2019 AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS GROUP STAGES PREVIEW

This is a history making AFCON in many ways, as they have reformed their schedule and will hold the tournament during the summer for the first time. The tournament will be hosted in Egypt (previously awarded to Cameroon who were stripped due to delays) and will run from June 21st to July 19th.

This is also the biggest tournament in their history as it has been expanded from 16 teams to 24. There will be six groups of four. With the top two going through along with the four best third placed teams. Which should encourage attacking play in the group stages. 

Below is my group stages preview. I have placed teams in order of there I think the will finish in their group. 

GROUP A – Egypt expects. Desperately seeking DR

EGYPT
DR CONGO
UGANDA
ZIMBABWE

Egypt are the most successful nation, winning seven titles, the last in 2010. The hosts are one of the favourites, but that brings expectation and pressure. However, with talisman Salah anything is possible. They were runners up in 2017 and will want to put that right. They qualified 2 points behind Tunisia and like to play fast paced attacking football, with energetic runners. But need work defensively. If they are to win an eighth title. Salah will need contributions from the likes of El-Mohamady. Hagazi. Trezeguet. El Neny & Mohsen. 

DR Congo surprisingly qualified runner up. Drawing all three away games 1-1 with the crucial result a disappointing home defeat to group winners Zimbabwe. However, they will hope to use their experience to once again take them through the group stages as they did in 2017, where they won the group but lost to Ghana in the QF. They also came third in 2015. They have an open, attacking style of play, relying on flair of forwards. Their key players could be defender Masuaku. Midfielder Mbemba. Forwards Bolasie and Bakambu.

Uganda are a bit of a surprise package and could be one to watch in this tournament. They qualified by winning their group ahead of Tanzania and didnt concede a goal at home. They rely on a strong defensive base and hope to snatch a goal at the other end. They have a diverse squad and boast players from four continents. They will hope to improve on 2017 and get out of the group. To do so, they will need contributions from defenders Walusimbi. Ochaya & Juuko. Midfielder Miya and forward Okwi. 

Zimbabwe surprised everyone by qualifying for this tournament top of their group ahead of DR Congo. This is only their fourth appearance in the finals and they will hope to get out of the group for the first time, which will be tough, but they have shown they are capable. They will rely on a strong physical defense and hope to score on the pacy counter attack. There chances rest on defenders Hadebe & Darikwa. Midfielders Billiat & Nakamba. Also forwards Musona and Mutizwa providing telling contributions. 

GROUP B – Never ending Nigeria. Graduating Guinea

NIGERIA 
GUINEA
BURUNDI
MADAGASCAR

Nigeria have won three titles and are often fancied to do well. They won it in 2013 but failed to qualified in 2015 & 2017. However, In their last six appearances, finished runner up, third four times and QF. They qualified by winning their group ahead of South Africa and was unbeaten away. They play controlled pass and move football, then explode up front. Again one of the favourites, but will have to deal with immense fan pressure. Key players are Troost-Ekong. Balogun. Obi-Mikel. Chukwueze. Ndidi. Iwobi. Musa & Ighalo. 

1976 winners Guinea qualified for this tournament ahead of Ivory Coast and were unbeaten in the group. They failed to qualify in 2017 and have not been further then QF’s, where they have reached four times in the their last five appearances. However, they have high hopes for this current crop and could be ones to watch. They play slick passing football. Led and captained by Naby Keita who they hope is fully fit. key players are GK Yattara. Defender Falette. Midfielders Diawara & Cisse and Forwards Komano & Traore. 

Burundi are one of three debutants in this tournament and are in the midst of a golden area for the nation. They qualified runners up to Mali at the expense of Gabon and were unbeaten in the group. They try to get the ball up to the strikers as quickly as possible using pace and balls in behind. In order to give a good account of themselves, they will need key contributions from defenders Nizigiyimana & Nduwarugira. Midfielders Kwizera & Bigirimana. Also forwards Abdul Razak and Berahino. 

Madagascar are the second of three debutants in this tournament and will have an interesting battle with Burundi to avoid finishing bottom. They qualified runners up to Senegal and were the only team to score against them. They are one of the oldest squads in the tournament and like to play direct football, bypassing the midfield. Obviously, no household names. Key players could be defender Morel. Midfielders Amada and Ilaimaharitra, forwards Andriatsima and Voavy.  

GROUP C – Serious Senegal. Acclimatising Algeria

SENEGAL 
ALGERIA
KENYA
TANZANIA

Senegal stormed their group, winning five and drawing one. They only conceded in one of their six games. They are one of the favourites, but are underachievers and yet to win a title, despite playing in 14 tournaments. Since they were runners up in 2002. Their last six appearances shows three group stages. Two QF’s and a 4th place. They play a controlled attacking build up style of football, with strong defending. For a first ever win they will need key contributions from Koulibaly. Gueye. Kouyate. Niang. Balde and captain Mane. 

Algeria qualified top of their group from Benin but was pushed all the way. They are experienced in the tournament winning it once, back in 1990. Since this time, they have only been past the QF’s once in their last 10 appearances. Hugely influenced by French born players. They try to play an open, free flowing type football. To improve on a poor recent record, they’ll need key players such as defenders Mandi & Bensebaini. Midfielders Ounas. Feghouli and Brahimi. Also Forwards Mahrez & Selimi to show their quality. 

This is Kenya’s sixth appearance, their last was 2004 and they have never been out of the group stages. They were fortunate in qualifying as Sierra Leone were disqualified, so only played four games. Which they won both at home, drew and lost their two away, to finish runner up to Ghana. They are a strong physical side who try to be hard to break down. In order to get out of the group. They will need contributions from defender Omar. Midfielders Omolo and captain Wanyama, also forwards Olunga and Juma. 

Tanzania have reached the finals for only the second time in their history. The first was back in 1980, where they failed to get out of the group. They qualified runners up to Uganda and were unbeaten at home. They are coached by Nigerian Emmanual Aminike who tries to get them playing in a disciplined set up, with an energetic team of runners, who works hard for each other. Key performers could be defender Morris. Midfielders Domayo & Mussa. Also forwards Msuva and Samatta 

GROUP D – Inquiring Ivory Coast. Managing Morocco

IVORY COAST 
MOROCCO
SOUTH AFRICA
NAMIBIA

Ivory Coast won this in 2015 for the second time in their history but failed to get out of group stages in 2017. They qualified runners up behind Guinea, but was unbeaten away. The second most experienced nation at the finals, they have a decent record. In their last seven appearances they’ve been champions. Runners up twice, fourth place. two QF’s and one group stages. They are an athletic outfit, full of runners with pace and wing play. They will look to key players such as Aurier, Kessie, Sari. Zaha, Pepe & Bony.

Morocco won their group via goal difference from Cameroon. They were unbeaten at home where they didnt concede a goal. But only scored in one of their three away games. A winner in 1976. However, their last 10 appearances shows three group stages, runner up in 04 and QF’s in 98 and 2017. Coached by Herve Renard whose won two titles with Zambia & Ivory Coast. They play open, passing football in a tight defensive system. Key players are captain Benatia. Hakimi. Bennasser. Belhanda. Amrabat. Ziyech, El-Nesyri and Boufal. 

The 1996 debut winners South Africa qualified runners up behind Nigeria, via just one point. But were unbeaten in the group. Since their debut win, they recorded a runners up in 98, third in 2000, two QF’s and four group stages, including in 2017. They are a more defensive team and like to play on the counter with slow build up, then explode in the last third. To improve on their recent poor record. They will look to players such as defenders Coetzee & Hiatshwayo. Midfielders Serero & Kekana. Forwards Tau & Mothiba. 

This is Namibia’s third appearance in this tournament, they failed to get out of the group stages in the previous two occasions. They qualified runners up to Guinea-Bissau via a point and ahead of Mozambique due to a better head to head, beating them home and away. Nothing much is expected of them in this group, so they can play without pressure. They will try to play an open, all action type of attacking football. With key players defenders Nyambe & Gebhardt. Midfielder Kavendji. Forwards Shalulile and Shilongo. 

GROUP E – Trying Tunisia. Make way for Mali

TUNISIA 
MALI
ANGOLA
MAURITANIA

Tunisia qualified top of their group, two points ahead of host Egypt, they were unbeaten at home, where they didnt concede a goal. However, they did lose to Egypt 3-2 away. Winners in 2004. Since that time, in their last seven appearances, they have five QF finishes including 2017 and two group stages. Highely expereinced, they try to play an open, free flowing type of attacking football. Key players could be defenders Merah & Haddadi. Midfielders Badri & Sliti. Forwards Chaouat and Khazri.

Mali qualified comfortably as winners of their group, unbeaten, four points ahead of Burundi in second. Although they have never won the AFCON, they have a decent record with three, fourth places. Two back to back third places in 2012 & 2013. However, failed to get out of the group stages in the last two tournaments. They play a strong, rigid system relying on defensive stability and a bit of flair upfront. Key players are defenders Wague & Kone. Midfileders Coulibaly & Haidara also forwards Diaby, Traore and Merega. 

Angola was pushed all the way as they qualified top of their group by goal difference from Mauritania. Although they were unbeaten at home, it wasn’t a convincing group win. In their seven previous appearances, they’ve only been out of the group stages twice in 2008 & 2010, where they reached the QF’s. Highly influenced by Portugal, they like to play neat and tidy pass and move football. Key players are defenders Quissanga & Buatu. Midfielder Herenilson also forwards Meteus. Campos. Dala & Eduardo. 

Mauritania are the third debutant in the finals and will resume their rivalry with Angola, who they qualified runners up to via goal difference. Both were unbeaten at home, the key result was them losing to Angola away 4-1. So they have a chance to set this straight in this group. They try to rely on counter attacking football, where they hope to be strong defensively. Their key players are defenders Ba & Sarr. Midfielders Camara & El Ide also forwards Diakite and Bessam. 

GROUP F – Get it going Ghana. Can do Cameroon

GHANA 
CAMEROON
BENIN
GUINEA-BISSAU

Ghana are one of the favourites but the last of their four wins came in 1982. They qualified top, two points from Kenya in a group where Sierre Leone was disqualified, so only played four games. Ghana can be a classy outfit, with decent pass and move football, full of flair. They are desperate to get over the hump, their last six appearances reads, 4th, 2nd, 4th, 4th, 2nd, 3rd. This time, the nations hopes rests on kay players such as Mensah, Partey, Wakaso. Atsu, captain Andre Ayew his brother Jordan. Asamoah and of course Gyan. 

Defending champions Cameroon qualified as runners up to Morocco via goal difference. They were unbeaten at home but failed to win away. It’s unlikely the second most successful nation in this tournament will make it a 6th title, but they have a good record winning three of their last 8 tournaments. With 3 QF’s, one runner up. Coached by Clarence Seedorf. They are a compact and disciplined passing team, key players are GK Onana. Defenders Bong & Fai. Midfielders Djoum & Anguissa. Forwards N’Jie & Moting. 

This is Benin’s fourth appearance in this tournament and they have failed to get out the group stages in the last three appearances. They qualified runner up, a point behind Algeria and failed to win any of their three away games. Although they won all three at home. They pride themselves on trying to be strong and compact defensively. In order to avoid finishing bottom, they will need Key players defenders Kiki & Braze. Midfielders, captain Sessegnon & Seibou. Also forward Mounie. 

Guinea-Bissau have qualified for this tournament for the second time in a row, which is only the second time in their history, so they are in the best era of their history. They failed to get out the group stages in 2017. They qualified top, in a tight group, a point ahead of Namibia. They like to play quick, passing football. Always looking for a pass in behind for strikers. Their key players are GK Mendes. Defenders Cande & Silva. Midfielders captain Djafal, Pele & Mane. Forwards Menday. Silva & Djassi.