On paper and statistically, it appears the weakest group of the competition with only two championships amongst the four nations with South Africa (1996) and Morocco (1976) being the only winners.
However, besides Cape Verde which will be making its first appearance, Morocco, South Africa and Angola have been seasonal campaigners.
Kawowo Sports’ Ismael Kiyonga analyses this group and makes the prediction on who will make it to the next stage. Let’s get started:
SOUTH AFRICA:
Previous appearances African Nations Cup finals: 7
Best performance: Winners in 1996; Runners-up in 1998
Fifa world ranking Dec 2012: 87
Coach: Gordon Igesund was appointed last June after the country’s poor start to the 2014 World Cup qualifiers. He was given six months to get ready for the Nations Cup and ordered to deliver at minimum a semi-final appearance if he wants to keep his job past next month. The 56-year-old is the most successful coach in South African domestic football with four league titles with four different clubs since 1997. As a player he had a spell in Austria.
Man to Watch – Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs). Age: 28 Pos: Winger Scorer of a cracking goal to open the 2010 World Cup finals, he is arguably the most popular footballer in South Africa with his smiling face and dreadlocked hairstyle adorning advertising hoardings across the major cities. His form has vacillated over the last two years as he has struggled physically to keep up with the demand of both club and country commitments.
Prospects: South Africa might have regressed since the disappointment of not making it past the first round of the 2010 World Cup when they hosted the finals but could ride a tide of emotive support if they get off to a good start and win over sceptical fans.
Prediction: 1st
CAPE VERDE:
Previous appearances in African Nations Cup finals: none
Fifa world ranking December 2012: 69th
Coach: Lucio Antunes has won himself near-mythical status in his homeland for guiding the Cape Verdians to the Nations Cup. The 46-year-old worked his way up through the federation ranks as a coach of the national youth teams before being appointed in 2010 to take over the senior side. He previously won the national championship with Academica Sal.
Man to watch
Ryan Mendes (Lille). Age: 23 Pos: Forward
Pacey player who likes to run at defenders and has made a successful transition to Ligue 1 with former champions Lille from Le Havre this season. He was regarded as one of the best players in Ligue 2 over the last three seasons after Le Havre spotted him as an 18-year-old participating in a youth tournament.
Prospect: The Cape Verdians have made a fairytale run to the finals, becoming the smallest country (population just over 500 000) to compete at the Nations Cup and taking the scalp of the mighty Cameroon in the process. It will be hard to make it out of the group.
Prediction: 4th
MOROCCO:
Previous appearances in African Nations Cup finals: 14
Best performance: Winners in 1976; Runners-up in 2004
Fifa world ranking Dec 2012: 74th
Coach: Rachid Taoussi was appointed in September to replace former Belgian international Eric Gerets after Morocco had lost in Mozambique in the first leg of their decisive qualifying tie. Taoussi, 56, engineered a 4-0 turnaround in October’s second leg to qualify the side for the final and has since made dramatic changes to the squad. In 2011 Taoussi took the unfashionable Maghreb Fes to the African Confederation Cup title.
Man to watch:
Younes Belhanda (Montpellier). Age: 22. Position: Midfielder French-born playmaker who was chosen as the best young player in Ligue 1 last season after playing a significant role in unfashionable Montpellier’s winning of a first-ever championship. He chose to play for Morocco in late 2010 after featuring for France at junior level.
Prospect: Morocco were among the favourites at the 2012 finals in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon but crashed spectacularly after losing their first two games of the tournament. This will be an inspiration and I guess they can reach the quarters.
Prediction: 3rd
ANGOLA
Previous appearances in African Nations Cup finals: 6
Best performance: Quarter finals 2008 and 2010
Fifa world ranking Dec 2012: 76th
Coach: Gustavo Ferrin – He qualified the Uruguay U20 national team to the FIFA U-20 World Cup after 8 years.
In April 2010, he was appointed to manage the Peru national under-20 football team with preparation for 2011 South American Youth Championship.
In July 2012, he was selected manager for the Angolan national team and will be making his first appearance at AFCON.
Man to watch: Concalaves Manucho – Despite failing to lead his nation past group stages in the 2012 edition, Manucho finished joint top scorer of the competition with three goals along with Houssine Kharja of Morocco, Christopher Katongo and Emmanuel Mayukaof Zambia, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon, Didier Drogba of Ivory Coast and Cheick Diabaté of Mali. He will be the team’s main source of goals as he has been in the previous years.
Prospects: Angola comes into the competition on the back of a disappointing performance in 2012 when they failed to make it out of the group. With hosts South Africa favourites to make it out of the group, the Palacas Negras must fight hard to dislodge Morocco for a place in the last eight.
Prediction: 2nd.
FINAL GROUP PREDICTED STANDINGS:
1st – South Africa
2nd – Angola
3rd – Morocco
4th – Cape Verde
Do you agree with the predictions?
