The AFCON pocket guide

Your handy little guide to becoming an AFCON expert on every team

Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s AFCON time.

It’s time for the story lines, the drama, the excitement and the unexpected to unfold, kicking off.

I’ll be in Morocco for it all, although the unexpected has already hit me with multiple cancelled flights and my accommodation cancelling last night (the night I was meant to begin my stay). I’ll bring you the narratives (is Salah washed?), the stories (why Morocco are favourites and why it has nothing to do with the World Cup in 2022) and of course, all the nonsense (why is Cesc Fabregas a neo-colonial coach casting the evil eye). But for today I am giving you the most essential guide to every team. The expectations, storyline to follow, strengths and weaknesses and players to watch in the most succinct way possible. This is the ultimate guide becoming an AFCON expert in as short a time as possible.

And if you’re looking for a team to support over the next month, fear not. I’ve put together a little graphic to help you.

Group A

Morocco

Expectations: Win it or bust. No team has been such strong favourites perhaps in the history of the competitions.

Storyline to follow: With that favourites tag comes pressure and with dissatisfaction from the public around football investment at the expense of daily essentials, this team has to perform or face the public’s wroth.

Strengths: Incredible depth (particularly in the wings/attacking midfield positions), top coach in Walid Regragui, the best African footballer in Achraf Hakimi, home support

Weaknesses: Pressure that might be too much, old defence that still relies on 34 year old Romain Saiss, no established centre forward now Hamza Igamane is injured

Coach: Walid Regragui

Star player: Achraf Hakimi (RB)

One to watch: Azzedine Ounahi (CM)

Youngster: Eliesse Ben Seghir (LW)

Mali

Expectations: Quarter finals or better. After reaching the quarter finals last time out they are primed to only do better

Storyline to follow: Yves Bissouma is the biggest name in Malian football but is thought of far more highly outside Mali than in it. This is his tournament to prove himself as the star he should be.

Strengths: Young talent galore coupled with an experienced core

Weaknesses: Have a lack of experience in winning the big games, regularly beat those below them but rarely beat the big teams

Coach: Tom Saintfiet

Star player: Yves Bissouma (CM)

One to watch: Kamory Doumbia (LW, CAM)

Youngster: Mahamadou Doumbia (CM)

Zambia

Expectations: Get out of the group. Had a disappointing 2023 AFCON and just sacked manager Avram Grant. Expectations are low.

Storyline to follow: Energy was at an all time low after the World Cup qualifiers. Grant was sacked and the government stopped paying the players because of the poor performances. But energy has turned since his sacking and return of star Fashion Sakala who had fallen out with Grant

Strengths: Incredible pace up front and a front three (Lameck Banda, Patson Daka, Fashion Sakala) that have been playing together for over a decade.

Weaknesses: Defensively frail and very top heavy team. No consistency in build up to tournament.

Coach: Moses Sichone

Star player: Patson Daka (CF)

One to watch: Lameck Banda (LW)

Youngster: David Hamansenya (LB)

Comoros

Expectations: Have a good time. Comoros are rebuilding after their first golden generation and have never beaten any of the teams in their group. Anything other than three losses will be a positive.

Storyline to follow: Comoros could be one of the best supported teams at the tournament. They have a large diaspora of university students in Morocco as well as huge diaspora in Marseille.

Strengths: Solid midfield Phenomenal team spirit. This is a country that plays for one another. They also have serious pedigree when beating big nations (Ghana, Tunisa, Mali in the last couple years)

Weaknesses: Real lack of goals and a physically weak team.

Coach: Stefano Cusin

Star Player: Youssouf M’changama (CAM)

One to watch: Iyad Camara (CM)

Youngster: Rayan Lutin (CM)

Group B

Egypt

Expectations: Extremely varied but Semi-Finals a must. They are among the favourites but there is also an extreme skepticism back home

Storyline to follow: The obvious one. This is the lowest point of Mo Salah’s career with Liverpool but he has unwavering support in Egypt. Can he make good on that faith and deliver?

Strengths: A new cast of talented players so that they aren’t as reliant on Salah (Omar Marmoush, Emam Ashour, Mustapha Mohamed, Ibrahim Adel). One of the most experienced sides at the tournament.

Weaknesses: Star centre back Mohamed Abdulmonem is missing the tournament (ACL injury) and he is irreplaceable. Not a solid team and goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy is a legend but is 37 now.

Coach: Hossam Hassan

Star Player: Mo Salah (CAM/RW)

One to watch: Emam Ashour (CM/CAM/RW

Youngster: Mahmoud Saber (CAM)

South Africa

Expectations: Semi-Finals. For the first time since the 90s, expectations are high of Bafana Bafana, and for good reason.

Storyline to follow: Coach Hugo Broos is under fire after making some racist and sexist comments in the build up to the tournament. He is a brilliant but irascible character.

Strengths: One of the most solid nations around, most of their players play for Orlando Pirates or Mamelodi Sundowns and so have a clear identity

Weaknesses: Very few weaknesses but are a physically very small team and could get bullied.

Coach: Hugo Broos

Star Player: Teboho Mokoena (CM)

One to watch: Mohau Nkota (RW)

Youngster: Mbekezeli Mbokazi (CB)

Angola

Expectations: Make the knockouts and then maybe spring a surprise.

Storyline to follow: Ahead of the tournament, the Palancas Negras sacked the architect of their recent success, Pedro Goncalves. The pressure is on Patrice Beaumelle to hit the ground running.

Strengths: Experienced squad that has been together for a long time. Solid selection of attackers.

Weaknesses: Very old defense (all over 30).

Coach: Patrice Beaumelle

Star Player: Mabululu (CF)

One to watch: Zito Luvumbu (LW/CF)

Youngster: Maestro (CM)

Zimbabwe

Expectations: None. They did well to qualify but anything more than 0 points is a solid

Storyline to follow: Star player Marshall Munetsi was left out of the team after Wolves failed to provide documentation to say he was fit enough to play (which stops him being insured if he does get injured). He said he was fit to play and wanted to come.

Strengths: When they get into shape, they are a tough nut to crack. Got three draws in four games against Nigeria and South Africa in World Cup Qualifying

Weaknesses: They offer virtually nothing in an attacking game. Expect very few goals.

Coach: Mario Marinică

Star Player: Knowledge Musona (CAM)

Player to watch: Tawanda Maswanhise (RW)

Youngster: Tawanda Chirewa (LW)

Group C

Nigeria

Expectations: Semi-Finals. After reaching the final last time out before failing to qualify for the World Cup, the pressure is on.

Storyline to follow: Captain and last AFCON’s player of the tournament William Troost-Ekong surprised the world by retiring a couple weeks ago. Pressure will be on new captain Wilfred Ndidi to pick up that mantle.

Strengths: Victor Osimhen. In my opinion, the best player on the continent and probably the only player at the tournament who could win the whole thing by himself.

Weaknesses: With Ola Aina and Benjamin Frederick out, the Super Eagles don’t have an established right back and with Troost-Ekong gone, the defence is a lot less solid. Also a real lack of creativity.

Coach: Eric Chelle

Star Player: Victor Osimhen (CF)

One to watch: Alex Iwobi (CM/LW)

Youngster: Raphael Onyedika (CM)

Tunisia

Expectations: Quarter-Finals or better. Backed by one of the best travelling supports around and with the North African “home” advantage, Tunisia have relatively high expectations.

Storyline to follow: Tunisia took a very strong team to the Arab Cup and were coached by head coach Sami Trabelsi but they were surprisingly knocked out of the group stages. Anything but a strong AFCON and Trabelsi is out the door.

Strengths: While the Arab Cup was a failure, it has given the team a very long time to prepare for the AFCON. Very experienced side with a powerful midfield.

Weaknesses: This team really struggles for creativity and goals.

Coach: Sami Trabelsi

Star Player: Ferjani Sassi (CM)

One to watch: Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane (CM)

Youngster: Hanibal Mejbri (CAM)

Uganda

Expectations: Sneak out of the group. They know they aren’t favourites in the group and this tournament is a dress rehearsal for the next AFCON hosted in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania but they must beat neighbours Tanzania.

Storyline to follow: Uganda are heading into a fiercely contested presidential election back home and the football team will be at the heart of political discourse in a country that is very split at the moment.

Strengths: The Cranes were the first team to arrive in Morocco with most of the team arriving weeks ago to prepare. Very solid defensive side.

Weaknesses: The team has some attacking options but none with much pedigree.

Coach: Paul Put

Star Player: Alan Okello (CAM)

One to watch: Rogers Mato (LW/RW/CF)

Youngster: Travis Mutyaba (RW)

Tanzania

Expectations: See Uganda. The only game that matters for the Taifa Stars is that East African derby. The next AFCON is what matters.

Storyline to follow: At the last AFCON, Tanzania rejected its previous philosophy of only playing Tanzanian born players and brought in a number of players from the diaspora, particularly from the lower leagues of England. That backfired and they’ve in large part gone back to their original format (with a couple exceptions), this team is a representation of the Tanzanian Premier League and so will give us a sense of how strong the TPL is at the moment.

Strengths: This is a team from the TPL managed by a two-time TPL winner in Miguel Gamondi with Yanga, that continuity and familiarity can’t be underestimated and unlike a lot of minnows, they have a proper centre forward in Mbwana Samatta.

Weaknesses: There aren’t loads of goals in this team. Outside of Samatta and Simon Msuva, no Taifa Star has scored more than four goals.

Coach: Miguel Gamondi

Star Player: Mbwana Samatta (CF)

One to watch: Faisal Salum (CM)

Youngster: Dickson Job (CB)

Group D

Senegal

Expectations: Final or better. Being on the opposite side of the draw to Morocco, there is no one else they see as equals.

Storyline to follow: The big question for Senegal is (sadly), does Sadio Mane need to be dropped. Rightfully, Mane is a legend but over the last two to three years has slowed up and is potentially more of a hinderance but he is also undroppable.

Strengths: From back to front, this is an elite team with arguably the two best wingers in African football at the moment and the most exciting midfield on the continent.

Weaknesses: The aforementioned Mane problem. At the other end Kalidou Coulibaly has started to show his age.

Coach: Pape Thiaw

Star Player: Sadio Mane (CAM/LW)

One to watch: Iliman Ndiaye (LW/RW)

Youngster: Lamine Camara (CM)

DRC

Expectations: After a semi final appearance and a World Cup campaign that is still alive, expectations for the Leopards are at their highest. Quarter-finals are now seen as a minimum.

Storyline to follow: At the last AFCON, DRC used their platform to highlight the violence in Eastern Congo. Now the stakes are higher, the conflict more visible and more political. Will the players step up for their country again?

Strengths: Incredibly functional team. DRC concede very few goals and with the addition of Aaron Wan Bissaka to an already powerful back four makes them even more impregnable.

Weaknesses: Without Yoanne Wissa who pulled out of the tournament, they lack a reliable goalscorer. They have plenty of talented wide players but none of them have shone consistently.

Coach: Sebastian Desabre

Star Player: Chancel Mbemba (CB)

One to watch: Noah Sadiki (CM)

Youngster: Ngal’ayel Mukau (CM)

Benin

Expectations: Benin have only made it out of the group stage once in 2019. Matching that accomplishment is the goal.

Storyline to follow: Benin has just undergone an attempted coup back home. Though president Patrice Talon survived the attempt, Beninese national identity is at its most fragile and the football team is one of the focal points of that identity. The pressure is on.

Strengths: Like their Congolese opponents, this is a very solid team. They don’t play pretty football but they are resilient and have the attackers to play direct football.

Weakness: When going direct doesn’t work, this team struggles and lacks creativity. Don’t expect exciting games that involve Benin.

Coach: Gernot Rohr

Star Player: Steve Mounie (CF)

One to Watch: Andreas Hountondji (RW)

Youngster: Hassane Imourane (CDM)

Botswana

Expectations: Nothing. This is Botswana’s second ever appearance at the AFCON and they will be aiming to make it a first where they get a point. They are the lowest ranked side at the AFCON.

Storyline to follow: Botswana have more players than any other team based in their domestic league with only five players not based in Botswana. Renei Batlokwa is the only player not based in Africa. He plays for Maldon and Tiptree in the eighth tier of English football.

Strengths: Botswana’s biggest strength is coach Morena Ramoreboli. Though he is not a Motswana himself, the South African knows Botswanan football inside out and is a tournament knockout specialist. He took Jwaneng Galaxy to the CAF Champions League twice and managed huge upsets against some of Africa’s great clubs like Simba and Esperance Tunis.

Weaknesses: Like their cousins Zimbabwe, this will be a defense-first team. This is probably the weakest side at the competition player-for-player in every position.

Star Player: Kabelo Seakanyeng (CF)

One to Watch: Gape Mohutsiwa (CM)

Youngster: Tebogo Kopelang (CB)

Group E

Algeria

Expectations: Semi-Finals. After back-to-back group stage exits, Algeria have gone slightly under the radar but they have quietly put together a very exciting new generation.

Storyline to follow: A more advanced form of Senegal’s problem. Riyad Mahrez is far past his best and is seen as a liability rather than a star, but like Mane, unless something dramatic changes, he will play.

Strengths: Attacking. Algeria were the top scorers in World Cup qualifying while Mohamed Amoura bagged ten in ten. When they get going there is no stronger attack on the continent.

Weaknesses: The aforementioned right wing issue with Mahrez. It is also a rather limited defense that is not the most defensively resilient.

Coach: Vladamir Petkovic

Star Player: Riyad Mahrez (RW)

One to watch: Mohamed Amoura (LW/CF)

Youngster: Fares Chaibi (CAM)

Burkina Faso

Expectations: Knockouts at the very least, but a quarter-final and even semi-final appearance are not out of the question.

Storyline to follow: For well over a decade this has been Bertrand Traoré’s team. Ever since he showed up at Chelsea as a kid, he has been the star of the show and the one to bridge the gap after the end of the golden generation of Burkina Faso in the early 2010s but now there is a new generation of talented players. Is this the tournament that he passes the torch?

Strengths: An electric attack. Traore is partnered by Brentford’s Dango Ouattara and Lasina Traore of Shaktar Donetsk. With the exciting Pierre Landry Kaboré and Cyriaque Irié waiting on the bench, this is a truly dangerous front line.

Weaknesses: Star centre back Edmond Tapsoba is likely to miss the first game after delaying coming to the tournament from Bayer Leverkusen and without him that is a leggy and older back four. They also lack someone who can control the game from midfield.

Coach: Brama Traoré

Star Player: Bertrand Traoré (LW/CF)

One to watch: Lassina Traoré (CAM/CF)

Youngster: Cyriaque Irié (CF)

Equatorial Guinea

Expectations: Knockouts. As a smaller nation they are always low but as we’ve seen in the last two editions of the AFCON. This team can beat anyone.

Storyline to follow: Juan Micha Obiang was the architect of Equatorial Guinea’s remarkable success at the last couple AFCONs but was unceremoniously sacked after refusing to travel for a friendly earlier this year. But he then showed up for work at the AFCON squad announcement. How will that impact things?

Strengths: Very coherent side that has been together for half a decade. While being a smaller side they play good football and have plenty of goalscorers.

Weaknesses: If they can’t get on the ball and play their football, they struggle. They are a physically weak side, particularly in midfield.

Coach: Juan Micha Obiang

Star Player: Emilio Nsue (CF/RB)

One to watch: Iban Salvador (RW/LW)

Youngster: Alex Balboa (CAM)

Sudan

Expectations: Represent their nation well. The most popular team coming into the AFCON. Sudan are representing so much more than football as they try play through the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.

Storyline to follow: The obvious. Sudan qualifying for this tournament is a miracle and the resilience of the team is remarkable. Despite not even having a domestic league, Al Hilal are contributing more players to the AFCON than any other club in the world. They are currently playing in the Rwandan national league and previously played in Mauritania while unable to play at home.

Strengths: This is a seriously experienced side, most of whom played at the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon. They also have a former AFCON winning coach in James Appiah from Ghana.

Weaknesses: This is a team very reliant on one player for goals, Mohamed Abdelrahman, but if he isn’t firing then the goals will be hard to come by.

Coach: James Appiah

Star Player: Mohamed Abdelrahman (CF)

One to watch: Mo Eisa (Cf)

Youngster: Al-Jezoli Nouh (RW/LW)

Group F

Cote d’Ivoire

Expectations: Semi Finals. In truth, expectations to defend their title are not super strong. That victory was a one off and the team is more focused on the World Cup than the AFCON.

Storyline to follow: A lot of those stars from the AFCON triumph were not selected, most notably Nicolas Pepe who was dropped after he made some comments on a youtube video about players who decide to join an African nation’s team later in life when they are rejected by their host nation (including current Ivorian players like Wilfred Zaha and Albon Lafont).

Strengths: A very strong and settled midfield that is unchanged from the last AFCON as well as one of the deepest pools of defenders in Africa.

Weaknesses: With Sebastien Haller missing through injury, this team really lacks a centre forward and none of their long list of wingers have made the position their own.

Coach: Emerse Fae

Star Player: Franck Kessié (CM)

One to watch: Amad Diallo (RW)

Youngster: Yan Diomande (LW/RW)

Cameroon

Expectations: Quarter-finals. This is a team in chaos that has potential but has continually been sidelined by off-field issues. Realistically, reaching the last eight would be a big success.

Storyline to follow: There are too many of them. President Samuel Eto’o sacked Marc Brys on the verge of the tournament, who then initially refused to quit and they have made some interesting selections. Gone are Andre Onana, Frank-Andre Zambo-Anguissa and Eric-Maxim Coupou-Mouting and in is Arnold Mael Kamdem who plays in the sixth tier of Brazilian football.

Strengths: Despite all the issues off the pitch, this is still a remarkably strong squad. Carlos Baleba and Arthur Avom could link to make one of the strongest midfield duos at the tournament while Bryan Mbeumo has player of the tournament potential.

Weaknesses: Having sacked their manager, there is no continuity in this team and with key defender Jean-Charles Casteletto also dropped, the defence is really lacking in experience (only left back Nouhou Tolo has more than 25 caps).

Coach: David Pagou

Star Player: Bryan Mbeumo (CF/RW)

One to watch: Carlos Baleba (CM)

Youngster: Christian Kofane (CF)

Gabon

Expectations: Knockouts and maybe the quarter-finals. The best team in World Cup qualifiers to not make it to next summer’s party, they could spring a few surprises.

Storyline to follow: He’s back. After retiring from international football, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reversed his decision after a phone call from the president of Gabon. Since then, he has been back to his fiery best, best exemplified in their last World Cup qualifier group game where he scored four goals and was sent off. Box office.

Strengths: This is a team that is at the peak of its powers and probably the end of the road for a number of this small nation’s stars but they do have big game players and goals from plenty of angles. Gabon is the only team with more than three players with ten or more international goals.

Weaknesses: With that age comes a slowness. Outside of left back Anthony Oyono, Gabon’s other three starting defenders have a combined age of 102. They also struggle to get their individual attacking talents to play as a cohesive unit.

Coach: Thierry Mouyouma

Star Player: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (CF)

One to watch: Denis Bouanga (LW/CF)

Youngster: Anthony Oyono (LB)

Mozambique

Expectations: Upset the apple cart. They certainly did that at the last AFCON, drawing with both Egypt and Ghana, sending the Black Stars out in the process and this is a more manageable group.

Storyline to follow: Captain and living legend Elias “Domingues” Palembe is the oldest player at the competition but at 42, he is still the heartbeat of this team.

Strengths: A solid team with a efficient midfield. They are no mugs and have a couple livewires up front who can cause anyone problems.

Weaknesses: They are obviously one of the big underdogs at the tournament and have a defensive glass jaw, particularly from set pieces.

Coach: Chiquinho Conde

Star Player: Domingues (CAM)

Player to watch: Reinildo Mandava (LB)

Youngster: Geny Catamo (LWB/RW)