African superstars who light up leagues around the world will display exceptional skills as the chase to emerge as the supreme kings of the Confederation of African Football castle under a fizz of confetti on February 6 commences today.
A total of 23 teams, chief among them Egypt and Senegal — led by the Liverpool duo of Mohammed Salah and Sadio Mane — will attempt to wrest the Africa Cup of Nations from the grip of holders Algeria.
Riyad Mahrez and Co are aiming to complete back-to-back title wins in the 33rd edition of Africa’s premier competition which will be played against a background of squads crippled by Covid-19 as well as a security threat in the region of Limbe which will stage Group F action involving Mali, Tunisia, Gambia and Mauritania.
Four times African footballer of the year and two time Afcon winner, the legendary Samuel Eto’o, has just been elected Cameroon Football Federation president.
“Every vote represents the energy and ambition of our football family to take our beloved sport to a level we’ve never seen before,” said Eto’o in a tweet upon his election victory on December 11. Cameroon are chasing a sixth crown and will get the show under way with the opener against Burkina Faso at the Olembe Stadium today.
Only 80% of fans will be allowed at the 60,000 seater in the capital Yaounde. The Indomitable Lions will want to sound a roar of intent to bring life to that never-seen-before level.
They will seek to take advantage of home ground turf and rise like the proverbial phoenix to grab gold medals they last hung around their necks when they were under the tutelage of now Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos.
THE CONTENDERS:
CAMEROON, winners in 1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, 2017
Born in Nkol Ngok 25 years ago, highly rated gloveman Andre Onana, a product of the Samuel Eto’o academy, was polished at Spain’s Barcelona and sparkled for Ajax Amsterdam in Holland which he is leaving as a free agent to pursue an Italian job for Inter Milan.
“Inter have made a great signing. He’s a great goalkeeper on a free transfer. I’ve seen several videos of him. He has explosive reactions and he’s great with his feet. They do a good job of training that in the Netherlands,” cooed Inter goalkeeping legend Ivano Bordon.
Young Boys of Switzerland is club home to Moumi Ngamaleu who plays in left midfield and as a right or left winger and has an energetic presence in the Swiss Super League.
The Fulham central defensive midfielder on loan at Napoli, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa’s impressive impact has been such that the Italians want to make the move permanent this month.
It is that reliability, durability and ability to conduct mop up operations that coach Toni Conceicao, who replaced Clarence Seerdof in 2019, will identify as a crucial cornerstone to build his team around.
They must lay down the marker with a flying start, a feat that will not be easy to achieve because Burkina Faso, losing finalists to Nigeria in 2013, will be no pushovers.
EGYPT, winners in 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010
All who praise at the altar of the Pharoahs have their fingers crossed that Egyptian magician Salah will transform his rich vein of form from club to country. Egypt were regulars on the podium, with Hassan Shehata leading them to an unprecedented treble in six years.
Those days of dominance have drastically dwindled, as evidenced by their last 16 elimination when they were stunned on home soil by an 85th minute Thembinkosi Lorch strike in 2019.
Carlos Queiroz, who has South African Roger de Sa as his second in command, has the responsibility of restoring the glory days to the most successful nation at Afcon.
The team boasts a strong contingent of Pitso Mosimane’s Al Ahly Champions League winning side such as Mohamed El-Shennawy, Ayman Ashraf, Akram Tawfik, Hamdi Fathi, Amr El-Sulya and Mohamed Sherif.
Add to the mix foot soldiers like Aston Villa’s Trezeguet and Mohamed Elneny of Arsenal and VfB Stuttgart’s Omar Marmoush, and Queiroz has a team good enough to scale the heights.
ALGERIA, winners in 1990, 2019
The Dessert Warriors proved themselves as a bunch who have mastered the art of tournament football. They have guile, patience and the ability to explode at the right moment.
With players like Ismael Bennacer, Rais M’bolhi, Said Benrahma, Ramy Bensebaini and Youcef Atal, they boast battle-scarred warriors who will be out to maintain North Africa as the capital of all premier competitions on the continent.
IVORY COAST, winners in 1992, 2015
Nicolas Pepe was the flavour of the season when his glut of goals earned in the French Ligue 1 made him a wanted man in the English Premiership. Arsenal won the race but Pepe has largely misfired for the Gunners.
The tournament provides him with a platform to improve his tally of six goals in 26 games for Ivory Coast. Recent reports have linked midfielder Franck Kessie of AC Milan with interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid.
The 25-year-old with a nose for goal scored 14 Serie A goals last year. It’s a return one strike shy of what Brazilian Kaka achieved in 2008.
Another Ivorian in formidable form is Sebastien Haller, the Ajax frontman who gave the best rebuttal to the undermining of the tournament.
When asked if he would honour the competition, the scorer of 10 goals in Champions League matches didn’t mince his words. “This statement shows the disrespect for Africa.
Another Ivorian in formidable form is Sebastien Haller
"Would this ever have been presented to a European player towards a European Championship? This tournament was actually supposed to be held in the summer but was postponed due to Covid.
“Of course, I will go to the Africa Cup of Nations to represent Ivory Coast. That is the highest honour,” he told the De Telegraaf inquirer. His comments chimed with those of Patrick Vieira, the Crystal Palace manager who has Ivorian Wilfried Zaha in his team.
Senegal-born Vieira said he “respects and understands the passion of those players to go and represent their country. I will never stop any players going to the Africa Cup of Nations.”
NIGERIA, winners in 1980, 1994, 2013
Augustine Eguavoen will fancy the idea of becoming the second former Super Eagles player turned coach to hoist the coveted trophy. Should he succeed, he will follow in the footsteps of the late Stephen Keshi.
Ahmed Musa has been recalled to skipper the side. He was released to attend the bereavement of a family member but will be back in time for the super clash against Egypt on Tuesday.
Saudi Arabia club Al Shabab have refused to release Odion Ighalo. Eguavoen will put his trust in the likes of Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi to help the Super Eagles soar.
Orlando Pirates forward Kwame Peprah enters uncharted territory, thanks to his two goals in two minutes when Pirates beat Marumo Gallants 2-1 and another brace two days later in the 2-1 defeat of AmaZulu.
SENEGAL, runners up in 2002, 2019
The bridesmaid will be out to break its virginity as far as being crowned champions of the competition is concerned. With a spine boasting Edouard Mendy, the imperious Chelsea goalminder, experienced powerhouse centreback Kalidou Koulibaly and ruthless workhorse Sadio Mane, Senegal have a strong base to build on.
The Teranga Lions will set their minds a mission to right the wrong of 2019 when their push for glory was stopped dead in its tracks by Algeria in the final. It is also an opportunity to banish double heartbreak for coach Aliou Cisse, a runner-up as captain in 2002 in Mali and as coach in Egypt in 2019. Third time lucky for the dreadlocked one?
GHANA, winners in 1963, 1965, 1978, 1982
Ghana lost 3-0 when they exchanged friendly fire with Algeria on Wednesday in Doha. The Black Stars kick-start their Group C matches against sleeping giants Morocco tomorrow.
They will have to be in sharper shape and a lot will be expected from Thomas Partey, André Ayew, Daniel Amartey, Andy Yiadom, Mohammed Kudus, Samuel Owusu and Jordan Ayew to make the team shine again on a big stage.
The man who took them to the 2010 Afcon final in Angola, Serbian Milovan Rajevac, is back in the saddle and seems to know how to bring the best out of the west Africans.
Oh, by the way, dismiss Tunisia and Morocco at your peril.
NO HOPERS:
Comoros have done well to qualify. Gambia will be making their maiden appearance. But it is thus far and no more for the island country.
Sierra Leone are back for their first appearance since 1996.
It is a second successive appearance for Mauritania who went no further than the group stages in 2019.
Equatorial Guinea return for their fourth appearance at the finals. They are capable of punching above their weight but don’t have the steam to stand the test.
FROM THE TERRACES
The sound of the drum will fill the air. The shaking of the hips by colourfully clad, face-painted supporters will create a carnival atmosphere.
The Ivory Coast contingent always bring the vibe clad in the colours of their country’s flag of green, orange and white while sashaying to choreographed moves.
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