Most African Cup of Nations open with several contenders and many more uncertainties, and this 31st edition isn't going to be any different. But that's one of the many reasons why it's such a fascinating competition to watch and follow, not to mention the delightful team nicknames. Ivory Coast, Senegal, Algeria and Ghana are all looking to state their claims as traditional powerhouses, and Egypt might do well, 6 years after their last title. DR Congo could surprise people, though Yannick Bolasie's absence will be a blow. Hosts Gabon bring in a good team, heralded by goal-machine Aubameyang and Juve future star Mario Lemina, but the political upheaval in the country has now spread to their football federation, and new coach Jose Antonio Camacho is apparently already under duress.
Group stages Sat 14 Jan 2017 11:00a Gabon - Guinea-Bissau 2:00p Burkina Faso - Cameroon Sun 15 Jan 2017 11:00a Algeria - Zimbabwe 2:00p Tunisia - Senegal Mon 16 Jan 2017 11:00a Côte D'Ivoire - Togo 2:00p Congo DR - Morocco Tue 17 Jan 2017 11:00a Ghana - Uganda 2:00p Mali - Egypt Wed 18 Jan 2017 11:00a Gabon - Burkina Faso 2:00p Cameroon - Guinea-Bissau Thu 19 Jan 2017 11:00a Algeria - Tunisia 2:00p Senegal - Zimbabwe Fri 20 Jan 2017 11:00a Côte D'Ivoire - Congo DR 2:00p Morocco - Togo Sat 21 Jan 2017 2:00p Ghana - Mali 2:00p Egypt - Uganda Sun 22 Jan 2017 2:00p Cameroon - Gabon 2:00p Guinea-Bissau - Burkina Faso Mon 23 Jan 2017 2:00p Senegal - Algeria 2:00p Zimbabwe - Tunisia Tue 24 Jan 2017 2:00p Morocco - Côte D'Ivoire 2:00p Togo - Congo DR Wed 25 Jan 2017 2:00p Egypt - Ghana 2:00p Uganda - Mali
------------------------------ For the record, my teams: MLB: Mets / Soccer: PSG NCAA BB: Arizona / NCAA FB: Michigan NBA: Spurs / NFL: Jets
Senegal looking very solid, and they have a deep squad. However they were lucky Tunisia were so awful in their finishing, the final score doesn't really reflect the balance of the game
Cameroon did the job for 70 minutes but need more solidity at the back
Gabon were clearly nervous with none more than Aubameyang, and Lemina to a lesser extent. They should still be OK but the game with Cameroon looms large. Interested by young Denis Bouanga on the wing, he plays for Strasbourg and I wonder if this Afcon could be a stepping stone for him
Ivory Coast has a very good looking team in which Zaha seems like he fits in well, but the striker position could be an issue
Algeria had a huge missed opportunity in the draw with Zimbabwe, they're very close to the edge already in the proverbial group of death
Among the smaller teams I was intrigued by Togo who held their own with Ivory Coast, proving you should never count out a Claude "the sorcerer" Le Roy squad (and nice to see a club-less Adebayor playing team-oriented ball). Guinea Bissau won't be a problem but the point earned against the hosts will surely give them a big boost.
Looking forward to Mali-Egypt tomorrow
------------------------------ For the record, my teams: MLB: Mets / Soccer: PSG NCAA BB: Arizona / NCAA FB: Michigan NBA: Spurs / NFL: Jets
7. "so far this Afcon > Euro 2016, and it's not even close" In response to Reply # 0
I've yet to witness a "small" team park the bus significantly, and it's not as if the play is all headless chicken tactics, as people sometimes (a bit racistly, tbh) believe in Europe
Another 2 super pleasant games today, and most of the groups are close so the 3 games should be entertaining as well
------------------------------ For the record, my teams: MLB: Mets / Soccer: PSG NCAA BB: Arizona / NCAA FB: Michigan NBA: Spurs / NFL: Jets
so the Pharaohs ended up first of their group thanks to Salah's unconventional-but-deadly FK (http://streamable.com/7bjq0), overtaking a Ghana team that hasn't looked very inspired most tournament, with a shaky defense and sputtering offense (2 goals in 3 games, which granted is the same as Egypt). Couple more things about Egypt:
- their goalie El-Hadary is 44 and has been a rock for them, making another 2 big saves yesterday to stifle Ghana - apparently Brazilian-style nicknames are a thing in Egypt now. Ahmed Hassan Mahgoub goes by Kouka, Mahmoud Abdel-Moneim is Kahraba. The most memorable though is Mahmoud Hassan who simply goes by Trezeguet. It's even on his jersey and everything (as M. Trezeguet in case anyone was confused).
This team won't score many points with neutrals as Cuper has them play a tactically-proficient style that favors solidity over creativity, but they could do some damage.
As far as the Quarter-Finals go, we've got:
Jan 28 Burkina Fasso-Tunisia Senegal-Cameroon Jan 29 Egypt-Morocco Dr Congo-Ghana
All four games are potentially very exciting. Based on the group stages I'd put Senegal at the top, with Congo and Morocco just below. But every team still in could conceivably make it to the final.
------------------------------ For the record, my teams: MLB: Mets / Soccer: PSG NCAA BB: Arizona / NCAA FB: Michigan NBA: Spurs / NFL: Jets
I'm not gonna say they got robbed, but they were clearly above Cameroon. Just couldn't finish, and/or got stifled by Ondoa. Great second half though, and the PK session was quality...until Mane
------------------------------ For the record, my teams: MLB: Mets / Soccer: PSG NCAA BB: Arizona / NCAA FB: Michigan NBA: Spurs / NFL: Jets
14. "gatdamn Egypt, man..." In response to Reply # 0
got dominated for the second game in a row, showing even less than against Morocco (where tbf they attacked as much as the terrible pitch let them), and somehow pulled it off afuckinggain. The Portugal of Afcon, and we know how that story ends. They have some decent talent, and the combination on Salah's goal was really delightful, but I'm fully on board with whoever they face in the final
Still, props to them and old-man El Hadary (dude was on their '98 squad, that's just amazing) for getting another crucial stop in the PK session
on to Ghana/Cameroon. Not the most inspiring matchup but I could see Ghana's experience pulling them through
------------------------------ For the record, my teams: MLB: Mets / Soccer: PSG NCAA BB: Arizona / NCAA FB: Michigan NBA: Spurs / NFL: Jets
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