Classy quartet are chief Afcon contenders

THE Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) kicks off this afternoon in Gabon. NJABULO NGIDIi looks at the chances of the 16 nations that will battle for African supremacy. Algeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Senegal These four nations boast some of the finest footballers in the continent and they regularly hold their own against the best in the world. Apart from Ivory Coast, the reigning African champions, the household names who call Algeria, Ghana and Senegal home haven’t given their countries anything to cheer in terms of continental success. They will be looking to change that in Gabon.

Ghana have 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. 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 political turmoil, a financial one, in the lead up to their first appearance since 2006. They boast a strong attack that can stun the favourites just like the Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang-led Gabon. Democratic Republic of Congo, bronze medallists in the last Afcon, complete the quartet with a team that’s growing each year. Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Morocco and Tunisia The aura of invincibility that used to surround Cameroon in 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 side to not only improve their administration but also have a team that’s without 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 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 the powerhouses. Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Togo and Uganda If Guinea-Bissau can collect three points in a group that has the hosts Gabon, Burkina Faso and Cameroon, that would be an achievement for the nation making its Afcon debut. Their preparations for this tournament were shambolic, from fighting for bonuses to not getting a competitive match to prepare for the showpiece.

It doesn’t help them that their players are inexperienced at this level. They’re in a similar position to 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.