African dream or nightmare ... the kingmakers, game-changers

THE Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) kicks off this afternoon in Gabon. Njabulo Ngidi looks at where the 16 nations that will battle for African supremacy stand.

Favourites – Algeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Senegal

These four nations boast some of the finest footballers on the continent and they regularly hold their own against the best in the world. Apart from Ivory Coast, the reigning African champions, the superstars who call Algeria, Ghana and Senegal home, haven’t given their countries anything to cheer about in terms of continental success. They will be looking to change that in Gabon.

Ghana have a better pedigree than Algeria and Senegal at this stage, having finished as runners up in two of the last four editions. Those silver medals are a reminder of the quality in the side and a motivation to push harder to get gold.

Dark Horses – Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Gabon and Zimbabwe

It might sound preposterous to label Egypt as a dark horse, but then again, this is a team that didn’t qualify for the last three Afcons and has just four players in their 23-man squad who have played in this tournament before.

If Egypt were to leave Gabon as African champions, it would be a fairy-tale story of a nation that spent the last six years trying to get over domestic political turmoil while they were falling behind in African football.

The Warriors have been absent from the Afcon longer than Egypt. They battled a different turmoil, a financial one, in their lead-up to their first appearance since 2006. They boast a strong attack that can stun the favourites just like the Pierre-Emerick Aubameyangled Gabon.

The DRC, bronze medallists in the last Afcon, complete the quartet with a team that’s growing each year.

Underdogs – Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Morocco and Tunisia

The aura of invincibility that used to surround Cameroon on the continent has been removed. Administrative issues and egos played a big part in removing it.

Now the Indomitable Lions find themselves starting this Afcon without eight key players who snubbed the side. This should be a turning point for the team to not only improve their administration but also have a squad sans egos – that have hurt them in the past. A successful showing in this tournament would send a strong message.

Herve Renard and Morocco also want to send a strong message. If he can guide the Atlas Lions to continental success, they would be the third nation he has done that with – a rare feat that would put him in the history books. But Morocco and Tunisia are playing catch-up as African football has changed a lot from the days they were powerhouses.

No-hopers – Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Togo and Uganda

If Guinea-Bissau can collect three points in a group that has hosts Gabon, Burkina Faso and Cameroon, that would be an achievement for the nation making it’s Afcon debut. Their preparations for this tournament was shambolic, from fighting for bonuses to not getting a competitive match to prepare for the showpiece event. It doesn’t help that their players are inexperienced at this level.

They’re in a similar position as Uganda.

The Cranes are making their first Afcon appearance in close to four decades. As a welcome, they were thrown into the group of death that features Ghana, Egypt and Mali