Africa Cup of Nations preview
Africa Cup of Nations preview
By Tom Masters
After much discussion and a seemingly endless build-up, the Africa Cup of Nations finally begins on Sunday with some of the Premier League’s biggest stars in action as well as other big footballing names from around the globe.
This year’s competition takes place in Cameroon, with the final held at the Olembe Stadium in Yaoundé on 6 February in what should be a thrilling tournament.
Here is our group-by-group guide on who to look out for and which players may stand out.
Group A
Cameroon
Burkina Faso
Cape Verde
Ethiopia
Who will qualify?
Cameroon, Burkina Faso and Cape Verde
Hosts Cameroon have serious pedigree in this competition, winning it five times, most recently in 2017 - only Egypt have won it more.
While they do not have that iconic figure like they did for so long with Samuel Eto’o, the majority of their squad are plying their trade in Europe’s top leagues and they are the clear favourites to top this group.
2013 runners-up Burkina Faso have never lifted the prestigious trophy but have had more success in recent years, adding a bronze medal from 2017 to that silver from four years earlier.
They will be expected to push Cameroon in the opener and make their way past the others and into the knockouts.
Cape Verde should be too strong for Ethiopia and a decent win in that match could be enough to see them into the last 16 as one of the four best third-placed teams.
Star Men:
Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Cameroon) – Now on loan at Napoli, Anguissa was a bright spark in an otherwise dire Fulham team last season and he is a big presence in the midfield in both attack and defence.
Bertrand Traoré (Burkina Faso) – Aston Villa’s winger is Les Etalons’ most prolific goalscorer by some distance and will be expected to contribute most of the goals.
A mention to Ethiopia’s Getaneh Kebede, who has 31 goals in 59 appearances and will have to be at his best if his country are to avoid an early exit.
Odds:
Cameroon: 8/1 – The clear favourites to top the group come in as fifth favourites to win the title.
Burkina Faso: 40/1 - Likely to get through to the knockout stages where they will be a tricky side to beat, but ultimately expected to come up short against one of the big guns.
Cape Verde: 66/1: Unsurprisingly quite long odds for a team whose sole goal will be to get out of the group.
Ethiopia: 200/1: Unlikely to qualify as the second-lowest FIFA ranked side but it all hinges on that match with Cape Verde in round 1 for a surprise knockout run.
Group B
Senegal
Zimbabwe
Guinea
Malawi
Who will qualify?
Senegal, Guinea and Zimbabwe
2019 runners-up Senegal are a team packed with world class talent throughout the squad, from goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to Sadio Mané in attack. It is no surprise they are the bookies favourites.
For them, this should be a fairly easy group to top and I would expect Guinea to follow them into second.
Zimbabwe will fancy their chances of edging through as a third-placed side and though nothing is impossible, Malawi reaching the knockouts would be a shock.
Star Men:
Sadio Mané (Senegal) – One of the biggest names in the competition, Mané comes into the Africa Cup of Nations in good form for Liverpool and is the standout player in what is a very strong Senegal side. Expect big things.
Naby Keita (Guinea) – Another Liverpool star in this group to look out for, Keita has impressed this season and forms part of a strong midfield with Ilaix Moriba and Amadou Diawara that can lead Guinea to the knockout stages.
Odds:
Senegal: 5/1 – The favourites are looking to make history as Senegal bid to win their first Africa Cup of Nations title.
Zimbabwe: 100/1 – Definite outsiders with a chance of finishing as a best third place team and squeezing into the knockouts.
Guinea: 33/1 – Should finish second and reach the knockouts and from then on who knows. Ultimately, though, a likely last 16 duel with Gambia or Mali would be tight, before probably facing the hosts in the quarter-finals which might be a stretch too far.
Malawi: 250/1 – One of the lowest ranked sides in the tournament, 129th in the FIFA rankings, Malawi would do well to get a result in a tough group.
Group C
Morocco
Ghana
Gabon
Comoros
Who will qualify?
Morocco, Ghana and Gabon
Probably the toughest one to call, with three of Africa’s biggest sides put into the same group together along with the Comoros, who have been dealt a very tough hand.
Even without Hakim Ziyech, exiled due to previous misdemeanours, Morocco have a side capable of winning a second trophy and despite the challenging fixtures with Ghana and Gabon, they are the favourites to top the group.
Ghana themselves have an incredible squad packed with top quality talent from Europe’s top leagues and they will be tough to beat, Gabon, led by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, should have enough to be among the four best third-placed sides.
Star Men:
Achraf Hakimi (Morocco) – The PSG right-back is simply world class and can assist in going forward as well as being a top-quality defender. His pace is staggering and there aren’t many teams around the world he wouldn’t walk straight into.
Thomas Partey (Ghana) – The Black Stars have a quality defence and attack, but it is Partey who links the whole team together and the four-time champions will have been very pleased to see his form improve in recent weeks.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon) – Unhappy at Arsenal, this is a chance for redemption. A hungry Aubameyang is a dangerous prospect indeed.
Odds:
Morocco: 10/1 – Favourites for the group and capable of beating anyone, though a likely clash with Algeria or Ivory Coast in the quarter-finals might be a step too far.
Ghana: 12/1 – Only narrowly behind Morocco according to the bookies but another side for whom the quarter-finals may be the limit of their powers.
Gabon: 50/1 – Getting through to the knockouts would be a big achievement, whether they could then take down one of the big guns seems unlikely.
Comoros: 300/1 – The newbies have one of the longest odds in the competition and for good reason given their three group opponents. It is just a case of just enjoying every second and seeing what happens.
Group D
Egypt
Nigeria
Sudan
Guinea-Bissau
Who will qualify?
Egypt and Nigeria
Egypt have Mo Salah and he is up there with the very best in the world right now, which immediately makes them one of the top teams in the competition.
Nigeria are a team with large amounts of talent throughout the squad and are certainly capable of pushing Egypt for top spot.
Sudan do not appear to have the squad to match either Egypt or Nigeria in a tough group, but Guinea-Bissau may be able to sneak through in third led by Mama Baldé.
Star Men:
Mo Salah (Egypt) – No surprises here. Salah is at the very top of his game right now and is probably the best player at this tournament, if not the world at the moment.
Odds:
Egypt: 13/2 – Third favourites for the competition and with Salah at the helm you wouldn’t bet against them. But who is going to support the Liverpool star?
Nigeria: 8/1 – Good odds for a team ranked above Egypt in the FIFA World Rankings. Don’t be surprised if they go on to win the tournament.
Sudan: 300/1 – Extremely long odds and you can see why with their opposition, but they have surprised people before…
Guinea-Bissau: 200/1 – Probably have a decent shot at a first ever knockout appearance, but ultimately goal difference could cost them against the big two.
Group E
Algeria
Côte D’Ivoire
Sierra Leone
Equatorial Guinea
Who will qualify?
Algeria and Côte D’Ivoire
Algeria are the holders from 2019 and will be expected to challenge again – for good reason, given their vastly talented squad headlined by the in-form Riyad Mahrez.
They would be expected to breeze past Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea which leaves them in a tasty match-up with Côte D’Ivoire.
The two sides meeting in the final group match is likely to decide who tops the group, with Côte D’Ivoire sending a squad which looks very capable of winning a third title.
For Sierra Leone, boosted by the inclusion of former England defender Steven Caulker, and Equatorial Guinea, it already feels like a desperate scramble for a best third-placed position.
Star Men:
Riyad Mahrez (Algeria) – The Manchester City winger has been on top form in recent weeks and is the man to lead Algeria to a second consecutive title, ably supported by the likes of Said Benrahma and Islam Slimani.
Sebastien Haller (Côte D’Ivoire) – The West Ham United flop has excelled at Ajax and is the top scorer in the Champions League this season. With Wilfried Zaha and Nicolas Pépé either side of him, Haller could have one hell of a tournament.
Odds:
Algeria: 6/1 – The second favourites behind Senegal and a team with a taste for winning after victory in the 2019 edition, Algeria will almost certainly be there towards the latter stages.
Côte D’Ivoire: 7/1 – The fourth favourites to win in the same group with the holders certainly makes for a tasty last group game. Should Côte D’Ivoire finish second they may face Senegal in the quarter-finals, which would be compelling viewing.
Sierra Leone: 400/1 – The longest odds according to the bookies, such is the strength of the other two teams. It seems very unlikely that Sierra Leone will find a way into the last 16 this year.
Equatorial Guinea: 250/1 – Unlikely that they will find a way into the knockouts either, although not impossible if they can avoid shipping too many goals.
Group F
Tunisia
Mali
Gambia
Mauritania
Who will qualify?
Tunisia, Mali and Gambia
Probably the weakest of all the groups, with none of these sides among the big favourites, but Tunisia and Mali do have quality and will be tough to break down.
The experience in the Tunisia side is especially important, while Mali are perhaps a dark horse for the competition.
Gambia have some quality players of their own, particularly their wingers Ebrima Colley and Musa Barrow, while Mauritania are likely just going to be there for the experience.
Star Men:
Wahbi Khazri (Tunisia) – The Saint Etienne winger has been the talisman for Tunisia for a number of years now and it is no different heading into this tournament. His goals just always seem to come just when you need them.
Yves Bissouma (Mali) – Bissouma is one of the best in his position in the Premier League with Brighton and a move to a top side seems inevitable. The Africa Cup of Nations a good time to prove yourself and Bissouma will be eager to do just that.
Odds:
Tunisia: 14/1 – Not among the top favourites seems fair – but underestimate them at your peril.
Mali: 25/1 – Will almost certainly make it to the last 16 and will be a tough side to beat once into the knockouts but will likely fall to one of the big teams.
Gambia: 100/1 – Seem to be in a position where they can work their way into the last 16, anything beyond that is a bonus.
Mauritania: 250/1 – Probably the best group to be a minnow in and there is a chance, but realistically reaching the knockouts would be an incredible achievement.
All odds from Bet 365