The 34th Africa Cup of Nations gets under way in Côte d’Ivoire on 13th January, 2024.
There is a lot of euphoria around Africa’s biggest tournament as football fanatics around the globe are keenly anticipate the commencement of the tournament.
A total of 24 nations will compete in this year’s finals but our focus today will center on Group A which is made up of hosts Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau.
CÔTE D’IVOIRE
Appearances (in AFCON): 25
Best finish: Champions (1992 and 2015).
Coach: Jean-Louis Gasset
Captain: Serge Aurier
Nickname(s): Les Éléphants (The Elephants)
Squad list for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations:
Goalkeepers: Yahia Fofana (Angers, France), Charles Folly (ASEC Mimosas, Ivory Coast), Badra Ali Sangare (Sekhukhune United, South Africa)
Defenders: Serge Aurier (Nottingham Forest, England), Willy Boly (Nottingham Forest, England), Ismael Diallo (Hajduk Split, Croatia), Ousmane Diomande (Sporting Lisbon, Portugal), Ghislain Konan (Al Fayha, Saudi Arabia), Evans Ndicka (Roma, Italy), Odilon Kossounou (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Wilfried Singo (Monaco, France)
Midfielders: Jean-Thierry Lazare Amani (Union Saint-Gilloise, Belgium), Idrissa Doumbia (Alanyaspor, Turkey), Seko Fofana (Al Nassr, Saudi Arabia), Ibrahim Sangare (Nottingham Forest, England), Franck Kessie (Al-Ahli, Saudi Arabia), Jean-Michael Seri (Hull City, England)
Forwards: Simon Adingra (Brighton & Hove Albion, England), Jonathan Bamba (Celta Vigo, Spain), Jeremie Boga (Nice, France), Sebastien Haller (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Karim Konate (RB Salzburg, Austria), Christian Kouame (Fiorentina, Italy), Jean-Philippe Krasso (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia), Max-Alain Gradel (Gaziantep, Turkey), Oumar Diakite (Reims, France), Nicolas Pepe (Trabzonspor, Turkey)
MATCH SCHEDULE:
Côte d’Ivoire vs Guinea-Bissau (January 13th, 2024)
Côte d’Ivoire vs Nigeria (January 18th, 2024)
Equatorial Guinea vs Côte d’Ivoire (January 22nd, 2024)
NIGERIA
Appearances (in AFCON): 20
Best finish: Champions (1980,1994,2013)
Head coach: Jose Peseiro
Captain: Moses Simon
Nickname(s): Super Eagles
Squad list for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations:
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabili (Chippa United, South Africa), Francis Uzoho (Omonia, Cyprus), Leke Ojo (Enyimba, Nigeria).
Defenders: William Troost-Ekong (PAOK, Greece), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce, Turkey), Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest, England), Zaidu Sanusi (Porto, Portugal), Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista, Portugal), Semi Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England), Calvin Bassey (Fulham, England), Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista, Portugal), Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa, Turkey).
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England), Raphael Onyedika (Club Bruges, Belgium), Joe Aribo (Southampton, England), Frank Onyeka (Brentford, England), Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England).
Forwards: Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England), Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy), Moses Simon (Nantes, France), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta, Italy), Victor Osimhen (Napoli, Italy), Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Ahmed Musa (Sivasspor, Turkey), Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain).
MATCH SCHEDULE:
Nigeria vs Equatorial Guinea (January 14th, 2024)
Côte d’Ivoire vs Nigeria (January 18th, 2024)
Guinea-Bissau vs Nigeria (January 22nd, 2024)
EQUATORIAL GUINEA:
Appearance (in AFCON): 4
Best finish : Fourth place (2015)
Head coach:Juan Micha
Captain:Cosme Anvene
Nickname(s): Nzalang Nacional (National Thunder)
Los Elefantes (The Elephants)
Squad list for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations:
Goalkeepers: Jesus Owono (Alaves, Spain), Manuel Sapunga (Polokwane City, South Africa), Aitor Embela (Soneja, Spain).
Defenders: Basilio Ndong (Universitatea Craiova, Romania), Carlos Akapo (San Jose Earthquakes, USA), Hugo Buyla (Sampdoria, Italy), Charles Ondo (Huddersfield Town, England), Saul Coco (Las Palmas, Spain), Marvin Anieboh (Illescas, Spain), Nestor Senra (Real Aviles, Spain), Jose Elo (Merida, Spain), Esteban Orozco (Arges Pitesti, Romania).
Midfielders: Yannick Buyla (Logrones, Spain), Luis Nlavo (Braga B, Portugal), Alex Balboa (Alaves, Spain), Federico Bikoro (Club Africain, Tunisia), Iban Salvador (Ceuta, Spain), Jose Machin (Monza, Italy), Santiago Eneme (MFK Vyskov, Czech Republic), Josete Miranda (Niki Volos, Greece), Pablo Ganet (Alcoyano, Spain), Federico Nguema (Balti, Moldova).
Forwards: Noe Ela (Numancia, Spain), Jose Nabil (Cano Sport, Equatorial Guinea), Emilio Nsue (Intercity, Spain), Salomon Obama (Santa Coloma, Andorra), Oscar Siafa (Alessandria, Italy).
MATCH SCHEDULE:
Nigeria vs Equatorial Guinea (January 14th, 2024)
Equatorial Guinea vs Guinea Bissau (January 18th, 2024)
Equatorial Guinea vs Côte d’Ivoire (January 22nd, 2024)
GUINEA-BISSAU
Appearances (in AFCON): 4
Best finish: Group stage (2017, 2019, 2021)
Head coach: Baciro Candé
Captain: Jonas Mendes
Nickname(s): Djurtus
Squad list for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations:
Goalkeepers: Ouparine Djoco (Francs Borains, Belgium), Fernando Embadje (Alcanenense, Portugal), Jonas Mendes (Kalamata, Greece).
Defenders: Fali Cande (Metz, France), Marcelo Djalo (Palencia, Spain), Jefferson Encada (Pharco, Egput), Edgar Ie (Istanbul Basaksehir, Turkey), Houboulang Mendes (Almeria, Portugal), Nanu (Samsunspor, Turkey), Nito (Maritimo, Portugal), Opa Sangante (Dunkerque, France).
Midfielders: Janio Bikel (Gaziantep, Turkey), Moreto Cassama (Omonia, Cyprus), Dalcio (APOEL, Cyprus), Carlos Mane (Kayserispor, Turkey), Sori Mane (Academico Viseu, Portugal), Carlos Mendes (Bolton Wanderers, England), Mauro Rodrigues (Yverdon, Switzerland), Alfa Semedo (Al Tai, Saudi Arabia).
Forwards: Mama Balde (Lyon, France), Franculino (Midtjylland, Denmark), Zinho Gano (Zulte Waregem, Belgium), Famana Quizera (Academico Viseu, Portugal), Marciano Sanca (Almeria, Spain), Ze Turbo (Nizhny Novgorod, Russia).
MATCH SCHEDULE :
Côte d’Ivoire vs Guinea-Bissau (January 13th, 2024)
Equatorial Guinea vs Guinea Bissau (January 18th, 2024)
Guinea-Bissau vs Nigeria (January 22nd, 2024)
