Featuring: Egypt, Nigeria, Sudan and Guinea-Bissau
The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off in Cameroon on Sunday January 9, having been delayed for seven months due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Here, CheerOnNigeria blog take you through a detailed look at Group D, featuring record seven-time champions Egypt, three-time winners Nigeria, 1970 winner Sudan and Guinea-Bissau.
After reading through this post, you will have enough information to help you make your own judgements and predictions.
For Group D, Show time begins at Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua on Tuesday, January 11, by 17:00 hours GMT+
FIXTURES
Tuesday, 11 January:
Nigeria v Egypt,
Sudan v Guinea-Bissau
Saturday, 15 January:
Nigeria v Sudan,
Guinea-Bissau v Egypt
Wednesday, 19 January:
Egypt v Sudan,
Guinea-Bissau v Nigeria
PROFILE
Egypt
Qualification: Group E winners (ahead of Kenya, Togo and Comoros)
Appearances: 25th time (Last appearance: 2019)
Record: Winners (1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010) – 7 times
Coach: Carlos Queiroz
Captain: Mohamed Salah
Fifa ranking: 45
Nickname: The Pharaohs
Coach: An experienced manager who has coached Real Madrid and other big teams on four continents, the Egyptian Football Association surprisingly announced the signing of Carlos Queiroz to replace Hossam El Badry in September 2021.
The Africa Cup of Nations holds sentimental value for Queiroz who was born in Mozambique 68years ago. In charge for just 11 matches which included Qatar 2022 qualifying matches and the FIFA Arab Cup, he has won seven, lost two and drawn one. Another disciple of the 4-2-3-1.
Key Players: Goalkeeper Mohammed El Shenawy is solid and dependable. A good shot stopper and distributor. The defence is built around central defender Ahmed Hegazi. Defensive midfielder Mohammed ElNeny is also important. But there is no bigger player in Egyptian, African and even world football at the moment than Mohammed Salah. His record-breaking season with Liverpool might be the precursor of glory in Cameroon.
Analyst Comments:
Yasmine Elkaffas (BBC Arabic journalist): Egypt are the most successful team in the history of the tournament, winning an unprecedented third consecutive Nations Cup in 2010 to claim their seventh title.
But despite all these records, there is still some doubt whether the Pharaohs can compete this time around.
The dream of an eighth crown was shattered in 2019 when Egypt, as host nation, were knocked out by South Africa in the round of 16 after delivering a disappointing performance which drew a lot of criticism.
But under the leadership of Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz the team has restored its character. This was clearly shown in the Fifa Arab Cup as Egypt reached the semi-finals despite the absence of key players like Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, Arsenal's Mohamed Elneny and Galatasaray's Mostafa Mohamed.
On paper, Egypt face stiff competition from defending champions Algeria, Africa's top-ranked team Senegal, Nigeria, Tunisia and hosts Cameroon to emerge as champions on 6 February
Nigeria
Qualification: Group L winners (ahead of Benin, Sierra Leone and Lesotho)
Appearances: 19th time (Last appearance: 2019)
Record: Winners (1980. 1994, 2013) – 3 times
Interim coach: Augustine Eguavoen
Captain: Ahmed Musa
Fifa ranking: 36
Nickname: Super Eagles
Coach: Longstanding coach, Gernot Rohr, was fired just weeks before the AFCON 2021tournament and replaced with Austin Eguavoen in an interim capacity. Eguavoen led the team to a third place finish in 2006 as coach after winning the tournament as a player in 1994. He leads a team devoid of confidence, character and big names to Africa’s number one sporting tournament with less than 10 full training sessions and no tune up game. With a seemingly top-heavy squad with more forwards than midfielders, expect to see a 4-4-2 from Eguavoen.
Key Players: Top striker and Africa’s most expensive footballer of all time Victor Osimhen misses out due to injury while in form Emmanuel Dennis seemed disinterested. Defensive midfielder Wildred Ndidi is now the most important player in the team. Top scorer at the last Africa Cup of Nations, Odion Ighalo’s chances of joining the squad in Garoua was slim at the time of this report as his club said his contract bars the striker from representing Nigeria in AFCON 2021 or any international assignment.
Ahmed Musa brings loads of experience, pace and goals. Watch out for fast and skillful winger Chidera Ejuke, Moses Simon as well as Union Berlin striker Taiwo Awoniyi.
Analyst Comments:
Oluwashina Okeleji (Sports journalist, Nigeria): Whoever coined the expression about shooting oneself in the foot must have had Nigeria in mind, for the Super Eagles are often the architects of their own misery.
With mind-boggling irregularity they press the self-destruct button before and during major tournaments, this time by sacking coach Gernot Rohr just four weeks ahead of the Nations Cup.
Former captain Austin Eguavoen takes charge for a third spell - yet his appointment in the hottest seat in African football has been criticised by the fans. But Eguavoen, who led the team to a third-placed finish in 2006, has ignored the mumblings of discontent and revealed the squad's target in Cameroon is to emerge as champions.
New boss Jose Peseiro travels as "an observer", with Nigeria in a tricky group. The Super Eagles must fly above their internal issues to reach the knockout stages.
Goalkeeping uncertainty, frailty at the back and a lightweight midfield were the problems that blighted the squad during qualifying for the Nations Cup and World Cup. Kelechi Iheanacho has gone off the boil, exciting Samuel Chukwueze is only just returning from a long-term injury, while Wilfred Ndidi provides the sole reliability in midfield.
Sudan
Qualification: Group C runners up (behind Ghana and ahead of South Africa)
Appearances: 9th time (Last appearance: 2012)
Record: Winners (1970)
Interim coach: Burhan Tia
Captain: Mohamed Abdelrahman
Fifa ranking: 125
Nickname: Saqur al-Jidyan (Secretary Birds)
Coach: Veteran Burhan Tia was appointed after Frenchman Herbert Velus was fired following a poor showing by the Falcons of Jediane at the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup, losing all three of their group games while failing to score a single goal and conceding 10. Drawn in Group C, Sudan first suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat to Algeria, before being thumped 5-0 by neighbours Egypt and then surprisingly falling to Lebanon 1-0. Not only this, but they also finished bottom of their World Cup qualifying group with just three points from six games, also failing to win any game in the group that lined up them with Morocco, Guinea-Bissau, and Guinea. They are 11 games without a win. He has deployed a 4-3-3 double pivot in his two games in charge, a 3-2 loss to Zimbabwe and a goalless draw with Zimbabwe. Both were friendly matches.
Key Players: The team is incredibly light on quality and experience. All but two players play outside the country. Goalkeeper Ali Abu Eshrein has the most caps with 21 and is one of their best players. Striker Mohammed Abdel Rahman has 13 goals in 23 appearances. In November 2020, Abdelrahman made history by signing from Algerian side CA Bordj Bou Arréridj to Sudanese side Al-Hilal Omdurman for a Sudanese-record $USD 1 million.
Analyst Comments:
Isma'il Kushkush (Sudanese-American journalist): Sudan returns to the Nations Cup after a ten-year absence, somewhat surprisingly snatching second spot behind Ghana in a qualifying group that included South Africa. Its hopes to get beyond group stage look improbable.
The "Saqur al-Jidyan" (Secretary Birds) performed miserably in the recent Arab Cup, including a humiliating loss to Egypt. That led to the sacking of Hubert Velud and his staff and new coach Burhan Tia letting go of several veteran players weeks before the tournament. Guinea-Bissau, meanwhile, shockingly beat Sudan 4-2 in a World Cup qualifier in Khartoum last year.
Sudanese football, however, occasionally produces surprises, perhaps reflecting a tug of war between a proud past and frustrating present.
Sudan is a founding member of Caf, the first host of Afcon in 1957, two-time runners up and winners in 1970. Sudanese club giants Al-Hilal and Al-Merrikh often perform relatively well in African club competitions.
But the Secretary Birds have failed to live up to expectations for years. What face of Sudanese football will show up in Cameroon?
Guinea-Bissau
Qualification: Group runners I (behind Senegal and ahead of Congo)
Appearances: 3rd time (Last appearance: 2019)
Record: Group stage (2017, 2019)
Coach: Baciro Cande
Captain: Jonas Mendes
Fifa ranking: 106
Nickname: Djurtus (Wild Dogs)
Coach: Reappointed in 2017, Baciro Cande is in his second stint as coach of the Wild Dogs after previously handling the team from 2003 to 2010. In 29 matches, he’s just won nine matches, lost 12 and drawn eight, preferring to play a 4-2-3-1. Guinea-Bissau failed to score a goal in their final four World Cup qualifiers, with critics saying it is unacceptable for a team to go so long without finding the net.Critics claim coach Baciro Cando lacks a game plan. His system is not inspired by lively offensive play because he is more concerned with defending.
Key Players: Most of the squad play in the second division in Portugal and France, but midfielders Moreto Cassama, Alfa Semedo who play in the Ligue 1 and the Portuguese top flight respectively, as well as forward Piqueti, who scored one the best goals of the 2017 Nations Cup against Cameroon and plays in Saudi Arabia, are among their main stars.
Analyst Comments:
Alberto Dabo (Journalist in Guinea-Bissau): After qualifying for a third consecutive Nations Cup, the question is whether Guinea-Bissau will succeed in getting past the group stage for the first time.
In 2019 the Djurtus suffered 2-0 defeats against Cameroon and Ghana and drew 0-0 with Benin.
Guinea-Bissau failed to score a goal in their final four World Cup qualifiers, with critics saying it is unacceptable for a team to go so long without finding the net.
Critics claim coach Baciro Cando lacks a game plan. His system is not inspired by lively offensive play because he is more concerned with defending.
Most of the squad play in the second division in Portugal and France, but midfielders Moreto Cassama (Reims), Alfa Semedo (Vitoria Guimaraes) and forward Piqueti, who scored one the most beautiful goals of the 2017 Nations Cup against Cameroon and plays in Saudi Arabia, are among their main stars
GROUP PREDICTIONS
The first game between Egypt and Nigeria will set off what will eventually happen in the group.... On present form, Egypt are favoured to top the group and Nigeria as runners up.
However, if there will be any upset in the group, it could be from Guinea-Bissau which are capable of springing surprises and Nigeria have shown in the recent past that their present team is vulnerable by losing at home to less quality team like Central Africa Republic and blowing away a 4 - 0 lead to draw at home with Sierra Leone during the qualification stages.
As we all know predictions remain just predictions and anything can happen in football in the space of 90 minutes. So, don't write off Sudan just yet!
