2023 African Cup of Nations Preview: Group Stage
The 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) is set to get underway on Saturday, Jan. 13. This is the most hectic and underrated international football tournament in the world. Some of the world’s best players will be heading to the Ivory Coast to compete for African glory. The tournament runs until the final on Feb. 11.
The 34th edition of the AFCON will be the second to be hosted by the West African nation with the first coming back in 1984. Six stadiums across five cities will play host for this year’s tournament. The Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan will serve as the venue for both the opening match of the group stage and the 2023 AFCON Final. There are six groups of four teams each and here is everything you need to know about the group stage.
Group A (Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Nigeria):
The group that will kick off the tournament includes two of Africa’s strongest teams. The hosts Ivory Coast have struggled in the past few tournaments and have not made the semifinals since winning the 2015 African Cup of Nations. Similarly, Nigeria has struggled recently having missed out on qualifying for back-to-back AFCONs in 2015 and 2017 and going out in the Round of 16 two years ago.
Behind the big dogs, an exciting battle for third place could appear, which is important because the top four third-place teams will advance to the knockout stage. Equatorial had some success at the 2021 AFCON upsetting Algeria and Mali on their way to the quarterfinals. The small nation has yet to lose a match since 2022 and heads to the Ivory Coast in form. Guinea-Bissau has made only three AFCONs and those have been the last three editions. Unfortunately, they have still yet to win a match let alone get out of the group stage. Surprisingly, though, Guinea-Bissau beat Nigeria 1-0 in qualification last year.
Players to watch out for:
Nigeria has a stacked team full of players playing in Europe’s top leagues. This includes the 2023 African player of the year Napoli striker Victor Osimhen and Fulham’s Alex Iwobi. Turkish side Sivasspor has two highly capped players in this group Nigeria’s Ahmed Musa (108 caps) and Ivory Coast’s Max Gradal (107 caps). Ivory Coast has another star player in Borussia Dortmund forward Sébastien Haller; another to watch out for is Equatorial Guinea’s all-time leading scorer and captain Emilio Nsue.
Predictions:
Ivory Coast will have the fans on their side and that could be the boost they need to top Group A. However, Nigeria is looking like a much better team than in years past, and I see them doing enough to edge out the hosts for the top spot in the group. Equatorial Guinea could cause a shock win over one of the top two teams. I think that they will get the better of Guinea-Bissau and finish third with enough points to advance to the knockout stage. Unfortunately for Guinea-Bissau, it looks like another year without a win.
Group B (Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Mozambique)
Just like Group A, there are two teams that should dominate this group. Egypt is the most successful team in African Cup of Nations history having won the tournament seven times.
In the most recent edition, they lost to Senegal on penalties in the final. Ghana is the third-winningest nation with four titles, but they have not won since 1982. As far as Cape Verde and Mozambique go there is not much to be expected of either side.
The smallest nation in the tournament is Cape Verde–despite having around half a million residents, they made the Round of 16 at the 2021 AFCON and will be looking to better that performance this go around. Mozambique is back at the AFCON for the first time since 2010. This will be their fifth edition and they have yet to win so far.
Players to watch out for:
The clear star of this group is none other than Egypt and Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian captain is one of the best players in the world and can cause opponents issues from anywhere. Ghana has its fair share of star power as well. Mohammed Kudus and Jordan Ayew are still thriving in the Premier League with West Ham and Crystal Palace, respectively.
The “Black Stars” also have André Ayew, the nation’s most capped player. Cape Verde has a star of their own in Ryan Mendes. The Turkish league player has the most caps for Cape Verde and needs one more goal to stand alone as the nation’s all-time leading goalscorer with 16.
Predictions:
Egypt is one of the favorites to win the whole thing and I believe they will get off to a strong start by winning this group. Ghana will be that second-place team, with Cape Verde and Mozambique falling right behind them. This will be another winless tournament for Mozambique.
Group C (Cameroon, Gambia, Guinea, Senegal):
The defending champions Senegal look poised to go back-to-back. The glory in 2021 was the first for “The Lions of Teranga.” As the second highest-ranked African nation according to FIFA, Senegal will have a target on their back. After a third-place finish on home turf, Cameroon is looking to go a step further and make the final. The African Cup of Nations is a tournament that they have won five times and a sixth could be on the horizon. Guinea has gone out of the last two AFCONs in the Round of 16.
Anything further would be a nice result for a nation that has never won the tournament but did finish second in 1976. Gambia made history by qualifying for their first AFCON in 2021. That year they made it all the way to the quarterfinals, but if their success from two years ago continues, then “The Scorpions” could have another entertaining tournament. That is if things start going smoother than their flight to the Ivory Coast that almost resulted in tragedy.
Players to watch out for:
The Saudi Arabian takeover has hit the Senegalese national team very hard; arguably four of their best players now play in the Asian league. This includes Sadio Mané, Kalidou Koulibaly, Édouard Mendy and Habib Diallo.
Alongside them is a young array of talent across the top leagues. Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson and Marseille’s Ismaïla Sarr, have the potential to dominate Africa for years to come. Cameroon has a similar leadership group from the 2022 World Cup which includes Vincent Aboubakar and André Onana. Onana is a massive question mark after a rough few years for Cameroon. Gambia’s golden generation includes forward and top goalscorer Assan Ceesay as well as leading cap-getter and defender Omar Colly.
Predictions:
This seems like the toughest group from top to bottom. Any of the four could advance to the knockout stage. With that being said I see Senegal narrowly edging out Cameroon. While Gambia will finish third and advance to the knockout stage, Guinea will head home.
Group D (Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Mauritania):
On paper, Algeria looks like the best side. However, I said this in the group stage two years ago and sure enough, they went out in the group stage. Since that disastrous showing Algeria has lost just two of their last 22 matches. Burkina Faso has made the semifinals in three of the last four African Cup of Nations that they have competed in.
They only have one finals appearance which they lost in the 2013 final against Nigeria. Angola missed out on the 2021 AFCON but is back for the 2023 AFCON. Their best finish was the quarterfinals in 2008 and 2010. The minnow of the group in Mauritania. The “Lions of Chinguetti” will be appearing in their third ever and third consecutive African Cup of Nations. They are winless thus far so maybe the 2023 AFCON will be historic for them.
Players to watch out for:
The biggest player in Group D is undoubtedly Riyad Mahrez. The former Manchester City midfielder now resides in Saudi Arabia but is still the leader of this Algerian side. While Algeria may have the best players, Burkina Faso may have a deeper team overall. The attack will be led by Aston Villa’s Bertrand Traoré along with Bournemouth youngster Dango Ouattara. The area to look out for is the youth that Burkina Faso has with 10 players being born since 2000.
Predictions:
It is looking like youth versus experience when it comes to Algeria and Burkina Faso. I’m leaning toward the youngsters and have Burkina Faso winning the group with Algeria finishing second. Unlike the other teams who have never won in the African Cup of Nations, I’ll back Mauritania to get the better of Angola and end their winless streak.
Group E (Mali, Namibia, South Africa, Tunisia):
With no clear favorite, this may be the most open group in the 2023 African Cup of Nations. Over the last decade, Tunisia has emerged as a top African side, having competed in the last two World Cups. They had one AFCON title back in 2004 when they hosted the tournament. However, they have been a regular quarterfinalist having made eight appearances in the last 10 editions.
Mali is one of the dark horses in this tournament. While they have never won the AFCON, there is hope this year. A Round of 16 exit for the third straight competition would be a disappointment. South Africa had quite the fall from grace having missed out on two of the last three AFCONs. The “Bafana Bafana” made three straight semifinals following the end of apartheid but have failed to get past there since. Their lone AFCON title came in 1996. Just like virtually every group, Namibia wraps up the group as the only team to have not won an AFCON match before. This comes despite playing in three editions.
Players to watch out for:
There are not any big-time players like in other groups, but there are still some talented players worth watching. For Tunisia, captain Youssef Msakni needs two more goals to move into second place on the all-time scoring list. Mali has a few players playing in Europe’s top leagues. This includes Tottenham’s Yves Bissouma, Real Sociedad’s Hamari Traoré and RB Leipzig’s Amadou Haidara.
Predictions:
As far as it looks Tunisia should run away with this group, but I feel a Mali upset will see them take Group E while the North African side will finish second. South Africa should get the better of Namibia and three points will be enough to see them advance to the knockout stage.
Group F (DR Congo, Morocco, Tanzania, Zambia):
To put it simply, this group is Morocco vs the field. As one of the favorites to win the entire 2023 AFCON and the highest-ranked African side in the FIFA rankings, the pressure is on Morocco who had a historic World Cup in 2022.
This could very well be the year that Morocco ends its AFCON drought. They have not won it since 1976 and only made one final since then which they lost to Tunisia in 2004. The DR Congo has had a bit more success in recent times, finishing third at the 2015 AFCON, but they too have not won the title since the 1970s. Zambia had a shocking win in 2012 but since then went out in the group stage twice before failing to qualify for the last three African Cup of Nations. The last team in this preview is Tanzania, who has two prior AFCON appearances but managed just one draw with five losses.
Players to watch out for:
Before hopping into the stars that Morocco possesses here are some other players to watch out for in Group F. Tanzania’s Mbwana Samatta needs three goals to equal Mrisho Ngasa’s record of 25 goals. A question for DR Congo is how their lack of goalkeeping experience will affect them. Lionel Mpasi has the most caps at the position with just eight. Morocco on the other hand has plenty of stars. For starters, they have PSG’s Achraf Hakimi in defense. The midfield sees one of the 2022 World Cup’s stars in Sofyan Amrabat. The attack of “The Atlas Lions” is just as deep with Hakim Ziyech and Youssef En-Nesyri leading the way.
Predictions:
This is probably the easiest group for me to pick. Morocco will win all three to take the group. Behind them is going to be Zambia, with DR Congo and Tanzania closing it out. If DR Congo’s goalkeeping does not end up being an issue then they could advance.
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