AFCON 2023 Group B Preview: Egypt and Ghana reignite old rivalry amid hungry underdogs
While the AFCON 2023 hosts, Cote d’Ivoire, battle continental giants Nigeria in Group A, Group B features yet another superpower clash as Egypt will encounter Ghana.
The two countries have claimed several Africa Cup of Nations honors, with Egypt holding the record for the most African Cup of Nations titles (seven), and Ghana ranking third with four titles.
Their most recent encounter in the African Cup of Nations was in 2017, where the Pharaohs emerged 1-0 victorious over the Black Stars in the semifinals before losing to Cameroon in the finals. Egypt also defeated Ghana in the 2010 AFCON final on the way to their last AFCON trophy, coming out on top with another 1-0 victory in Angola.
The contest between both teams has been intense in the history of the showpiece tournament, and hostilities are expected when they go head-to-head at the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan on Thursday, 18 January 2024, at 9:00 pm.
Final Squads – Group B
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Headlining the Pharaohs’ squad is Liverpool star forward, Mohamed Salah, joined by Arsenal’s Mohamed Elneny, and Ahmed Hegazy from Al-Ittihad, all looking to bring in their form to the AFCON for a record eighth trophy. Likewise, the Black Stars will match their opponents in terms of quality, with in-form forwards Inaki Williams, Mohamed Kudus, and Antoine Semenyo leading the attack lines for them.
Daniel Amartey of Leicester City and Mohammed Salisu of AS Monaco are also notable names in the Ghanaian defense, although they will definitely rue the absence of midfield maestro Thomas Partey. The midfielder has spent most of the 2023/24 season out due to injuries, and he will be missing in action in Cote d’Ivoire.
These AFCON juggernauts are joined in Group B by Cape Verde and Mozambique, two other less successful participants in the African Cup of Nations.
They will have ample chances to produce positive results against the two perennial heavyweights in Ghana and Egypt. However unlikely that may seem, Rayo Vallecano winger Bebe will be leading the line for Cape Verde after switching nationality to Cape Verdean in 2022, despite being Portuguese-born.
The Mambas of Mozambique will be kicking off the Group B campaign against Egypt on Sunday, 14 January 2024, at 6:00 pm at the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium while Ghana and Cape Verde will face off some three hours later at the same location before the Black Stars welcome Egypt three days after on Thursday.
