In light of Friday’s Africa Cup of Nations group-stage draw in Cairo, ESPN pick out five mouth-watering games to look forward in the first round.
The expanded 24-team format has meant more inclusion for the continent’s lesser lights, while the traditional heavyweights have been spread around the groups.
However, there’s absolutely no shortage of intrigue in the first round following a compelling first-round draw.
Tanzania vs. Kenya, June 27, 30 June Stadium, Cairo
East African derbies are…
The six groups for the expanded Africa Cup of Nations were drawn in a glamorous ceremony in the shadow of the Pyramids of Giza, just outside Cairo, on Friday, as the 24 teams learned their first-round opponents.
With the group stage mapped out, what should fans expect from the opening round of fixtures, where are the potential upsets, and who are the players to watch in African football’s biennial showpiece?
Group A
Teams: Egypt, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Zimbabwe
Overview:
Egypt had…
The Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off on Sunday, as the continent’s finest young players compete for the prestigious youth title over two weeks in Tanzania.
Age-grade competitions are taken particularly seriously in Africa, and the U-17 Afcon has, over the years, offered a first glimpse of some of the continent’s brightest young talents.
Nigerian starlets Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Nwakali, and Kelechi Iheanacho all burst into the wider public consciousness during the competition, and are currently…
When the Confederation of African Football ratified an expansion to the Africa Cup of Nations in July 2017, introducing eight more teams to the biennial competition, the dynamic of the qualifying program was always going to change.
As had been the case ahead of the European Championship in 2016, for which UEFA had instigated an increase from 16 to 24 teams, many of the continent’s heavyweights cruised to the tournament with games to spare.
However, an overall decrease in drama among the bigger nations…
The road to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations has been paved with troubles, with the tournament often appearing to be at the mercy of the Confederation of African Football’s internal politics and, notably, the regime change from Issa Hayatou to Ahmad Ahmad in March 2017.
The change in CAF presidency prompted the AFCON changes instigated at the CAF symposium in July 2017, where it was decided that the tournament would be expanded from 16 to 24 teams, even though the 2019 qualifying campaign had already…
Tanzania are on the brink of ending their near four-decade wait for Africa Cup of Nations qualification, and will qualify for the tournament if they beat Lesotho at the Setsoto Stadium on Sunday
Heading into the Taifa Stars’ final group game, the East Africans sit on five points, one clear of Cape Verde having played one match fewer.
The islanders were defeated 1-0 by Uganda on Saturday, and would be unable to catch Tanzania if Emmanuel Amunike’s side defeat Lesotho on Sunday.
“The players know…
Nicholas Musonye, the Secretary General of the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations believes the region is braced for a ‘new chapter’ of success in continental competitions.
The region’s teams have largely fared well during the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, with Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda all still firmly in the running for next year’s showpiece.
Sudan and South Sudan are both out of the running, while Rwanda and Ethiopia have their work cut out to qualify.
“We…
KweséESPN takes a look at the biggest winners and losers after the first four match days of Africa Cup of Nations 2019 qualifying.
WINNERS
First Qualifiers
There can be no bigger winner than Madagascar, who became the first country to …
Simon Msuva and Ally Mbwana Samatta scored as Tanzania defeated Cape Verde 2-0 in Tuesday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday.
The win was a first for Taifa Stars coach and former Nigeria international Emmanuel Amunike, who was appointed by the East Africans in August.
It also revives their hopes of qualifying for the finals in Cameroon, as they move up to second place in Group L on five points, while also avenging their 3-0 defeat by Cape Verde on…
Tanzania head coach Emmanuel Amunike has backed his team to bounce back and take maximum points when they host Cape Verde in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Tuesday.
The Taifa Stars were humbled 3-0 by the islanders on Saturday, but the…