Group D

AFCON 2023 Group D Preview: Algeria, Burkina Faso tipped for smooth run to knockouts

(Made In Africa Sport) – Every group in the AFCON 2023 seems to have their set of favourites, and the Algerian national team are tipped for a clear path to the round of 16. The North African giant got their first glimpse of AFCON glory in 1980, losing the final to Nigeria before revenging 10 years later on home soil and endured a 29-year drought before eventually winning the trophy again in 2019, completing another vendetta over the Super Eagles on their way to victory, as a Riyad Mahrez freekick in the dying stages of the semifinal saw Algeria advance to the finals where they beat Senegal.

Despite failing to make it past the group stage in an attempt to defend their title in Cameroon the last time out, facing of with Mauritania, Angola and Burkina Faso, popular consensus indicates that the Fennec foxes has an easy path to the knockout stages, as head coach Djamel Belmadi has named a stellar squad to go for gold in Cote d’Ivoire this time. Right winger Riyad Mahrez has been a key component of their squad and it’s no surprise he is in the 26-man squad after moving from Manchester City to Al Ahli in the summer transfer window.

The Algerian squad comprises of stars from all over Europe and the Mediterranean, with Nabil Bentaleb from Lille, Amine Guoiri from Rennes, Houssem Aouar from Roma, Rayan Ait Nouri from Wolves, and Ramiz Zerrouki from Feyenoord will be featuring in the foxes’ AFCON 2023 campaign. They will be looking to repeat their excellent run in the 1980s this time, as it saw them record a silver medal and two bronze finishes in eight years.

Joining Algeria in Group A are the Stallions of Burkina Faso who have enjoyed an impressive run of form in the past decade, ending up as runners-up in 2013 and bronze winners in 2017. They were defeated in the 2021 semis by eventual winners Senegal and lost the third-place game to Cameroon. National team coach Hubert Velud must have his thoughts on the trophy, and even though they are not heavily tipped for glory, they have shown the quality they are capable of at continental level.

Aston Villa’s Bertrand Traore has made a timely recovery from injury to get a spot in the Burkina Faso AFCON 2023 squad list, and he is joined in attack by in-form Bournemouth winger Dango Ouattara. Edmond Tapsoba will be at the centre of defence, bringing with him his form in the German Bundesliga to ensure the Burkinabe defence is a fortress.

Mauritania will be making their third AFCON appearance in 2024, after qualifying for the first time in 2019. They have never made it past the group stages but we can expect shock performances in Cote d’Ivoire. 26-year old Mohamed Dellahi Yali leads Lions of Chinguetti as they embark on a search of their first ever win in the tournament.

Angola will also be looking to make an impressive outing this time, as their best finishes in the AFCON came in 2008 and 2010, where they were eliminated in the quarter-finals. M’Bala Nzola’s declination of the call-up for AFCON won’t deter Pedro Gonçalves’ men in Côte d’Ivoire.

Petro de Luanda’s quintet of Tó Caneiro, Eddie Afonso, Quinito, Gilberto, Gelson and Inácio Miguel are on the roster for the Black Sable antelopes alongside 19 other players scattered all over Europe.

They will kick-off actions in Group D, facing Les Fennecs of Algeria in Bouake on Monday, 15 January 2024, by 9:00 pm.

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