By: Imo-owo Mbede
The 31st edition of the Africa Cup of Nations – Africa’s “World Cup” which coincides with the Confederation of African Football (CAF)'s 60th anniversary, commences this weekend. Five years after co-hosting with Equatorial Guinea, the tournament returns to Gabon.
Sixteen teams – 4 in each of 4 groups – will battle it out in 32 duels for the continental crown. Gabon, Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Guinea Bissau vie for two quarter-final slots in Group A; while Algeria, Tunisia, Senegal and Zimbabwe do same in Group B. Ivory Coast, DR Congo, Morocco and Togo face each other in Group C; while Ghana, Mali, Egypt and Uganda will all look emerge as the top two in Group D.
As hostilities commence this Saturday with host Gabon locking horns with debutants Guinea-Bissau, what prospects, expectations and chances do each team bring into the competition?
GROUP A
Gabon
Gabon qualified for its seventh African Cup of Nations as host of the competition. The Panthers made it to the quarter-finals in 1996 and as co-hosts in 2012, but will be hoping to do better after being knocked out at the group stage last time out.
Despite prospective support from the home crowd, the odds seem stacked against them. The team will face the pressure to better the performances that saw them win only 2 of 13 matches in 2016. Appointing a new manager just one month to the competition, especially one who does not have a lot of credentials on the continent does not look like a good omen either.
Burkina Faso
Qualifying as Group winners ahead of Comoros, Botswana and Uganda does not exactly place Burkina Faso amongst the contenders for the trophy. However, the Stallions, finalists in 2013, five years after a semi-final berth are capable of pulling off a surprise given their consistency in a tournament where they have missed out on only two editions since 1996 – plus, Coach Paulo Duarte who masterminded their revival on the continent between 2008 and 2012 is back in the reins.
Cameroun
In 17 appearances, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun are four-time winners of the Nations Cup. They have been losing finalists twice and semi-finalists on two occasions. They last won the trophy 15 years ago and have not been able to replicate their continental dominance of old in the last decade, qualifying for only two of the last four editions and not making it past the group stages in either. After finishing top of their qualifying group without losing a single game ahead of Mauritania, Gambia and South Africa, the Lions will be looking to regain their place at the summit of African football in Gabon. Unfortunately, this plot has already taken a massive blow with about 8 top players opting out of the competition.
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau will be making her debut in the African Nations Cup after defying all odds and predictions to qualify as winner from a Group comprising (2012 champions) Zambia, (2015 quarterfinalists) Congo and Kenya.
While it will be very difficult to qualify from this group, they will be looking to perhaps pull a few surprises and make Gabon 2017 a memorable first continental outing.
GROUP B
Algeria
Algeria look very strong heading into this competition and will be hoping to translate their position as Africa’s highest ranked team (currently) to a reality in Gabon and add to the single continental triumph of 1990.
The Desert Foxes did not lose a single game in qualification to Seychelles, Lesotho and Ethiopia, scoring 25 goals and conceding only 4. With a hugely talented squad including the newly crowned African Player of the year, this seeming “golden generation” of Algerians will, after being knocked out of the Quarter-finals in the last edition, draw confidence from the experience of a second round appearance at the 2014 World Cup for its assault on the continent in Gabon.
Tunisia
Tunisia has in 17 appearances so far, won the African Nations Cup on one occasion; as hosts in 2004. A tough group in Gabon and a tipsy-turvy qualification for the 2017 fiesta against Djibouti, Liberia and Togo where they still came out top, stakes the odds against the Carthage Eagles. However, losing just one of their last 13 games and getting to at least the Quarterfinals in 5 of the last 7 editions of the tournament proper, means they are on a good run in the competition.
Senegal
Senegal have yet to taste victory at the tournament in 13 appearances, emerging as beaten finalists in 2002 and semifinalists in 1990 and 2006. The Teranga Lions however, is one of the contenders for this year’s trophy on the individual and collective strength of its current squad and an expectedly impressive qualification route which saw them winning all their matches against Burundi, Namibia and Niger.
Zimbabwe
After topping its qualifying group comprising Guinea, Malawi and Swaziland, Zimbabwe is facing financial crisis in the wake of its participation in the 2017 Nations Cup. This will seriously hamper any chances of going better than its record of a first round exit at the tournament; more so, considering the calibre of teams in its Group.
GROUP C
Ivory Coast
Defending champions, Ivory Coast, has featured in 21 editions of the African Nations Cup but has won the trophy twice. The much-touted “golden generation” which finally won the last edition is gradually giving way to a new team. However, a team which has been finalists in 3 of the last 6 editions of the competition is still riding very high on confidence and surely has a chance to underline its dominance. The Elephants will be looking to do just that in Gabon; but will have to emerge from what is seemingly the “group of death” this term, first.
DR Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo has also won the Africa Cup of Nations twice in 17 appearances, the last victory coming far back in 1974. The Central African team has been fairly consistent in participation, but has looked more of an ‘also-ran’ in recent years. Having qualified ahead of Central African Republic, Angola and Madagascar, can 2017 be different? Possible, but unlikely.
Morocco
One of the domestic powerhouses of African Football, Morocco has surprisingly won the African Nations Cup just once – a long time ago in 1976 – in 15 appearances. 2017 presents a huge opportunity to better that record, but the Atlas Lions who came 3rd in the last edition must first hit the ground running to qualify from Group C. The team is currently on an impressive 13-game unbeaten run, and is managed by Coach Herve Renard who has won 2 of the last 3 competitions with unheralded Zambia and Ivory Coast; so why not?
Togo
After missing out on the last edition, Togo qualified for its 8th African Nations Cup competition as group runners-up behind Tunisia. The Sparrow Hawks will find it difficult to better their quarterfinal performance of 2013 considering the composition of Group C. But who knows?
GROUP D
Ghana
Ghana is currently transiting, but despite recent struggles in the 2018 qualifiers, has an impressive record in its 20 appearances at the Nations Cup. The Black Stars has placed 4th or better in the last 5 editions of the tournament and did not lose a game in qualifying, scoring 14 and conceding only 3 goals to top the group. The team will probably have vengeance on its mind after being beaten by Egypt in World Cup Qualifying after being pitched again in the same group with the North Africans.
Mali
Mali won its qualifying group for this year’s tournament ahead of Benin, Equatorial Guinea and South Sudan. After placing 3rd in the 2012 and 2013 editions, the Eagles were knocked out in the first round last time out and so will look to overturn that disappointment on the tenth Nations Cup outing in Gabon.
Egypt
In 22 appearances, Egypt boasts five African Nations Cup title wins; the most, by any country on the continent. The Pharaohs won all 3 titles between 2006 and 2010, but went under thereafter, failing to qualify for the next three consecutive championships. After finally returning to the fold this year, the North Africans will hope to translate their form in World Cup Qualifying (where they currently sit atop their group) to the continental championship in Gabon.
Uganda
Uganda is returning to the Nations Cup Competition after a 39-year absence, for only its sixth appearance. After finishing second behind Burkina Faso, but ahead of Botswana and Comoros, not very much is expected – not in a group with teams looking to regain their egos on the continent.
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