Group C is arguably the toughest group in the tournament and won amongst them six championship.
The group has tournament favorites Algeria, four time winners Ghana plus two sides enjoying in resurgence in South Africa and Senegal.
Kawowo Sports’ Ismael Kiyonga analyses each of the four nations and predicts who will make it out of the group.
GHANA
Nick Name: ‘Black Stars’
FIFA Rankings: 37
Appearances: 20 (1963, 1965, 1968, 1970, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015)
Best Performances: Champions 4 (1963, 1965, 1978, 1982)
Coach: Avram Grant–Theex-Chelsea Coach starts his reign as Ghana Coach with Africa’s biggest soccer show piece aiming to recapture the hearts of Black Stars fans after the showing in Brazil 2014 but it won’t be easy.
He comes with enormous experience but not anything African in this regard.
Key Player: Andre Dede Ayew – With Asamoah Gyan likely to miss the tournament through injury, all eyes will be on Dede Ayew to lead the Black Stars.
A skilled player, Ayew must add to his goals if Ghana is to avoid shame of failing to leave the group.
Prediction 4th: The four time winners lack goals in their team as witnessed in the qualifiers and will be lucky to reach the last eight.
ALGERIA
Nick Name: ‘Desert Foxes’
FIFA Ranking: 18
Appearances: 16 (1968, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2010, 2013, 2015)
Best Performance:Champions (1990)
Coach: Christian Gourcuff – He took over fromVahid Halilhodžić after a good World Cup in Brazil and he is yet to disappoint.
He guided the nation through qualifiers in a style winning five of the six group games. Besides, they were the first side to reach the finals.
Key Player: Yacini Brahimi – The BBC African Footballer of the Year enjoyed a good 2014 both at club and national level and if he replicates that form, the Desert Foxes may lift their second title in 25 years. The main man in the talented Algerian midfield.
Prediction 1st: The desert Foxes head into the tournament as big favourites and will be expected to make it out of the group as table leaders.
SENEGAL
Nick Name: ‘Lions of Teranga’
FIFA Ranking: 35
Appearances: 12 (1965, 1968, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1994, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012 & 2015)
Best Performance: Runners Up (2002)
Coach: Alain Giresse – The French man is a tactical chameleon and has instilled belief in the current Lions of Teranga. Besides, he is a disciplinarian and by dropping star striker Demba Ba, he showed the available players could do the work and indeed, they never disappointed.
Key Player: Papis Cisse – With Sadio Mane doubtful for the tournament, Cisse will be tasked to hunt the lead for goals alongside Mame Birame Diouf. A hard working striker who is good both on and off with ball with good positional sense, Cisse will aim to add to his tally of 16 goals in 33 national caps.
Prediction 2nd: Another team in resurgence which qualified at the expense of record winners Egypt. They play a quick game and are lethal up front and with Giresse on the bench, expect them to replicate their showings in early 2000s
SOUTH AFRICA
Nick Name: ‘Bafana Bafana’
FIFA Ranking: 52
Appearances: 9 (1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2013, 2015)
Best Performance: Champions (1996)
Coach: Ephraim Mashaba – The ingredient behind Bafana Bafana’s improvement. After a poor show in 2013, Mashaba; a former footballer was re-appointed to take charge of the Boys and he is yet to disappoint. He is a great manager who has handled almost all under age national teams in South Africa thus know the ins and outs of the national team.
Prediction 3rd: Despite qualifying as one of the few unbeaten sides in the qualifiers, South Africa may find it hard to reach the group stages not because they are poor but the opposition at hand. Their defence is porous and against teams that appear lethal, Bafana Bafana may fail to cope but they are good for third place finish behind Algeria and Senegal.
FIXTURES
January 19
Ghana vs. Senegal – Estadio de Mongomo, Mongomo
South Africa vs. Algeria – Mongomo
January 23
Senegal vs. South Africa – Mongomo
Algeria vs. Ghana – Mongomo
January 27
Ghana vs. South Africa – Mongomo
Algeria vs. Senegal – Nuevo Estadio de Malabo, Malabo
