Category: Sports

In a few days, Africa will be vibrating to the rhythm of the 34th edition of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023. An array of African football talent will be on display between 13 January – 11 February.

CAFOnline presents a Top 10 list of players to watch.

Sadio Mané (Senegal, 31)

 Best player of the previous edition, the Lions of Teranga star player will once again be the man to watch when he captains his side in their title defence this year. After leaving Europe for Saudi Arabia last summer, Sadio Mané has lost none of his sharpness. He remains the guiding light and leader of a Senegalese team whose ambition is to achieve the double.

Vincent Aboubakar (Cameroon, 31)

For several competitions now, he’s been carrying the Indomitable Lions. Vincent Aboubakar is Cameroon’s captain and trusted goalscorer. His mental strength and leadership will be key in guiding his teammates to a 6th star for Cameroon.

Sehrou Guirassy (Guinea, 27)

The centre-forward has been coming back to life in Germany this season. He’s racking up goal after goal and rivalling other top Bundesliga strikers. Guirassy is undoubtedly the striker who was missing from Syli de Guinée’s puzzle to excel in the TotalEnergies AFCON finals.

Sébastien Haller (Côte d’Ivoire, 30)

For his second TotalEnergies AFCON, he couldn’t have dreamt of anything better than playing it at home and in front of supporters who adopted him very quickly from his first steps with the Elephants. At 29, Sébastien Haller has reached maturity and intends to make a big impact at Africa’s biggest football spectacle in front of his fans.

Mohamed Amoura (Algeria, 23)

While other illustrious elders in the Algerian squad (Mahrez, Feghouli, Slimani) need no introduction, Mohamed Amoura should be the big attraction of this TotalEnergies AFCON 2023 for the Fennecs. The midfielder has excelled for his Belgian club over the past two seasons and has the opportunity to lead his national team into a major competition.

Victor Osimhen (Nigeria, 25)

It’s hard not to include the Best African Player of the Year in this thread. Victor Osimhen, fresh from his recent accolade as the best African footballer, is celebrating his new status on the continental stage. He is the figurehead of Nigeria’s rich attacking frontline, which he will have to guide in Côte d’Ivoire.

Azzedine Ounahi (Morocco, 24)

With the Moroccan team at the 2022 World Cup, he was part of a strong collective. Azzedine Ounahi once again has the opportunity to confirm the high regard in which he had with the star-studded Atlas Lions.

Mohammed Kudus (Ghana, 23)

A livewire for West Ham United in England’s Premier League, Mohammed Kudus has set one of the best leagues in the world alight with his explosive speed, skill and goalscoring prowess. Boasting seven man of the matches accolades this season with his side, the 23-year-old Ghanaian sensation will be one of the key players for the Black Stars in their pursuit of an elusive fifth TotalEnergies AFCON title.

Mohamed Salah (Egypt, 31)

As he has done for the last 3 finals, Mohamed Salah will once again be one of the attractions on the banks of the Ebrié Lagoon. A Liverpool star (top 5 scorer in the club’s history) with a string of goals every weekend, the Pharaoh remains the leader of his national team. Under his leadership, Egypt made it through the qualifiers unscathed.

Peter Shalulile (Namibia, 30)

Peter Shalulile is at the prime of his career with South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns. Fresh from lifting the inaugural African Football League and currently a key member of the team’s chase for a second TotalEnergies CAF Champions League gold medal, Shalulile will be key for the Brave Warriors of Namibia in Cote d’Ivoire.

Source: CAF

Football is not just a game on the pitch; it’s also a fierce marketing battle, with the major sports brands vying to dress the national teams. With the African Cup of Nations (CAN) 2023 looming on the horizon, let’s take a closer look at the equipment manufacturers who are preparing to ‘go head to head’ in this competition in both sporting and commercial terms.

The 2023 African Cup of Nations (CAN) is set to showcase a diverse range of sportswear brands as national teams prepare for the football spectacle. PUMA, the reigning champions from Germany, will be dressing footballing powers such as Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Egypt, Senegal, Guinea, Angola and Morocco. Other well-known brands include UMBRO (England) for teams such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Namibia, LOCATONI (Portugal) representing Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau, NIKE (USA) for Nigeria, and ADIDAS (Germany) for Algeria. Notably, six African nations have chosen to support their own brands, with Burkina Faso opting for TOVIO, Tanzania partnering SANDA LAND, Mauritania with AB SPORT, Guinea-Bissau with GUISPORT, Zambia with KOPA SPORT and Mali with AIRNESS. Cameroon has also adopted One All Sports from Thailand. The merger of these international and African brands reflects not only competition on the pitch, but also a unique blend of global and local identities, highlighting the growing influence of African-made sportswear in the world of football.

African Brands – A Competitive Market Position

Six African teams have chosen to showcase equipment manufacturers from the continent, demonstrating the growing power of African brands on the world football stage.

• Burkina Faso 🇧🇫: TOVIO 🇧🇫
• Tanzanie 🇹🇿 : Sandaland Sports 🇹🇿
• Mauritanie 🇲🇷 : AB SPORT 🇲🇦
• Guinée Bissau 🇬🇼 : Guisport 🇬🇳
• Zambie 🇿🇲 : KOPA SPORT 🇿🇲
• Mali 🇲🇱 : Airness 🇲🇱

These choices reflect a growing desire to promote and support the textile and fashion industries in Africa. It is also a way for these teams to assert their identity and contribute to the continent’s economic development.

The Future of the Sports Industry in Africa

While major international brands continue to dominate the market, the emergence and recognition of African brands in the world of sport is a promising trend. This raises questions about how Africa’s sports industry can not only compete internationally but also play a key role in the continent’s economic development.

Beyond the competition on the pitch, CAN 2023 offers a showcase for the development of African brands, a further step towards the autonomy and global visibility of the continent’s sports industry. A true spectacle where style meets competition, and African identity asserts itself on the world football stage.

Some of football’s biggest stars will showcase their skills when the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) gets underway in Ivory Coast on January 13.

Record AFCON winners Egypt, led by their talismanic captain Mohamed Salah, will look for their eighth title. Morocco will hope their superb display at the last World Cup will translate into continental success, while Victor Osimhen will aim to replicate his club form for Nigeria.

Here’s a look at Al Jazeera’s favourites to win the tournament:

Morocco

Morocco is the red-hot favourite after their historic run at the Qatar World Cup 2022.

The North African nation became the first-ever team from the continent to qualify for the semifinals in Qatar, where they were beaten by France.

By defeating Spain and Portugal in the knockout stages, the Atlas Lions had already made their history in reaching the quarterfinal stage.

Morocco’s manager Walid Regragui has been quite clear that his team’s task now is to prove that Qatar was no fluke by winning the AFCON title.

Paris St Germain defender Achraf Hakimi and Chelsea winger, on loan at Galatasaray, Hakim Ziyech remain the star attractions. Sofyan Amrabat’s efforts in Qatar did not go unnoticed either, with Manchester United agreeing a season-long loan from Fiorentina to sign a permanent deal.

Bayern Munich’s Noussair Mazraoui and Romain Saiss of Al Shabab along with Hakimi form the tournament’s best defence.

Youssef En-Nesyri carries some pressure on his shoulders after the Seville striker had to be defended by his manager in Qatar following criticism for his profligacy in front of goal.

Morocco were beaten in the quarterfinals by defeated finalists Egypt at the last AFCON. In fact, since winning the 1976 edition, the Atlas Lions have only reached the final once, in 2004, when they were beaten by North African rivals Tunisia.

Senegal

Defending champions Senegal start the tournament on the heels of favourites Morocco.

Their sole AFCON triumph in 2022, was closely run with penalties required to overcome Egypt following a goalless draw in the final.

The Lions of Teranga were the favourites from Africa to push for the latter stages of the World Cup in Qatar but the loss of Sadio Mane to injury dealt them a crushing blow.

Following a 2-0 defeat by Netherlands in their opening match, they overcame Qatar and Ecuador only to lose 3-0 to England in the first knock-out round.

The emergence of Chelsea’s striker, Nicolas Jackson, signed in the summer from Villareal, is a huge boost to an already impressive ensemble. The 22-year-old has scored seven times in his first 19 appearances for the Blues.

Pape Matar Sarr is expected to be the main man in midfield and, while Edouard Mendy offers great assurance in goal, the formidable presence of Kalidou Koulibaly is the rock on which the strength of the Senegalese spine is built.

Egypt

“I want to win the competition” was the clear message from Mohamed Salah about his ambitions at AFCON as he departed Premier League leaders Liverpool.

Egpyt’s place among the favourites rests solely on the shoulders of Africa’s best – and arguably greatest ever – footballing talent.

Salah helped the Reds end a 30-year wait for a league title as well as helping them to a seventh Champions League trophy.

Despite his overwhelming club success, the forward’s commitment to his country is unwavering but he will need to inspire all the support he can get – from a team that is far from star-studded – if the king is to achieve the crowning glory of an AFCON title.

Mohamed Elneny a bit-part midfielder at Arsenal and Al Ittihad’s Ahmed Hegazy is the other name of note.

Egypt can, however, point to their appearance in the final of the last tournament – and their route to reach the showpiece game after overcoming Ivory Coast, Morocco and Cameroon.

A glittering past for Egypt, a glittering present for Salah but can the two combine to fulfil the dreams of the Pharoah’s greatest footballer?

Denied a shot at the World Cup but a play-off eliminator and denied twice in the 2017 and 2022 AFCON finals, the clock is ticking for the 31-year-old and his place in his country’s history books.

Nigeria

The Super Eagles have had their wings clipped of late – eliminated in a play-off for a place at the Qatar World Cup by rivals Ghana and falling at the first knockout hurdle at the 2022 AFCON.

Nigeria had won all three of their group games, including a win over Salah’s Egypt, but Alex Iwobi’s sending-off against Tunisia in the round of 16 was costly, as the side slipped to a 1-0 defeat.

Nigeria’s squad arguably boasts the most depth of all the teams at the tournament and only three AFCON titles will pain Africa’s largest nation, despite the presence of an Olympic gold medal in their trophy cabinet.

Iwobi, formerly of Arsenal and Everton, will be joined in the squad by Fulham teammate, Calvin Bassey – the full-back was named player of the match in the Premier League win against Arsenal on December 31.

The loss to injury of Wilfred Ndidi from the midfielder cannot be overstated. The fact they can turn to yet another European top-flight club to call up a replacement in Royal Antwerp’s Alhassan Yusuf could soften the blow.

It’s in attack where Nigeria will be expected to light up the tournament with Victor Osimhen in particular.

The striker was Serie A’s leading scorer last season as he led Napoli to their first league title since Diego Maradona became the darling of Naples in 1990.

The recently crowned African Footballer of the Year will be joined up front by anyone of of Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho, AC Milan’s Samuel Chukwueze, Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman and Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface. The latter is fourth on the list of leading scorers in the Bundesliga helping his team to the top of the table.

Ivory Coast

The hosts cannot be ruled out as contenders but the decision not to select Galatasaray’s Wilfred Zaha in attack will hang heavily over the team if results go against the team. Brave or foolish – it is headline news.

Nicolas Pepe, a club record signing for Arsenal in 2019, will shoulder the weight of expectation.

After only 16 goals in 80 appearances for the Gunners, the forward switched to the Turkish league and Trabzonspor via a loan spell in France with Nice.

Meanwhile, Sebastion Haller has yet to find the net in 15 matches this season for Borussia Dortmund who have slipped to fifth in the league.

The team is short of the superstar status it had in the days of Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure.

Perhaps this is the moment for the next generation, on home soil, to step forward but a dark-horse tag feels closer to the truth than that of one of the favourites.

Two names cannot go unmentioned among the other contenders in Ghana and Cameroon.

Both were World Cup qualifiers for Qatar 2022 but both were underwhelmed in the group stage. The former only won their final match against an already qualified Brazil and the latter defeated in all three of their games.

Andre Onana’s return in goal, after he was sent home from the World Cup, will boost the Indomitable Lions immeasurably.

AFCON champions in 2019, Algeria, have the mercurial Riyad Mahrez in attack but their slide ever since that win has been made all the more painful by the rise of their North Africa rivals and neighbours, Morocco.

SOURCE: AL JAZEERA

Tournament format, venues, title favourites, groups and prize money for AFCON 2023 in Ivory Coast.

The Confederation of African Football’s (CAF’s) highly anticipated African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 is set to kick off on January 13 in the Ivory Coast, where the continent’s biggest stars are expected to shine after an impressive showing for their respective clubs and the Qatar World Cup 2022.

The tournament boasts five teams from the tournament in Qatar, with semifinalists at the global showpiece – Morocco – the red-hot favourites to become the champions of Africa.

Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming AFCON:

Who are the hosts?

The African Cup of Nations takes place in Ivory Coast for a second time.

Matches will be held at six stadiums across five cities.

The capital, Abidjan, offers two venues – the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium and the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, which will also host the final.

Yamoussoukro, Bouake, Korhogo and San Pedro will host the remaining fixtures.

Which teams have qualified?

• Group A – Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau
• Group B – Egypt, Ghana, Cape Verde, and Mozambique
• Group C – Senegal, Cameroon, Guinea, and The Gambia
• Group D – Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Angola
• Group E – Tunisia, Mali, South Africa, and Namibia
• Group F – Morocco, DR Congo, Zambia, and Tanzania

When are the opening fixtures?

Ivory Coast face Guinea-Bissau in the opening match at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan, on January 13 in Group A. The kickoff is at 20:00 GMT.

The host nation will have the focus on the first day, but after that, there will be a minimum of two games per day through the group stage.

On match-day two, Nigeria take on Equatorial Guinea at 14:00 GMT to complete the first round of fixtures in Group A, with the game again being played at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium.

Abidjan remains the focus for the next two games of the day as Egypt meet Mozambique before Ghana open against Cape Verde. Both Group B games will be played at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium that day, with kickoff times of 15:00 GMT and 20:00 GMT, respectively.

How does the group stage work?

The top two teams in each group and the four best-ranked third-placed teams will advance to the last 16.

The bottom teams and the two worst-ranked third-placed teams in each group will be eliminated from the tournament.

How does the knockout stage work?

There will be three rest days from January 24 before the last-16 fixtures commence.

This is how the last 16 stage looks:

• Group D winners vs third place Group B/E/F
• Group A runners-up vs Group C runners-up
• Group A winners vs third place Group C/D/E
• Group B second place vs Group F runners-up
• Group B winners vs third place Group A/C/D
• Group C winners vs third Place Group A/B/F
• Group E winners vs Group D runners-up
• Group F winners vs Group E runners-up

Who are the past winners?

Egypt are the record winner in AFCON’s history with seven titles. They were also runners-up most recently, in 2017 and 2021.

Cameroon are the second most successful team with five wins.

Ghana have lifted the trophy on four occasions but not since 1982. That still, however, will irk their West African rivals, Nigeria, who have claimed the title three times.

Hosts Ivory Coast, Algeria (winners in 2019) and DR Congo have two wins each.

Senegal is defending their only Africa Cup of Nations crown, while Morocco, the highest-ranked nation, has also only been crowned winners once, and that was in 1976. Tunisia, Zambia, Sudan, Ethiopia, South Africa and the Republic of the Congo have also lifted the title on one occasion.

Who are the favourites?

World Cup semifinalists Morocco are the clear favourites as they look to end a nearly 40-year wait for their second AFCON crown.

The 1976 winners are the highest-ranked team at the tournament.

Reigning champions Senegal and the team they defeated in the last edition, Egypt, are expected to be the teams to push them closest.

Nigeria boasts the squad with the most depth.

How much is the prize money?

There will be a 40 per cent increase in the prize money for the winners of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

The winners of the latest edition in Ivory Coast will receive 5.5 million pounds ($7m).

The runners-up will get 3.165 million pounds ($4m), with each of the two semifinalists receiving 1.979 million pounds ($2.5m) and the four quarterfinalists taking 1.029 million pounds ($1.3m) each.

Source: Al Jazeera