Wia dis foto come from, Getty Images
Wetin we call dis foto, Riyad Mahrez of Algeria hope to improve on dia poor 2021 Afcon, Yves Bissouma and Mali dey look to deliver on dia potential while Bono of Morocco need to live up to di hype wey dem create for di 2022 World Cup
4 January 2024
Afta dem shift am to early 2024 to avoid di rainy season for West Africa, di 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) go start for Cote d’Ivoire on 13 January, 2023.
Senegal dey bid to defend di title and di 24-team format mean say di top two from each group go progress to di knock-out stages, and di best third-place sides go join dem.
Di second half of di draw dey showcase di top-ranked side Morocco, wey bin make history by becoming di first African nation to reach di World Cup semi-finals for Qatar for 2022.
Defending champions Algeria bin surprise pipo as dem comot for di group-stage for Cameroon last time. And wit South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia wey don return to di tournament, wetin we fit expect from di 34th edition of di Nations Cup?
BBC Sport Africa follow some players and journalists tok, about who go shine for Groups D, E and F.
Group D – Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Angola
Algeria title defence for di 2021 Nations Cup no go as dem plan am and di past two years bin dey tough for di North Africans, according to journalist Maher Mezahi.
“Di Fennecs go Cameroon wit di highest of highs, na just few matches bin remain for dem to set a new world record of 36 consecutive matches unbeaten,” im explain.
“Against all odds, Riyad Mahrez and co crash out and fail to accomplish dia big goals.
“Despite say dem comot early, coach Djamel Belmadi still stay wit im main ageing players heading into 2022 World Cup play-offs. Dat decision no pay Algeria at all as dem suffer a heart-breaking last-second elimination, wey send shockwaves throughout di kontri wey continue to echo”
Belmadi decide to still dey in charge afta months of deliberation. However, di team wey im dey rebuild na still a work in progress.
“Im spend much of 2023 to recruit and bring in new faces and di fresh legs wey dem bin need well-well don revive di team, but e neva translate into ogbonge play,” Mezahi add.
“Belmadi never prove say im know im best starting XI well-well. E dey possible say tins fit click, but Algeria appear to be a team wey get talent but lack a firm identity.”
Alongside Algeria na Burkina Faso, semi-finalists last time out, Mauritania and Angola wey return for di first time since 2019.
Wia dis foto come from, Getty Images
Wetin we call dis foto, Angola reach di quarter-finals of Afcon two times – for 2008 and wen dem host di tournament for 2010
Journalist Mark Gleeson dey see “some potential” for di squad even though coach Pedro Goncalves dey battle wit logistical issues and inconsistent selection.
“Goncalves fit call up players from di top flight for Italy, Portugal and Turkey, and also di second division for France and Germany. Home-based players from Petro Atletico, wey feature for di new African Football League dey too,” Gleeson tok.
“Angola go dey target dia matches against Mauritania and Burkina Faso to carry dem reach di knockout stages, but know say dia opening match against Algeria na tough start.”
Angola no score for dia first two World Cup qualifiers wit a weak attack, and Goncalves don convince Fiorentina striker M’bala Nzola to return but fellow forwards Helder Costa and Ivan Cavaleiro no go travel for Afcon.
Costa, wey Leeds release for October, no dey di list sake of lack of club action while Cavaleiro – wey never play for Angola yet since im switch im allegiance from Portugal – tell dem make dem no consider am because of im struggle wit injury for Lille dis season.
Monday, 15 January: Algeria v AngolaTuesday,16 January: Burkina Faso v MauritaniaSaturday, 20 January: Algeria v Burkina Faso, Mauritania v AngolaTuesday, 23 January: Angola v Burkina Faso, Mauritania v Algeria
Group E – Tunisia, Mali, South Africa and Namibia
Wia dis foto come from, Getty Images
Wetin we call dis foto, Tunisia captain Youssef Msakni don set to play for di record-equalling eighth Africa Cup of Nations, moving to level wit Cameroon defender Rigobert Song and Egypt midfielder Ahmed Hassan
Tunisia na di third-ranked side for Africa and dem dey maintain dia “stand” as dem dey prepare despite di unrest off di field, na wetin journalist Souhail Khmira tok.
“Di Carthage Eagles dey pass through a difficult time afta di detention of football federation (FTF) president Wadie Jary for October sake of corruption-related allegations,” im add.
“Rumours bin dey fly upandan say FTF board members fit resign and suspend all footballing activities during dis kasala, but e no happun as dem bin expect.
“Di team, wey di proverb, ‘di light inside dey broken, but I still work’, dey ginger dem sake of say dem don pass through controversies still dey produce excellent results even though dia performances no too good.”
Tunisia bin make a perfect start for World Cup qualifers and “dia supporters dey ginger dem”, as dem look to add to di title dem bin win for 2004 on home soil.
“In di midst of katakata, di Carthage Eagles stand united,” Khmira tok “Di team show courage in di face of difficulty, demonstrating dia enduring spirit.”
Mali narrowly miss out against Tunisia for a spot for di World Cup for Qatar, while Namibia and 1996 champions South Africa don come back afta dem miss di 2021 edition.
“Even though dem no qualify for four of di past seven tournaments, progress to di second round na a sign of progress for Bafana Bafana,” journalist Mo Allie tok.
“Hugo Broos don find sweet memories of di last time im coach for Nations Cup, wen im Cameroon team wey pipo bin no rate win di 2017 tournament against expectations, and di 71-year-old Belgian don improve im side since e take over for May 2021.
“A home win over Morocco in June and an away draw against Ivory Coast in October show say Broos’ players get di capacity to be competitive against di big boys.
“However, dia shock 2-0 loss against Rwanda for di World Cup qualifier in late November show a valuable reality check about dia defensive weakness and dia mental toughness during hard times.”
Tuesday, 16 January: Tunisia v Namibia, Mali v South Africa
Saturday, 20 January: Tunisia v Mali
Sunday, 21 January: South Africa v Namibia
Wednesday, 24 January: South Africa v Tunisia, Namibia v Mali
Group F – Morocco, DR Congo, Zambia and Tanzania
Wia dis foto come from, Getty Images
Wetin we call dis foto, Patson Daka neva too play well-well for im club side Leicester City dis season but im score six times for im past five outings for Zambia
Morocco na one of di ogbonge team for Africa sake of dia performance for di Qatar 2022 World Cup.
And dem still dey successful across di youth, club and women’s game, so “e be like say na dia best era” according to journalist Amine El Amri.
“Di Atlas Lions look like a natural favourite to win Afcon, but di hype of being di first ever African side to reach di World Cup semi-finals fit put more pressure on dem,” El Amri tok.
“Di oda problem fit be di weather for Cote d’Ivoire wia humidity and heat fit dey very high – particularly for a group of players wey don spend most of dia careers for Europe.”
Meanwhile, e don dey reach 50 years since di North Africans win dia only Nations Cup title for Ethiopia in 1976.
“Di main goal for Morocco no doubt na di title wey dem don dey dream about for di past five decades.
“Many Moroccans no know wetin happun for 1976. Di 2023 Afcon fit be di opportunity to give di current generation sometin to remember, just like di adventure for Qatar 2022.”
DR Congo, win am for 1968 and 1974, and Tanzania, wey don qualify for di finals for di third time, no participate for di 2021 edition alongside Zambia.
Di Chipolopolo bin miss di past three Afcon finals and striker Patson Daka say na ” dream come true” to return to di continental showpiece wit di 2012 winners.
“To be part of dis group wey make am possible for Zambia to return to wia e belong na a great achievement,” di 25-year-old tok.
Di Leicester City man no dey worry imsef by facing two local derbies and Morocco, wey also dey for dia 2026 World Cup qualifying group.
“We live for such challenges and for such moments,” Daka add.
“We dey go dia as contenders – to fight and to bring pride again to our kontri. We believe as a group say evritin dey possible.”
Wednesday, 17 January: Morocco v Tanzania, DR Congo v Zambia
Sunday, 21 January: Morocco v DR Congo, Zambia v Tanzania
Wednesday, 24 January: Tanzania v DR Congo, Zambia v Morocco
Source link : https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/articles/c3gy8zkxj68o.amp
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Publish date : 2024-01-04 08:00:00
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