Super Sunday as United host Liverpool
Frenchman faces friends and foes as he chases a unique African treble in Gabon
THE ELEPHANTS of Ivory Coast, with a star-studded team, spent the last decade waddling aimlessly in search of the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) trophy, until Herve Renard showed them the way to it two years ago. The Frenchman will be looking to prove that he still has that compass, which he had used to guide Zambia to Africa’s top prize in 2012, when he leads Morocco in Gabon.
He won’t find it easy as he has to navigate past a group that has a lot of emotional connections with the 48-year-old coach. Renard’s Atlas Lions start their Afcon campaign against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a side that he beat with the Elephants in 2015 to reach the final. A clash with Togo led by his mentor, Claude Le Roy, follows before he takes on his former employers, Ivory Coast.
Renard has adopted the same no-nonsense approach that helped him succeed with Chipolopolo. He surprisingly left out Hakim Ziyech, a decision that made him unpopular in Morocco, just like the decision to send Clifford Mulenga home, for refusing to apologise for breaking curfew with Zambia in 2012, made him an unpopular figure in the Chipolopolo camp. But that stance sent a message on how the coach valued team unity over anything.
Renard argued he couldn’t guarantee Ziyech game time as he had Younes Belhanda and Mbark Boussoufa to play behind the striker. Belhanda has since been ruled out of the tournament because of a toe injury, joining Oussama Tannane on the sidelines through injuries. Sofiane Boufal pulled out of the 23-man squad because of a knee injury. Even though Renard won the Afcon with Ivory Coast largely thanks to the stars he had, he thrived with unknowns who played for the badge with Zambia.
Florent Ibenge has mastered that. He won a bronze medal with DRC in 2015 not because they had stars but because they were a united team.
Achieving that balance will be the biggest challenge for the reigning African champions, the Elephants, as they embark on a path to retain their trophy.
Only three other nations – Egypt, Ghana and Cameroon – have retained this trophy. A lot of the players who helped Ivory Coast win the Afcon aren’t there, new and younger blood has been brought in. But the positive is that most of that new blood has been around the set-up before, including coach Michel Dussuyer who has served as an assistant coach.
The Elephants are favourites from Group C along with Morocco because of Renard’s Midas touch and Ivory Coast’s quality. City: Oyem
Oyem is a remote city in the north parts of Gabon that’s isolated from civilisation. It borders Equatorial Guinea. Stadium: Stade d’Oyem – 20 000 capacity
This stadium, built by a Chinese company, sits in a remote village north of Oyem. It was built for this tournament at a cost estimated to be just under R825-million. It was completed last year in May. It will host Group C matches and a quarter-final tie between the group’s winners and runner-up of Group D. STAR PLAYERS Democratic Republic of Congo: Dieumerci Mbokani
The well-travelled 31-year-old forward will carry a bigger load in his responsibilities with the absence of Yannick Bolasie who will miss this tournament because of a knee injury. Mbokani’s shoulders are big enough to carry that load. He is a typical No. 9, tall, strong and packs a powerful shot. Ivory Coast: Wilfried Zaha
There will be a lot of eyes on Zaha, especially after he turned down England to play for his country of birth. He represented England at junior level and played two friendlies with the senior team before Ivory Coast persuaded him to switch allegiances. The 24-year-old, who was born in Abidjan, is an exciting talent who has lit up the English Premier League. He will fill the void left by Gervinho on the flanks.
Togo: Emmanuel Adebayor
Adebayor is a polarising figure, but even those who hate him can’t deny his talent, which is why he was named in the Togolese squad despite being clubless. The 2008 African Footballer of the Year is the most capped Togolese international who is also the country’s all-time top goalscorer. Morocco: Nabil Dirar
The flexible 30-year-old can play on either flank in midfield while his country has also used him as a rightback. The absence of Sofiane Boufal through a knee injury will force Dirar to be the creative spark. COACHES Democratic Republic of Congo: Florent Ibenge
The holder of a Master’s Degree in Economics has done well for himself in DRC with limited resources. He doubles as the national team and AS Vita coach. Ibenge guided Vita to the final of the 2014 CAF Champions League final and took DRC to third place in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. Last year he won the Africa Nations Champions, a tournament for local-based players. His eyes are now on the big one, the Afcon. Ivory Coast: Michel Dussuyer
The French coach has a tough act to follow, taking over a team that Renard guided to continental success. Dussuyer proved himself when he led a lowly Guinea side to the last eight of the last Africa Cup of Nations. He was Henri Michel’s assistant in 2006 when the Elephants reached the final but lost to Egypt. Togo: Claude le Roy
The Frenchman is an African at heart, such is his love affair with the continent. Togo are the sixth nation he will be taking to his ninth Africa Cup of Nations. Even though he is renowned on the continent, Le Roy has only won the Afcon once. He did that with Cameroon in 1988. Morocco: Herve Renard
The two-time African champion is chasing a rare feat, winning the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) three times with three different countries. His previous two successes came from contrasting environments. He won the Afcon with minnows Zambia in 2012, made up of mainly unknown players around the continent. His second Afcon came from a star-studded Ivory Coast that he had beaten with Zambia in the final in 2012. Morocco are in the middle compared to Chipolopolo and the Elephants. What’s their story? Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) DRC are among the dark horses of this Africa Cup of Nations campaign. They finished third in the last edition after they lost to eventual champions Ivory Coast in the semi-finals before beating the hosts, Equatorial Guinea in the third place playoffs. The Leopards are in a rebuilding phase. Ibenge has laid a good foundation with his success in the domestic front with AS Vita and the local-based DRC side. Ivory Coast
The Elephants are in a transition phase after finally lifting the Africa Cup of Nations with their golden generation that was on it’s final legs. A new generation has taken over. There are only five survivors from the squad that were victorious in Equatorial Guinea two years ago. The trick will be blending the new players while trying to retain their crown. Togo
Togo are unpredictable like their famous son, Adebayor. They can entertain like the best of them, which is how they qualified for their first World Cup in 2006 and reached the quarter-finals of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. But when they shock, they also do it with distinction. Le Roy will look to change that unpredictable nature and make the Sparrow Hawks more consistent. Morocco
The Atlas Lions are making up for lost time because originally they shouldn’t even be here. After Morocco refused to host the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, citing fears of the Ebola outbreak even though they were more than willing to host the Fifa Club World Cup, saw them stripped of hosting rights and banned for the 2017 and 2019 editions. But that decision was lifted by the court of arbitration for sport (CAS) when the matter was heard on appeal. Afcon Best Performance Democratic Republic of Congo: 1968 and 1974 – Champions
Ivory Coast: 1992 and 2015 – Champions
Togo: 2013 – Quarter-finals Morocco: 1976 – Champions Squads Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Goalkeepers: Kiassumbua Joel (Wohlen FC, Switzerland), Matampi Vumi Ley (TP Mazembe, DR Congo) and Kudimbana Nicaise (Antwerp, Belgium)
Defenders: Issama Mpeko Djo (TP Mazembe, DR Congo), Bope Bokadi Merveille (TP Mazembe, DR Congo), Lomalisa Mutambala (AS Vita Club, DR Congo), Ikoko Jordan (Guingamp, France), Tisserand Marcel (Fc Ingolstadt, Germany), Zakuani Gabriel (Peterborough, England) and Fabrice N’sakala (Alanyaspor, Turkey)
Midfielders: Mulumba Remy (Gazelec FC Ajaccio, France), Mpoku Paul-Jose (Panathinaikos, Greece), Herve Kage (KV kortrijk, Belgium), Mbemba Chancel (Newcastle, England), Youssuf Mulumbu
(Norwich City, England), Maghoma Jacques (Birmingham, England) and Kebano Neeskens (Fulham, England)
Forwards: Mubele Ndombe Firmin (Al Ahli Doha, Qatar), Jeremy Bokila Loteteka (Al Quarittyah, Qatar), Bakambu Cedrick (Villarreal, Spain), Bolingi Mpangi Jonathan (Tp Mazembe, DR Congo), Botaka Jordan (Charlton Athletic, England) and Mbokani Bezua Dieumerci (Hull City, England) Ivory Coast
Goalkeepers: Sylvain Gbohuo (TP Mazembe, DRC), Badra Sangare (AS Tanda, Ivory Coast), Mande Sayouba (Stabaek, Norway)
Defenders: Serge Aurier (PSG, France), Mamadou Bagayoko (St Trond VV, Belgium), Eric Bailly (Manchester United, England), Simon Deli (Slavia Prague, Czech Rep), Wilfried Kanon (ADO, Netherlands), Lamine Kone (Sunderland, England), Adama Traore (Basel, Switzerland)
Midfielders: Victorien Angban (Grenada, Spain), Cheik Doukoure (Metz, France), Franck Kessie (Atalanta, Italy), Yao Serge N’guessan (AS Nancy, France), Geoffroy Serey Die (Basel, Switzerland), Jean Michael Seri (Nice, France)
Forwards: Wilfried Bony (Stoke City, England), Max Gradel (Bournemouth, England), Salomon Kalou (Hertha Berlin, Germany), Jonathan Kodjia (Aston Villa, England), Giovanni Sio (Stade Rennes, France), Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace, England), Nicolas Pepe (Angers, France) Togo
Goalkeepers: Kossi Agassa (unattached), Baba Tchagouni (FC Marmande, France) and Cédric Mensah (Le Mans, France)
Defenders: Serge Akakpo (Trabzonspor, Turkey), Sadate Ouro-Akoriko (Al Khaleej, Saudi Arabia), Djene Dakonam (Saint-Truiden, Belgium), Gafar Mamah (Dacia, Moldova), Maklibè Kouloun (Dyto), Hakim Ouro-Sama (AS Togo Port)
and Vincent Bossou (Young Africans, Tanzania)
Midfielders: Alaixys Romao (Olympiacos, Greece), Matthieu Dossevi (Standard Liège, Belgium), Floyd Ayité (Fulham, England), Henritsè Eninful (Doxa, Cyprus), Lalawele Atakora (Helsingborgs, Sweden), Prince Segbefia (Goztepe, Turkey), Ihlas Bebou (Fortuna Dusseldorf, Germany), Franco Atchou (Dyto, Togo) and Serge Gakpe (Genoa, Italy)
Forwards: Emmanuel Adebayor (unattached), Fo Doh Laba (Nahdat Berkane, Morocco), Komlan Agbeniadan (WAFA, Ghana) and Razak Boukari (Chateauroux, France) Morocco
Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou (Girona, Spain), Yassine El Kharroubi (Lokomotiv Plovdiv, Bulgaria), Munir Mohamedi (Numancia, Spain)
Defenders: Amine Attouchi (Wydad Casablanca, Morocco), Mehdi Benatia (Juventus, Italy), Fouad Chafik (Dijon, France), Manuel da Costa (Olympiakos, Greece), Nabil Dirar (Monaco, France), Hamza Mendyl (Lille, France), Romain Saiss (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England)
Midfielders: Youssef Ait Bennasser (Nancy, France), Nordin Amrabat (Watford, England), Sofiane Boufal* (Southampton, England), Mbark Boussoufa (Al Jazeera, United Arab Emirates), Mehdi Carcela (Grenada, Spain), Karim El Ahmadi (Feyenoord Rotterdam, Holland), Faycal Fajr (Deportivo Coruna, Spain), Mourir Obbadi (Lille, France)
Forwards: Rachid Alioui (Nimes, France), Aziz Bouhaddouz (St Pauli, Germany), Khalid Boutaib (Racing Strasbourg, France), Youssef El Arabi (Al Lekhwiya, Qatar), Youssef Ennesyri (Malaga, Spain)
*pulled out of the squad after sustaining an injury Group Prediction: 1st Ivory Coast, 2nd DRC, 3rd Morocco and 4th Togo
The 2017 Africa Cup of Nations starts tomorrow, and we will be examining the contenders this week. Today NJABULO NGIDI looks at Group C.