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Profile Of 16 Teams At The African Nations Championship

Profile Of 16 Teams At The African Nations Championship

6 of 17

All is set for the African Nation Championship in Cape Town South Africa starting this Saturday Jan. 11 to Feb. 1. As teams gather for one of the biggest football events on the continent, MTNfootball has profiled some important details you need to know about each team, how they made it to the finals, their coaches and some of the key players who have lifted their countries’ flags to this continental contest.

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yeswefoot.com

1. Ghana

Nickname: The Black Stars
Founded: 1957
FIFA ranking in Africa: 2
Coach: James Kwesi Appiah

Ghana will be returning to the African Nations Championship (CHAN) to be held in South Africa seeking to win the tournament for the first time. The Local Black Stars, who were finalists in the first edition of the tournament in Ivory Coast in 2009, qualified for the competition without kicking a ball. They were scheduled to meet Benin in their only qualifying game to reach the tournament to be held from the 10th of January 2014 to the 1st of February. However the home-based Squirrels withdrew from the two-legged qualifier because of problems between their federation and the ministry of sports. This means Ghana will be making their third successive appearance in the tournament since it started. Their aim of winning the title will be easy because of the departure of several key players to foreign team which means they are ineligible to play for Ghana in the competition.

en.starafrica.com
en.starafrica.com

2. Nigeria

Nickname: The Super Eagles
Founded: 1945
Coach: Stephen Keshi
FIFA ranking in Africa:  4

Nigeria will be making their CHAN debut at the 2014 edition in South Africa. They failed to qualify for the first two tournament finals in Cote d’Ivoire and Sudan. They were eliminated by arch-rivals Ghana for the inaugural competition in Cote d’Ivoire in 2009 and next-door neighbors Niger shocked them out for the next tournament staged by Sudan. They had to scrape past Cote d’Ivoire 4-3 on aggregate to make it to South Africa 2014. They won the first game in Kaduna 4-1 courtesy of a brace from Sunday Mba and further goals from Gambo Mohammed and Ifeanyi Ede only to lose the return match 2-0 in Abidjan. Several players who are in the country’s main squad are also still eligible for selection for this ‘B’ team as they still play their football at home.

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allsports.com.gh

3. Mali

Nickname: Les Aigles (The Eagles)
FIFA ranking in Africa: 7
Founded: 1960
Coach: Patrice Carteron

Mali qualified to the finals following a 3-2 aggregate win over Guinea after surviving in the return leg in Conakry where they lost 1-0 under the helm of coach Djibril Drame. And Mali return to the CAF African Nations Championship for second successive time after making a forgettable debut in Sudan in 2011. Their first outing was a major failure after picking up just one point and scoring one goal to exit the competition bottom of Group C.

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allsports.com.gh

4. Bukina Faso

Nickname: Les Etalons (The Stallions)
Founded: 1960
FIFA ranking in Africa : 10
Coach: Paul Put

Burkina Faso football has been on the rise of late, a final appearance at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and qualification for the final round of matches on the road to the Brazil World Cup.  But this will be a very different selection devoid of their overseas stars who bring most of the top talent to the senior national side. They are competing in their first CHAN finals after having beaten Niger to qualify for the event. Only one player – goalkeeper Laré Mohamed Diarra – is based in the Burkina Faso league from the squad that was called up for their final World Cup pool phase qualifier in September, showing just what a task coach Paul Put has to put together a totally new team. Burkina Faso have done well to reach the finals of other continental tournaments, they have missed just to Nations Cup since 1996, though their final showing in South Africa in February was a rare bit of success there as they have largely faltered in the first round.

mtnfootball.com
mtnfootball.com

5. Libya

Nickname: The Greens
Founded: 1962
FIFA ranking in Africa:  11
Coach: Marcos Paqueta (BRA)

Libya returns to the CAF African Nations Championship for the second time after previously competing in the inaugural tournament hosted by Cote d’Ivoire in 2009. They failed to qualify for the 2011 edition after Algeria knocked them out on away goals rule despite winning 2-1 at home in the return leg match played in Tripoli. Ironically, Libya were also paired against Algeria at the same stage for the 2014 qualifiers but this time around the latter made qualification to South African very easy for their opponents. This is after Algeria withdrew from the regional qualifiers after failing to constitute a formidable team. Meanwhile, the Libyan’s know they must do better than in 2009 when they failed to reach the knockout stage after finishing bottom of their group with two points from three games in Cote d’Ivoire.

www.yeswefoot.com
www.yeswefoot.com

6. South Africa

Nickname: Bafana Bafana
Founded: 1991
FIFA ranking in Africa: 13
Coach: Gordon Igesund

Hosts South Africa will be appearing in their second CHAN tournament after a quarterfinal finish in Sudan two years ago. On that occasion their side was made up of lower league players and those on the fringes of selection at PSL clubs, yet they surprised with first round wins over Ghana, Niger and Zimbabwe on their way to the quarterfinals, where they lost 2-0 to Algeria. Any South African side is difficult to beat on home soil and they will want to take advantage of that in this competition. It will also be a chance for some young up and coming players to prove their worth to the national team boss and perhaps put themselves in the frame for full senior selection down the line.

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allsports.com.gh

7. Morroco

Nickname: Atlas Lions
Founded: 1955
FIFA ranking in Africa: 17
Coach: Rachid Taoussi

Morocco will make their first appearance in the African Nations Championships in 2014, having missed out of the previous editions in 2009 and 2011. The Atlas Lions edged Tunisia 1-0 on aggregate to qualify for the main tournament which will be held in South Africa. The team is coached by former Morocco and Union Sidi Kacem midfielder Rachid Taoussi. The 54-year-old called up a strong squad for their only qualifier against Tunisia including the likes of Lamyaghri Nadir, Fatah Said, Batna Mourad, and Hafidi Adbelilah.

en.starafrica
en.starafrica

8. Gabon

Nickname: Azingo Nationale (Black Panthers)
Founded: 1962
FIFA ranking in Africa: 19
Coach: Gernot Rohr

Gabon will be making their second appearance at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in the 2014 tournament in South Africa. They lost out in the group stage of the 2011 competition in Sudan. The Panthers fell 1-0 to hosts Sudan in their opening group game, before they forced Algeria to a 2-2 draw. They then beat Uganda 2-1 in their final group game courtesy of a Pitty Djoue brace to finish on four points, a point behind second-placed Algeria. For the 2014 CHAN, they eliminated mighty Cameroon 7-6 on penalties after aggregate scores stood at 1-1.

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allsports.com

9. Democratic Republic of Congo

Nickname: The Leopards
Founded: 1919
FIFA ranking in Africa: 20
Coach: Claude Le Roy

Inaugural CHAN winners DR Congo return to the tournament for a third successive time. However, DR Congo’s passage to the 2014 final was not as rosy as in the last two editions. DR Congo qualification was secured in a losers third round play-off against Cameroon whom they beat 1-0 away before drawing 1-1 at home in Lubumbashi. The teams’ core consists of players from perennial CAF club competition campaigners TP Mazembe who also consistently formed DR Congo’s composition in last two editions of the tournament. Meanwhile, DR Congo head to South Africa with some interesting milestones awaiting them. They are the only team heading to the January tournament to have never failed to advance from the group stage. Secondly, Mazembe goalkeeper Robert Kidiaba is expected to set a new CHAN record for the most tournament appearances clocked by a player. Furthermore, coach Santos Mutubile too is set for a CHAN milestone when he returns for third successive final on the bench.

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allsports.com

10. Congo

Nickname: Diables Rouges (Red Devils)
Founded: 1962
FIFA Ranking in Africa: 21

The Red Devils of Congo have qualified for their first CHAN tournament under new coach Kamel Djabour who was appointed last year. Congo who narrowly missed out on a place in the last round of qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup will be eager to make a mark in the continental tournament. En route to South Africa, Congo beat the Central African Republic 3-0 in the first round before CAR withdrew before the return leg could be played. They then lost 2-1 away to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the second round but won 1-0 in the return leg to qualify on away goals rule. The Congolese side will be much changed to the one that participated in World Cup qualifying, with about half of that squad playing their football in Europe or other parts of Africa.

newvision.co.ug
newvision.co.ug

11. Uganda

Nickname:The Cranes
Founded: 1924
FIFA ranking in Africa: 22
Coach: Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic

Uganda will be making a second appearance in the Africa Nations Championship. After failing to impress in the last Edition in Khartoum, Sudan, two years ago, the team is hungry to impress and go through the group stage. Just like the senior Cranes team, Serbian born coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic handles the team together with assistants Kefa Kisala and Fred Kajoba. The Cranes qualified for the 2014 CHAN on a 4-1 goal aggregate after stopping the Taifa Stars of Tanzania 1-0 away in Dar Es Salaam and 3-1 at the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole. At the 2011 CHAN competition, Uganda lost all the group games to Algeria (0-2), Sudan (0-1) and Gabon (1-2) under the guidance of Scotsman Robert ‘Bobby’ Williamson. Experienced midfielder Hassan Wasswa Mawanda, who played professional football in South Africa and Turkey, will lead the Cranes in pursuit of the 2014 CHAN trophy. The other notable players Uganda Cranes will be fielding include Brain Majwega, Denis Iguma and striker Frank Kalanda.

ethiopiavid.com
ethiopiavid.com

12. Ethiopia

Nickname: The Walya Antelopes
Founded: 1943
FIFA ranking in Africa: 24
Coach: Sewnet Bishaw

Ethiopia will be making their debut at CHAN 2014. Walya Antelopes have enjoyed huge success under coach Sewnet Bishaw.  Bishaw lead the side from the Horn of Africa to their first African Cup Nations tournament in 31 years in 2013. As if that was not enough Bishaw, who is an Ethiopian native then guided the Antelopes to CHAN 2014 which like AFCON 2013 will be staged in South Africa before leading them to the last stage round of  qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup which will be staged in Brazil. The Antelopes piped South Africa to the top of group A, but were defeated narrowly by 2013 Afcon Champions Nigeria for a place in next year’s global showpiece. The squad that is set to take part in CHAN 2014 will largely stay the same to the one that enjoyed success in World Cup qualifiers. Ethiopia qualified for CHAN 2014 with a one legged win over Eritrea before  beating Rwanda in the last round 1-0 in Addis then losing 1-0 in the final leg in Kigali before booking their place with a 6-5 on post match penalty shoot-out victory.

en.starafrica.com
en.starafrica.com

13. Mozambique

Nickname: The Mambas
Founded: 1976
FIFA ranking in Africa: 34

Mozambique will be making their first appearance in the African Nations Championships, having missed out of the previous editions in 2009 and 2011. The Mambas defeated Seychelles, Namibia and Angola to book their place for the main tournament in South Africa. The team is coached by former Mozambique and Costa Do Sol defender João Chissano. The 43-year-old has previously assembled a strong squad which includes experienced locally-based players like Miro, Momed Hagy, Chico, Josimar, Sonito, Telinho, Diogo Alberto and Reginaldo.

en.starafrica.com
en.starafrica.com

14. Zimbabwe

Nickname: The Warriors
Founded: 1965
FIFA ranking in Africa: 30

While Zimbabwe has had very little luck in qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations with only two outings, they have successfully been curving a name for themselves in the CHAN tournament. This will be Zimbabwe’s third successive appearance in the biannual tournament exclusively for home-based national team players. The tournament has also helped launch the careers of familiar PSL-based Zimbabwe stars like Cuthbert Malajila, Washington Arubi and Denver Mukamba. However, despite Zimbabwe good fortunes in CHAN qualification, they have yet to make it out of the preliminary group stage. But with new coach Ian Gorowa is hoping that will be a thing of the past especially after eliminating Zambia via a shock away 1-0 win in the final leg qualifier to advance 1-0 on aggregate.

en.starafrica.com
en.starafrica.com

15. Burundi

Nickname: Les Hirondelles (The Swallows)
Founded: 1948
FIFA ranking in Africa: 37

Burundi’s national team, which has not qualified for a big competition before, will be making their maiden appearance in CHAN. To qualify for the 2014 CHAN, Burundi ejected Kenya on a 1-0 goal aggregate in the preliminary round before drawing 1-1 with Sudan in either legs, before winning 4-3 on penalties in Khartoum. The Swallows are handled by Egyptian coach Lofty Naseem. Although many will think Burundi will be one of the weakest teams, they are not the kind of side to easily underrate. The success of local team Vital’O, which won the 2013 regional Cecafa Kagame Club Championship in Darfur, Sudan, clearly sends a clear message across. The Swallows, who will also use the 2013 Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup to prepare their team, will depend on star players like Gilbert Kaze (Vital O’), who scored in a 1-1 draw against Sudan in the qualifier, and midfielders Masudi Abdallah and Gaël Duhayindavyi.

en.starafrica.com
en.starafrica.com

16. Mauritania

Nickname: Mourabitounes
Founded: 1961
FIFA ranking in Africa: 42

Mauritania has defied all odds to qualify for the 2014 CHAN tournament. This feat is Mauritania first-ever qualification to a major international football tournament since the ex-French colony’s’ independence in 1960. Mauritania’s success has been credited to Frenchman and ex-Guinea and DR Congo coach Patrice Neveu who has been in charge of the team since 2012. In the qualifiers, Mauritania has only lost one out of their four qualifying games en route to South Africa. That loss came at the hands of Senegal who beat them 1-0 in the final round first leg on July 6. However, Mauritania overturned that result in the home leg to shock the 2009 CHAN semifinalist 2-0 to qualify 2-1 on aggregate. Meanwhile, Mauritania’s success has attracted interest for its unknown talent. One of the biggest losses has been influential attacking midfielder Ismael Diakite who signed with Tunisian club Club Sportif de Hammam Lif.