faces of Ghanaian fans when hostilities begin in Cote d’ivoire?