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!