AFCON 2015: A Group-By-Group Preview
On Wednesday night, the Africa Cup of Nations draw took place in Malabo. All sixteen teams sent delegations to the capital for the AFCON 2015 ceremony also attended by former players, Confederation of African Football officials, and heads of state.
AFKSports provides you with a group-by-group preview of the AFCON 2015 tournament that will begin on January 17.
Group A
Hosts Equatorial Guinea have dodged the biggest names in the tournament, but still find themselves in a complicated group. The Central Africans, who only learned of their participation a couple of weeks ago, will have to compile a competitive squad in about a month’s time. In 2012, the Equtatoguineans naturalized a host of players in an unsuccessful attempt to provide starpower to the African minnows. Similar tactics seem in order to prepare the National Thunder for just their second ever Cup of Nations.
Gabon are undoubtedly this tournament’s darkhorses. The Black Panthers have quality up their spine from Bruno Manga in defence, to Ibrahim Ndong and Andre Poko in midfield, to Malick Evouna and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in attack. Look for a sizeable supporters contingent to make the short trip to Bata for Gabon’s group stage matches.
Burkina Faso have benefitted from a spell of stability and continuity as Paul Put renewed his contract with the Black Stallions. Put understands the importance of fielding a balanced outfit with talented forwards. He will pin his goalscoring hopes on Jonathan Pitroipa who led the continent in scoring with six conversions during qualifiers.
Congo can count themselves lucky to be in Equatorial Guinea. Were it not for Rwanda fielding an ineligible player, Claude LeRoy and his men would have been eliminated in the preliminary rounds. Nevertheless the Red Devils bounced back admirably and with talented individuals such as Prince Oniangue and Thievy Bifouma, they just might be able to spring a surprise.
AFKSports Predicts:
Burkina Faso and Gabon advance in AFCON 2015
Group B
Zambia continue their run of consistency, qualifying for their fourth consecutive Africa Cup of Nations. The core of this team remains the same, but with some older elements stagnating, coach Honour Janza must look to fresher prospects if they are to prosper. Talents such as Ronald Kampamba and Evans Kangwa can add vitality to a Chipolopolo attack that has often looked tired and one-dimensional.
Georges Leekens has effected a remarkable twelve-month turnaround for the Carthage Eagles. Last November they had been humiliated repeatedly in Rades against Cape Verde, then by Cameroon in Yaoundé. Leekens found the crux of this team and has instilled a pragmatic approach that allows them to gain the results necessary.
Cape Verde have a top-heavy armada of strikers that could strike fear in any African opponent. They finished top of Group F and were the first team to qualify for the 2015 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations. Look for Lille striker Ryan Mendes to have a particularly good tournament.
Completing Group B is the Democratic Republic of Congo, who were the best third-place side during the qualification campaign. Their success is owed to tricky wingplay where Jeremy Bokila and Yannick Bolasie provide a direct threat to goal.
AFKSports Predicts:
Tunisia and DR Congo advance in AFCON 2015
Group C
Africa’s top-ranked team, Algeria, will be dismayed upon hearing that they will play two of their matches in Mongomo where the porous pitch may hamper their passing philosophy. Odds have all of a sudden become stacked against the North Africans as only Egypt are the only North African team to ever win an Africa Cup of Nations in sub-Saharan Africa.
South Africa take a resolute defensive side to Equatorial Guinea, where their so-called revival will be put to the test. Bafana Bafana will have to make do without captain and goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa who was tragically murdered several weeks ago.
Avram Grant has been officially appointed head coach of Ghana after missing the entirety of Ghana’s qualification campaign. His immediate tasks will be unifying a Ghanaian outfit with well-documented interior strife. All eyes are on the Chelsea manager as he will make a decision for or against the return of household names such as Sulley Muntari and Prince Boateng.
As for Senegal, they are one of the most well-endowed nations in this tournament. In the attacking department alone, they boast the likes of Sadio Mane, Dame N’Doye, Demba Ba, Papiss Cisse, and Diafra Sakho. The Teranga Lions have been out of the African elite for some time, but with experienced manager Alain Giresse at the helm, Senegal are perfectly equipped to advance.
AFKSports Predicts:
Algeria and Senegal advance in AFCON 2015
Group D
Cote D’Ivoire have traditionally been Africa’s top team, but new coach Herve Renard is facing severe defensive problems. Les Elephants have conceded the most goals out of any side that has qualified for the tournament. In an act of desperation, Renard tried recalling Dider Zokora and Kolo Toure. The former declined, but Toure has brought with him a semblance of organization. If Cote D’Ivoire are to make a deep run in Equatorial Guinea, they will have to shore up their defence.
Volker Finke should be bestowed vast amounts of credit for the way he has restructured his Cameroon side. After a shambolic display in Brazil, the German caretaker has put his faith in youth, turning to the likes of Clinton N’Jie and Vincent Aboubakar in attack. The move has proved intelligent as Cameroon retained their defensive rigidity, but now also boast a dynamic attack.
Like Finke, Guinea deserve a lot of respect for the mental resilience they showed during qualifiers. The country was banned from hosting matches in their own country due to the Ebola outbreak, but nevertheless earned their qualification after holding off Togo and Uganda. The striking trio of Seydouba Soumah, Idrissa Sylla, and Ibrahima Traore are particularly potent, and have scored all of Guinea’s ten goals in qualifying.
Rounding off Group D is Mali, who have two consecutive Africa Cup of Nations third-place finishes to their names. Henryk Kasperczak’s side is a physical one who don’t concede a lot of goals and look to score via set-pieces.
AFKSports Predicts:
Cameroon and Cote D’Ivoire advance in AFCON 2015