CONTINENTAL FINALS FURTHER INDICTMENT OF LOCAL FOOTBALL STANDARDS

Story written by Patrick Kamanga

CONTINENTAL FINALS FURTHER INDICTMENT OF LOCAL FOOTBALL STANDARDS

As the 2015 Africa Cup of Nation progresses into the knockout stages, most Kenyan fans of the beautiful game are growing apprehensive by the day. What is worrying is the growing disparity in standards between East Africa in general and our nation in particular, with rest of the continent as is evident from the ongoing finals.

The best showing by any of the CECAFA regional affiliate countries was a triumph by Sudan when they hosted the competition in 1970. The next best performance was by Uganda in 1978, when they beat Nigeria 2-1 in the semi-final but lost 2-0 to the hosts Ghana in the final but took pride in fact that their striker Phillip Omondi was the tournament joint top scorer. Since the 1970’s, East Africa’s fortunes as well as presence at the continental finals has been dwindling. 

The Uganda Cranes at the 1978 final in Ghana. Joint top scorer Phillip Omondi, 4th from left.

After a long absence, Sudan made two recent appearances in 2008 and 2012, while Ethiopia did the same in 2013 with both taking early flights home. Kenya has made five appearances, but their best showing was way back in 1972 when they lost the first game against the hosts Cameroon, then registered two, 1 all draws against Mali and Togo. At their next four appearances, Kenya registered one win and a draw (0-0 against Cameroon in 1988, 3-0 against Burkina Faso in 2004), losing all other matches.

Their southern neighbours Tanzania, had their one and only finals appearance in 1980 in Nigeria while Rwanda made a brief cameo in 2004.

Why the dismal record compared to other regions? 

Is it a lack of talent, poor infrastructure, lack of resources, and lack of structures for youth development or poor management and apathy from the political class?

Like the rest of the continent, East Africa is just as endowed with natural talent and the state of infrastructure is much the same in most of Sub-Sahara Africa, with the exception of South Africa. The general organization of the game in North Africa is closer to European standards. As far as resources are concerned, both Sahelian countries that've made great in-roads in recent years for example; Burkina Faso and Mali are some of the poorest nations on earth and wouldn’t rank near most of the East African nations, economically.

Lack of structures for nurturing young talent, poor management and apathy from the political class may be more likely of reasons, more so, the former! North and West African nations have over the decades invested heavily in youth development, regularly appearing and performing well at FIFA youth tournaments.

Guinea was a strong football nation in the 1970’s, slumped in the 1980’s then had a resurgence in the 1990’s. On sensing a dip in standards following a string of poor results at the dawn of the new millennium, the Guinean government didn’t hesitate to dissolve the Guinean Football Federation, a move that incurred a two year ban from FIFA. 

During the duration of the ban, the government cleaned up house and their rejuvenated Sylli Nationale subsequently made it to the 2004 finals in Tunisia where they bowed out at the quarter finals. They have since participated at every AFCON.
Kenya's Sports Minister during the post Moi era NARC government, Najib Balala attempted to emulate Guinea in 2003 by cleaning the Kenya Football Federation but the dichotomous nature of Kenyan politics ensured he didn't pull through with this move, no attempt has since been made by the political class to fix ailing state of the game, hence the aforementioned apathy.

The Sylli Nationale; Captained by Titi Camara (front row centre) before their ban by FIFA in 2001

Another question that is surely ringing in the minds of all Kenyan fans of the beautiful game is whether the football fathers in this country are watching the ongoing finals and if so, what in heaven’s name is going through their heads!?

One must wonder, because any long time follower of the game in this country can recall for example when Kenya was a tinge better than Zambia in the early to mid 1980’s. 

What changed?

For one, the Zambians got serious and reorganized their game in the mid eighties. To jumpstart their rise, at their last appearance at the regional finals before they opted to pull out of the lackluster CECAFA , later opting to join the COSAFA region, then team Captain Kalusha Bwalya scored a hat-trick against Kenya leaving the Harambee Stars in a heap in 1984. 

Kalusha Bwalya holding the coveted prize, reaping a quarter century of hard work and dedication

Kalusha was to take the world by storm at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea when he scored all the goals as the “K.K Eleven” as they were then known, buried the Azurri’s of Italy in a famous 4-0 win! As the African Player of the year 1988, he then went on to have a stellar career at Cercle Club Brugge in Belgium as well as PSV Eindhoven in Holland.

From 1990, the Zambians have participated at virtually every AFCON finals since! Moreover, to emphasize Zambia’s seriousness in terms of management, Kalusha is currently the Chief of the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), as well as Confederation of African Football (CAF) representative in FIFA’s standing committee. Kalusha’s tenure has gone on to further propel their game and consolidate Zambia’s position in the whole East, Central and Southern African region culminating in their AFCON win in 2012! 

With the quagmire that is Kenyan football, its next to impossible to imagine leave alone dream of a scenario such as Zambia’s where a competent retired player of good repute is given the opportunity to run the national office. At the moment, a protracted war between the incumbent head honcho at the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), Sammy Nyamweya and his elected deputy Sammy Sholei, a retired soccer player with Tusker F.C, resulted in Nyamweya locking out Shollei from the Federation, a move clearly detrimental and retrogressive to the Kenyan game.

Forget about Zambia for a minute, Cape Verde have only had a competitive presence in the African game since the year 2000 and were at their second consecutive AFCON! Even though they can credit their current success on the Cape Verdian diaspora in Portugal and Spain for their meteoric rise, one must acknowledge their rapid development to proper management and goodwill of those running their game. 
Other examples that would irk any frustrated Kenyan fan are Gabon, Mali and Burkina Faso who learnt from their West African brethren;  Nigeria, Cote D’ Ivore, Cameroon and Ghana that the surest and simplest way out of “football limbo” is via the establishment of youth structures through which local talent is tapped, nurtured and developed to maturity. When Kenya made three consecutive AFCON finals appearances between 1988-’92; the two Sahelian countries and Gabon were languishing in relative obscurity that no one would have given them a second thought!

Mali and Burkina Faso however embarked on serious youth programs from the late 1990’s that has seen them become regular participants at FIFA youth World Cups. The rest is history!
South Africa augmented their investment in youth football by launching an ambitious coaches' program five years ago via the World Football Academy among other initiatives, where SAFA raised the minimum coaching requirements. Coaching courses and regular refresher clinics are offered and all coaches are expected to have CAF and FIFA coaching certificates at the minimum. After a decade long slump, the coaching program seems to be having the intended effect. The proof is in the pudding as South Africa's football team, the Bafana Bafana proved at the AFCON. Though eliminated in the first round, the youthful South Africans were arguably the most entertaining and enterprising team during the group stages and can take plenty of positives as they are clearly a team on the rise, a course that shall reap them maximum benefits sooner rather than later.

To illustrate the rut in football management in this country, a decade after FIFA initiated the Goal Project, with most countries in the continent almost reaping dividends, the local chapter has yet to take off. 

It even took the prodding of the FIFA regional representative, Ashford Mamelodi recently to prompt the local federation to move to the facilities at Kasarani, to prevent vandalism! 

Why would anyone then wonder why Kenya seems stuck in the 130’s on the FIFA rankings!?

EQUITORIAL GUINEA FINALS A GENERATIONAL CHANGE

Story written by Patrick Kamanga

EQUITORIAL GUINEA FINALS A GENERATIONAL CHANGE

With the first set of group matches over, some of the most exciting games during the opening stage at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations have involved teams with very a youthful consistency. 

Past legends Et'oo and Drogba

Samuel Et’oo, Didier Drogba, Didier Zokora, Michael Essien, Pascal Fendo’uno, Benny McCarthy, Steven Pienaar and Carlos Idriss Kameni are some of the house-hold names that graced the pitches at the AFCON over the past decade. They’ve now either hanged up their boots and walked into the sunset altogether or retired from their respective national teams to focus on club careers at a twilight stage. The departure of these colossi has essentially made the current AFCON, a generational change of guard with most teams ushering in very young new players.

The teams that have infused their ranks with plenty of young blood are Ghana, South Africa, Cameroon, Gabon, Guinea and Cote D’ Ivore. Some of the new stars are set to be global stars and will be carrying their teams forward into the distant future. 

In their 2-0 loss to Gabon, though playing in a team full of mature players including his 27 year old brother Alain, Burkina Faso’s 19 year old attacking midfielder Bertrand Traore exhibited the confidence, composure, maturity and skill of a seasoned veteran. 

Vastly talented Bertrand Traore expected to be one of the next African global stars

He was a constant thorn to the Gabonese defense and it took the reflexes of Didier Ovono to save Gabon’s blushes! To stop him from inflicting damage, the Gabonese defense had to constantly apply the double team to contain him. Any keen observer would therefore expect Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho to recall this “wonder-kind” from a loan stint as soon as possible!

Aubameyang's sublime finish

Gabon on their part showed flashes of magic with the Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre Emerick Aubameyang latching on to a defense splitting pass, carved out the defense and scored to open his account. Team Captain at 25 years of age, Aubameyang is already a seasoned veteran in a team where most of the players are below 24 years old. The 21 year old winger, Frederic Bulot Wagha’s second half wizardry created the chance for Evouna’s header for the second goal in a thrilling match.

Bulot Wagha and Evouna celebrating their perfectly crafted goal

South Africa’s Bafana Bafana cut out the forlorn looks like a herd of sheep headed for the slaughter as the teams lined up for their respective national anthems before their Group C match against North African giants, Algeria. After a shaky start, however, the youthful and inexperienced South Africans settled down and went on to run rings around their much fancied opponents. They passed the ball with boundless fervor, running like antelopes and pinning the Algerians in their own half. 

Speed merchant Tokelo Rantie was a handful for the Algerians

Striker Tokelo Rantie in particular, ran the channels well often leaving his marker to the dust. Having survived a first half onslaught, the Algerians made a big sigh of relief when the half time whistle blew, knowing all too well that they should have been down by at least two goals. With more nicks, dinks and tricks South Africa took the lead after the break via Phala, after being setup by Rantie. South Africa should have gone up by three more goals before their goal creator, turned villain on missing a penalty. Their inexperience and wastefulness was however ruthlessly exposed and punished by the seasoned Algerians who came from behind to win 3-1 after changing tact and going the English style route one direct football, when they adapted a 4-4-2 formation. The Algerians capitalized on poor defending as well as goalkeeping on the part of the Bafana Bafana, valuable lessons that the young side can draw lessons from.

The Desert Foxes were in seventh heaven after their famous comeback win

In the Group D “Battle of the Elephants”, Cote D’ Ivore against Guinea was another David versus Goliath match up where the Ivorians were expected to steam roll over their less experienced and younger adversaries. In a game that former Arsenal forward, now at AS Roma Gervinho, saw red when he got his matching orders; the Sylli Nationale pulled no punches and asked a lot of questions of their star studded opponents! 

Yattara's first half scorcher put the dominant Guineans' noses in front

The Guineans outplayed the Ivorians virtually in all departments for most of the match and it was no surprise when they took a 36^th minute lead via Mohamed Yattara Jr’s smashing point blank volley! It took the individual brilliance of the magical trio of Manchester City pair, Yaya Toure and Wilfred Bony and CSKA Moscow’s Seydou Doumbiya to attain parity. The impressionable Ivorians showed character in adversity to come back from the jaws of death.

Redemption, Seydou Doumbia scored a "goal of the tournament" contender!

Cameroon against Mali was a physical encounter of bone crushing proportion! In a contest pitying the boys from Cameroon against the men from Mali, there was only one side that was going to prevail in this tackling fest! Indomitable Lions’ defender Endoh Eno, was the early casualty when he had to be substituted with a knee injury after a crunching tackle from a Malian defender. 

Fabrice Ondoa carving a niche for himself at the AFCON finals, soon expected to fill in the posts for the Catalan giants

In a one all draw, the show however was stolen by teenage goalkeeper, F.C Barcelona apprentice; Fabrice Ondoa Ebogo who gave a virtuoso performance!

 At 19 years and already built like a Sevens Rugby winger, his muscular frame filled the posts as he dominated the box, bravely flew through the air like a puma to make several daring saves. If his eye catching performance is anything to go by, its small wonder his Catalan parent club hasn't really bothered finding a replacement for the departed Victor Valdez. Ondoa, who is said to be ready to join the senior side as soon as next season went to Barcelona via the Samuel E’too Football Foundation after coming through the youth ranks. Coach Volker Finke has shown alot of faith in him by making him the first choice national keeper. He is set to follow in the footsteps of other Cameroonian goalkeeping legends; Thomas Nkono (Espanyol), Jacque Song’oo (Deportivo La Coruna) and Idriss Kameni (Espanyol/ Malaga) who’ve left a lasting legacy in the African as well as the Spanish game.

A PEEK AT THE AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS GROUPS

Story written by Patrick Kamanga

A PEEK AT THE 2015 AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS GROUPS

The 2015 Africa Cup of Nations kick off with a game between hosts Equitorial Guinea and the Republic of Congo.
A few months ago it would have been unfathomable to imagine that two of the most decorated and accomplished football nations in African football would be absent at these finals, scalps of other less fancied sides. The qualifiers were so tough that the defending Champions, the Super Eagles of Nigeria will not be defending their title subsequent to their shock elimination at the behest of the Republic of Congo. Egypt, the other big scalp, have participated at every AFCON since the tournament’s inauguration in 1957, winning the first two competitions, then adding 5 more in subsequent decades, an exemplary record unmatched in the African continent. Both will be spectators, left to rue what could have been. 
Morocco, the other notable absentee withdrew as hosts, automatically forfeiting their spot which was aptly taken by the current hosts, Equitorial Guinea.

A sneak peek at the various groups therefore indicates that this will be a very interesting tournament full of excitement and plenty of intriguing match-ups!

GROUP A

Equitorial Guinea, the "United Nations of football!"

This group comprises of home boys Equitorial Guinea, Gabon, Burkina Faso and the Republic of Congo.

Coached by Argentine Esteban Becker who recently replaced Spaniard Andoni Goikotxea, the hosts have a checkered past which has seen them recruit foreign born players mainly Spaniards and Brazilians, then hurriedly expediting their naturalization process. Republic of Congo Coach Claude Le Roy once described them as “the United Nations of football!” They are captained by Spanish born Emilio Nsue, who currently plies his trade with Middlesborough in England. Known as the Nzalange Nacional (National Thunder), they had their best showing when they reached the quarter finals as co-hosts in 2012.

The Stallions celebrating their semi final win over Mali in 2013

Burkina Faso, who have seen a remarkable improvement in recent years are fancied to advance as group winners. They bowed out in the semi-final as hosts in 1998 and were losing finalists in South Africa 2013. Based on their strong showing at the last edition where they narrowly lost to Nigeria, they are most pundits’ tournament dark horses, who might pull a surprise once in the knockout stages. Known as the Stallions, Burkina Faso is captained by Charles Kabore and is under the tutelage of Belgian coach, Paul Put. They rely on the imposing presence of striker Aristide Bance, the pace of Bakary Kone and the creativity of Jonathan Pitriopa, best player at South Africa ’13 as well as Chelsea apprentice Bertrand Traore, currently on loan at Vitesse in the Dutch Aredivise.

Proven pedigree! Pierre Emerick Aubameyang is Gabon's best hope

With a squad beaming with talent, Gabon’s Azingo National or the Black Panthers will challenge for top honours. Gabon is managed by former F.C Porto captain Jorge Costa and is captained by the talented Borussia Dortmund striker, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang. Aubamenyang has proven pedigree as his father; Pierre Aubame was a left back in the Gabonese side that reached the quarterfinals in South Africa 1996, then under the legendary Ivorian Yeo Marshall. The other notable player is the imposing figure of the reliable goalkeeper, Didier Ovono.

Champions in 1972, the Republic of Congo team better known as the Diables Rouges or the Red Devils, are the main reason why Nigeria are sitting out of this edition. Now under the sagacious Frenchman Claude Le Roy, they are a very physical team that relies on the speed and skill of the 22 year old Espanyol forward Thievy Bifouma, currently on loan at Almeria in the Spanish La Liga. Le Roy is arguably the most experienced and widely travelled manager at the finals. Widely credited with building the great Cameroonian team of the 1980’s, apart from DR Congo's early exit in 2013, he’s never failed to lead any of his other teams to the knockout stages of the AFCON in his long illustrious career. The Red Devil’s game against Burkina Faso will have far reaching implications for the group!

GROUP B

With the slight exception of 2004 Champions Tunisia, this is a very balanced group. Cape Verde, Zambia and D.R Congo will all fancy their chances of joining the Carthage Eagles into the next round.

The much improved Cabo Varde, played their hearts out in 2013

Tunisia, similar to Zambia and D.R Congo has a largely home based squad with negligible foreign influence, which is unusual by their standards as they’ve always had hefty representation from the French Legue in the past. They are led by Belgian Georges Leekens who has a young side led by the impressionable midfielder Youseff Msakni.

The D.R Congo team, the Leopards, has a squad that can be unplayable on their day! With a strong representation from local giants Tout Poussant Mazembe, the Leopards are managed by a Congolese tactician, Florent Ibenge.  The Leopards are captained by West Bromwich midfielder Yusuf Mulumbu but it is the pace, trickery and finishing of Crystal Palace forward Yannick Bolassie that will determine how far they go.

Under the guidance of Herve Renard, Zambia’s Chipolopolo peaked at the 2012 AFCON where they upstaged Cote D’ Ivore for their first ever title. However, they failed to refresh ranks sooner and maintained the same squad for the 2013 edition which saw them plummet to a third place finish in the group stage for an early flight home. Twice finalists; 1974, 1994, and winners in 2012, they are in the middle of a rebuilding project under Zambian, Honour Janza. Captained by T.P Mazembe midfielder Rainford Kalaba, they rely on the finishing of Southampton striker Emmanuel Mayuka. The experience of veteran goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene will give them a reassuring presence at the back.

Rainford Kalaba will aim to inspire Zambia to scale the heights of Gabon, 2012

Zambia will also renew their rivalry with Cape Verde whom they were grouped together during the qualifying rounds. As the cradle that produced former Manchester United greats Patrice Evra and Nani, Cape Verde’s potential has never been in doubt. After several near misses, they finally made it to South Africa in 2013 and surprised many by navigating a mine field, finishing second behind the hosts but ahead of Morocco and Angola before falling to Ghana at the quarter finals. At their second ever AFCON, the Tubarões Azuis or the Blue Sharks as the islanders are popularly known as are a technically gifted team managed by Rui Aguas, a former Portueguese international. The bulk of the squad plies their trade in the French and Portuguese leagues.

Zambia's game against DR Congo will be a TP Mazembe "derby" of sorts, with the Lubumbashi based Club having representation on both teams!

GROUP C

Consisting of Algeria, Senegal, Ghana and South Africa, this group is widely heralded as the proverbial “group of death!”

The Desert Foxes, billed as the best side in the continent

From a technical viewpoint, the Algerian squad at these finals is the nation’s best in 25 years. Algeria is currently billed as the most refined side in the African continent! This squad was largely built in the run up to the 2010 World Cup and has been growing in stature since, culminating in a great show at the 2014 World cup in Brazil where they narrowly lost to eventual winners Germany in the second round. Like a juggernaut, they cut through the AFCON qualifiers like a hot knife through butter!
To emphasize their strength, most of the squad members were born in France and were nurtured through the French youth system. Coached by Frenchman Christian Gourcouff (father to Lyon’s Yohann Gourcouff), the Desert Foxes has an embarrassing riches of striking options led by the talismanic F.C Porto striker, Yacine Brahimi. Already a cult hero at Porto, Brahimi has often been compared to the legendary Rabah Madjer. Dead ball specialist Sofiane Feghouli (Valencia), Adlene Guedioura (Crystal Palace), and Nabil Bentaleb (Tottenham) and are some of their options going forward. Veteran Majid Bougherra is their defensive lynchpin.  The safe hands of Rais M’bouli, one of the best goalkeepers at the World cup in Brazil has often proven a great asset.

In the shadow of Bruno Metsu, the great Alain Giresse aims to inspire the Teranga Lions

Senegal’s Teranga Lions has experienced rejuvenation in recent years since appointing Frenchman Alain Giresse as manager. 
Giresse was an accomplished midfielder in a magical quartet that included Michel Platini, Dominique Rocheteau and Jean Tigana in the great Le Bleu squad that dazzled the world at the 1982 and ’86 World cups. He has imposed his personality on this Senegalese team which is technically very gifted, coupled with physicality and boundless athleticism as the Mighty Egyptians who bore their full brunt can attest! 
Senegal’s firepower going forward is their forte and if one considers that Southampton’s speedy winger Sadio Mane and West Ham’s Diafra Sakho both having a sensational season will not even make it to the finals due to injuries and Giresse has ignored Besikta's Demba Ba altogether, then the Teranga Lions are a very scary proposition for any opponent. Newcastle’s Papiss Demba Cisse, currently the most prolific striker in the English Premier League if the goals to minutes ratio is factored, Cheikh Kouyate (West Ham), Mame Biram Diouf (Stoke City) and Hull City’s Mohamed Diame complete a very formidable strike force!

The Teranga Lions should push Algeria all the way and their explosive match-up, a definite cliff hanger, will be one of this tournament’s highlights!

Ghana has a proud AFCON legacy going back to the 1960’s. Their record is second alongside Cameroon with four AFCON titles, behind Egypt’s 7 wins.  Their last triumph however was a lifetime ago in 1982, to emphasize the patience of their long suffering fans who've been waiting for redemption for an eternity. Ghana is currently in the middle of a rebuilding project after the fiasco at the World Cup in Brazil and is at the tail end of a great decade that saw them reach 3 consecutive World Cup finals, 2 AFCON semi-finals and a final lose to Egypt in 2010. They recently acquired the services of former Chelsea and Israel manager, Avram Grant. With Captain Asamoah Gyan "the last of the Mohicans", a veteran of three World cup campaigns, the current team is built around a core of players from the Black Satellites team that beat Brazil in the final of the 2009 FIFA Under 20 World Cup in Egypt. The Ayew brothers, Andre and Jordan are their main creative forces.

Ephraim "Shakes" Mashaba's no-nonsense approach has finally roused South Africa from its slumber

After a great era following their triumph in 1996, South African football ironically experienced a decade long slump that the current generation is attempting to emerge from. The Bafana Bafana, who have been at every AFCON since their win in ’96 have however grown in strength and are in good stead since appointing Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba. 
With a young, vibrant and largely home based squad, they steam rolled their way through the qualifiers and topped a group which condemned the Mighty Nigeria to the curb! The untimely death of Orlando Pirates’ goalkeeper, the late Senzo Meyiwa at the hands of a gunman in October 2014, however is a huge loss as he played a significant role in getting them to these finals. 
Another loss to the Bafana Bafana will be Ajax Amsterdam midfielder Thulani Serero, arguably South Africa’s most technically gifted player but who has been left out since a late arrival to a national team call up in December. Serero’s snubbing emphasizes Mashaba’s no-nonsense approach and his reliance on discipline and the collective team spirit rather than individual brilliance. The team is largely drawn from the two Soweto teams, Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs. Despite seeming like the group’s whipping boys, this is a team of giant killers that shall relish any chance to put to the sword and vanquish any opponent who dares underestimate them!

GROUP D

The Elephants versus the Lions, always a bruising battle

Pitted in the same group again, Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions and Cote D’ Ivore’s Elephants will renew their qualifying rounds rivalry that saw the Lions inflict one of Cote D’ Ivore’s heaviest defeats in recent memory, a 4-1humiliation in Yaounde.     

After a disappointing World Cup in Brazil that saw Cameroon undergo a meltdown in their final game against Croatia and exhibit some of the most embarrassing scenes ever witnessed at a World cup final, something had to give. 

German tactician Volker Finke opted to do away with the divisive influence of veterans Samuel Et’oo and Assou Benoit Akoto as well as the unpredictable Andre Song. The Austrian’s organizational acumen clearly came out in the qualifiers as he rebuilt the squad around young promising players producing a well drilled and tactically disciplined team. With technically gifted players, the tactical discipline has allowed the team to defend well as a unit; play a possession based high defensive line system that presses opponents in their half. 

Clinton N'jie (no. 7 left) and Aboubakar (2nd right) have formed a formidable strike pair

Ably supported by Schalke’s Erick Maxim Choupo-Moting and Benjamin Moukandjo (Riems), the free-wheeling striking pair of Vincent Aboubakar (F.C Porto) and Clinton N’jie (Lyon) has been prolific, scoring goals almost at will! 
A veteran of 3 World cup campaigns, team Captain Stephane M’bia who plies his trade at Sevilla, is the sole survivor from the team that lost the quarter final to Cote D’ Ivore at the AFCON in 2006. Tough tackling and uncompromising, he is the spine that holds the team together. 
Under Finke’s guidance, Cameroon look formidable, exude confidence and have the ability to go all the way. If Finke is given the requisite support and ample time to realize their full potential, this team should go on to rival the great Indomitable Lions team of the 1980’s that lit the world at Italia ’90.

With patience and ample support, Finke should return Cameroon to past glories!

Perennial underachievers Cote D’ Ivore, had their worst qualifying campaign in recent memory, losing 4-1 and 4-3 score lines to Cameroon and D.R Congo but sneaked through by virtue of the nil all draw on their last game. Ironically, they are now under the tutelage of former Zambian Coach, Frenchman Herve Renard who orchestrated one of the biggest upsets in AFCON history when they defeated Cote D’ Ivore’s golden boys at the 2012 final. Renard, a protege of Claude Le Roy, seems to be carving out his own niche in the African game with the Elephant his third side and one AFCON title in his belt. 
With Kolo Toure, Yaya Toure and goalkeeper Aboubacar Barry as the only remnants of that golden generation, the current squad essentially represents a change of guard. 

Winfred Bony has the daunting task of fitting in Drogba's gargantuan shoes!

Manchester City’s Wilfred Bony is now their main striker, filling in the giant sized shoes of the legendary Didier Drogba. Roma forward Gervinho, holds plenty of promise for the Elephants after catapulting the Rome outfit into genuine Italian Serie A title contenders. Bony’s new teammate Yaya Toure, now Captain has the potential to single-handedly lift the Elephants to the “Promised Land” if he can rediscover his club form at these finals. His pace, power on the drive, vision, range of passing and shooting is legendary but has always seemed to mysteriously evade him whenever he dons the orange national jersey! 
Cameroon versus Cote D' Ivore is a must see battle of the titans!

The Elephant sized Captain Yaya Toure in full flight, an unstoppable force of nature, has to rediscover his club form if his nation is to live up to its potential!

Guinea had a decent qualifying campaign, finishing second to Ghana. The Syli National comes in as the group’s weakest link. “Syli” which means Elephant in the local Sousou language, is perhaps a younger or the smaller elephant compared to the Ivorians, figuratively speaking. The Syli National  is comprised of a young inexperienced squad with all but 4 squad members below 25 years of age, which would imply that Guinea are building up for the future! Defender Kamil Zayate of Sheffield Wednesday is team Captain and one of the few remaining veterans. Another notable player is St. Etienne defender Florentin Pogba, older brother to Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba. 

Kasperczak and Keyta, plotting a major coup at the AFCON

The Malian Eagles have been losing semi-finalists at the last two AFCON editions. The Eagles are coached by perennial journey man, the 68 year old Henry Kasperczak, a retired midfielder who played in the great Poland side of the 1970’s. Kasperczak’s record in the African continent almost rivals that of Claude Le Roy having had stints with Cote D’ Ivore (Semi finals 1994), Tunisia (finalists 1996), Senegal (2006-08) and now Mali. Their most distinguished squad member is former F.C Barcelona utility player, team Captain Seydou Keita currently at Roma. Another notable player is Modibo Maiga of Metz, a prolific finisher in his own right.

With a wide array of world class talent lining up at these finals, the 2015 AFCON promises to surpass all previous finals!