Seton Hall
Preview of the 2019 African Cup of Nations
Date: June 18, 2019By: Joseph Osei-Bonsu
Beginning in 1957 with just three teams, the African Cup of Nations sees 24 of Africa’s best soccer nations vying for the continent’s highest prize. This year’s Egyptian-held tournament is heating up to be one of the most exciting editions in recent memory. Six venues spread across four cities will entertain Africa’s soccer elite.
On June 21, after little ‘Tut’, the tournament’s official mascot, ceremonially kicks the first ball, the competition will introduce a series of firsts. It will be the first time the Nations’ Cup will be hosting 24 teams in the summer after decades of hosting sixteen teams in the winter. Burundi, Madagascar and Mauritania will be making their debuts in the tournament as well.
Starting from the quarterfinals, Video Assistant Referee (VAR) will also be introduced for the first time. With Egypt’s leader Mohammed Salah leading them on home soil, the African country looks set to win a record seventh title. Ghana’s Andre Ayew, Senegal’s Sadio Mane, Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez and other prestigious company will have something to say about that.
Before the final on July 19 in Cairo, Egypt, let’s look at the six groups. Group A comprises of Zimbabwe, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and group favorites, Egypt. With the D.R. Congo, Egypt may prove insurmountable for Uganda and Zimbabwe. In Marcel Tisserand, Yannick Bolasie and others, D.R. Congo have a decent side which could cause a few teams some serious problems.
Salah, 27, will be primed to add the Nations’ Cup to the 2019 the Champions League medal he won with Liverpool earlier this month. Speaking of Champions League medals, another winner with Liverpool this year, Guinea’s magical player Naby Keita, will look to stamp his authority in Group B and in the tournament.
But first, Keita will have to stay fit after an injury-plagued season in England. Then, overcome Madagascar and Burundi, before facing two-time winners and Group B favorites, Nigeria. Even without star strikers in Victor Moses and Kelechi Iheanacho, Nigeria still look like a team that can go all the way in Egypt.
Kenya, Senegal, Algeria and Tanzania make up Group C. Some may argue that Kenya and Tanzania will be passengers in the group. And they may well be right.
Kalidou Koulibaly of Napoli, Mane of Liverpool, Idrissa Gueye of Everton, are but a few of the names on this star-studded Senegalese team. Algeria can also boast of Manchester City’s record signing of Mahrez and Porto’s Yacine Brahimi. But ultimately, I think this group, and the tournament, belongs to Senegal.
Percy Tau has said that he hopes South Africa can make an ‘impact’ in this year’s Nations Cup. I can only see the Ivory Coast and Morocco coming up tops in Group D though. If South Africa will make an impact, it might be as one of the four best third-placed teams. Namibia will do well to earn any points in such a tough group.
Group E consists of Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania, and Angola. The Carthage Eagles of Tunisia may not be the team it once was but with Msakni, they are always a threat. I predict them as runners up to Mali in the group.
It has been a period of heartache spanning almost four decades since the Black Stars of Ghana won their fourth AFCON title. Things are not getting any easier for Asamoah Gyan and his compatriots this year either. They have been drawn in Group F with Cameroon, Benin and Guinea-Bissau.
The group looks straight-forward on paper for Ghana and Cameroon but both teams have been known to capitulate when least expected. With Ajax’s phenomenal shot-stopper, Andre Onana, Cameroon will look to launch a successful defense of the title. I tip Ghana to win the group, however.
Will it continue as a tournament of firsts? History suggests ‘no’, but you never know. 2017 defending champions Cameroon shocked favorites Egypt in the final last time around. Whatever the case may be, this year’s AFCON will be historic.
Joseph Osei-Bonsu can be reached at joseph.oseibonsu@student.shu.edu.
