AFCON 2023: Five unmissable group stage games
The excitement continues to grow ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
With just five days until Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau clash in the cup’s curtain-raiser, we asked five of our AFCON writers for five must-watch fixtures from the group stages…
Ivory Coast vs Nigeria
What are you doing on January 18th at 17:00 GMT? Watching Ivory Coast vs Nigeria should be the answer.
Ivory Coast are the host nation
Despite both sides’ esteemed history in the tournament, this fixture has never graced an AFCON final.
Nigeria knocked out Ivory Coast en route to two of their three AFCON victories: in the 1994 semi-finals and 2013 quarter-finals. During the Super Eagles 1980 victory, they topped the group that Ivory Coast failed to progress from.
The story was different in 2008, the last time these nations met in a group stage, with Ivory Coast claiming top spot with a 100% win record.
This year’s Group A meeting will provide a litmus test for both sides on their championship credentials.
Victor Osimhen will be there after 10 goals in AFCON qualifying, alongside a fearful frontline, but can Nigeria’s more suspect supporting cast do the job?
Napoli’s Osimhen was the CAF men’s player of the year in 2023
Ivory Coast brings a well-rounded squad, perhaps contrary to the individualism associated with Nigeria – even choosing not to call-up Wilfred Zaha. Will this be a mistake?
The Elephants vs the Super Eagles. Don’t miss it.
Eduardo Tansley
Senegal vs Cameroon
Cameroon and Senegal face off at 17:00 GMT on 19th January, a crucial match in determining who takes top spot in Group C.
The Indomitable Lions last faced the Lions of Teranga at AFCON in the quarterfinals of the 2017 edition, with the Cameroonians coming out victorious 5-4 on penalties.
Cameroon went on to win the 2017 AFCON
Sadio Mané missed the decisive spot kick that day, but it was his spot kick that separated the two sides in their most recent match-up on 16th October, where Senegal beat Cameroon 1-0.
Senegal enter this game as slight favourites, with Mané’s attacking exploits supported by a midfield including Everton’s Idrissa Gana Gueye and Tottenham Hotspur’s Pape Matar Sarr, who makes the squad despite a recent injury.
Cameroon, on the other hand, enter the tournament in transition.
Head coach Rigobert Song omitted Bayern Munich forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting from his squad, opting for youngster Leonel Ateba instead.
The ruthless finishing of ever-reliable captain Vincent Aboubakar will be key in steadying the ship, while goalkeeping heroics from André Onana may help them steal a win over the holders.
Aboubakar was the top scorer at the 2021 AFCON
Cameroon have history on their side as five-time winners, while Senegal are the reigning champions.
This is a heavyweight clash that cannot be missed.
Emile Nuh
Egypt vs Ghana
Egypt and Ghana are set for an exciting clash on January 21st at 20:00 GMT. The Pharaohs and The Black Stars are favourites for Group B, meaning this clash between two titans of AFCON history could prove decisive in securing the top spot.
Mozambique are yet to win a game at an AFCON finals
In their four AFCON encounters, Egypt has a slight edge over Ghana with two wins and two draws. Interestingly, all three times these sides have faced-off in the group stages one has always advanced to the final but fallen short of winning the title.
The fourth encounter took place in the final itself.
Egypt defeated Ghana in the 2010 AFCON final for a third consecutive title
If history is anything to go off, then, the clash might not only determine group standings but also set the stage for an exciting AFCON campaign.
The fixture also promises an added thrill as West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus faces Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah in a battle between two Premier League stars. You don’t want to miss this one.
Mohammad Joseph
Algeria vs Burkina Faso
With Angola and Mauritania rounding out Group D, Algeria and Burkina Faso should be the top two when they go head-to-head in their penultimate group stage match at 14:00 GMT on 20th January.
If this is the case, the result may determine who qualifies as group winners.
Algeria are hoping to replicate their triumph at the 2019 AFCON
In terms of the result, it is hard to look past an Algeria win.
The technical brilliance of Ismaël Bennacer, Houssem Aouar and Nabil Bentaleb in Algeria’s midfield should allow them to control the game and, despite his move to Saudi Arabia, Riyad Mahrez is still one of the best wingers in the world.
Mahrez called time on a trophy-laden five years at Manchester City this summer
A key match-up will be Bertrand Traoré against Ramy Bensebaini. Traoré has become a forgotten man at Aston Villa but he is Burkina Faso’s captain and a crucial cog in their attack on the right wing. It is likely he’ll be up against Borussia Dortmund’s Bensebaini, a full-back who loves to maraud forward and join the Algerian attack. This, combined with Traoré’s reluctance to track back, could make an interesting match-up.
Michael Thomas
South Africa vs Namibia
South Africa and Namibia may be outsiders for the top spots in Group E, but expect drama when ‘Bafana Bafana’ meets ‘Brave Warrior’ at 20:00 GMT on 21st January.
South Africa’s Bafana Bafana beat Namibia’s Brave Warriors 1-0 in 2019’s Group D
Namibia wrested itself from a seven-decade South African occupation in 1988, providing the historical backdrop for a continuing rivalry.
They have a point to prove when they face South Africa, and things are no different this time out. Coach Collin Benjamin insists that despite being amongst the ‘small boys’ in Southern Africa, The Brave Warriors can take down some Goliaths.
“We want to stamp our authority, saying ‘listen big boys – we’re sitting here on this table with you all and we want a piece of that bread,’” he told the BBC.
Tunisia and Mali’s are Group E’s ‘big boys’
With Tunisia and Mali favourites to top the group, South Africa and Namibia’s tie on matchday two may amount to a battle for third-place and the attendant possibility of progression. Throw Namibia’s search for a first win at an AFCON finals into the fray and you have the recipe for a tasty fixture.
Jonny Coffey
