AFCON 2021 Break out: Why North African Teams May Not Win In Cameroon

 

After the first group games in AFCON 2021, I observed most North African teams struggled, despite Morocco, Algeria and Egypt touted to be the tournament favourites. 

Morocco only managed to win 1 - 0 against Ghana, while defending champions Algeria played a goalless draw against Sierra Leone and Egypt lost to Nigeria. 

One of the key challenges the North African teams will be facing is the  Cameroonian climate, very harsh at this time of the year. 

Temperatures of over 30 degrees Celsius were reported in the port city on Tuesday, with humidity above 70%.

“It was very difficult with the heat, and especially for us who play in Europe. We are not used to it,” Algeria midfielder Haris Belkebla told BBC Sport Africa.

And as the days goes near and into February,  the heat might even increase and give teams from Central and West Africa some advantage, especially for games that will be played 13:00 hrs CET. 

Although, teams like Senegal, Nigeria, Cote D'ivoire...have over 80% of their players come from Europe too, where they play their club football. However, such players will easily acclimatize than those of the North Africans who are never used to this tropical climate condition. 

Teams like Sierra Leone, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Mali who have between 50 and 70% of their players playing at home clubs are likely to endure the heat and sustain their tempo towards the ending minutes of the second half, may pose a hard nut to crack as the tournament progresses. 

Cameroon, Senegal, Nigeria and Ghana are better at home with this climate condition and this could be the deciding factor when push comes to shove.