AFCON 2023 Group C Preview: West African trio gang up to subdue indomitable Cameroonians
(Made In Africa Sport) – Group C of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2023) has the five-time champion, Cameroon, sandwiched between three West African countries: The Gambia, Guinea, and the defending champion, Senegal.
The Teranga Lions of Senegal got their first AFCON title in 2021 after ending AFCON 2019 as runners-up to Algeria and will be looking to defend their trophy on the way to a second. After an initial resistance to call up players from the top five European leagues, head coach Aliou Cisse decided on a mix of players from diverse leagues. His 27-man selection comprises Al Nassr superstar Sadio Mane, along with Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy in the Saudi Pro League, while Abdou Diallo and Abdoulaye Seck will also be joining the squad in Cote d’Ivoire from Qatar and Israel, respectively.
Also in Cisse’s list is Chelsea’s Nico Jackson, who will be making a first appearance in the African Cup of Nations, as Nottingham Forest duo Cheikhou Kouyate and Moussa Niakhate join the training squad. They will be starting their title defense against The Gambia on Monday, 15 January 2024, at the Stade Charles-Konan-Banny in Yammoussokro at 3:00 pm.
Final Squads – Group C
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Manchester United’s Andre Onana will be showing up late at the Indomitable Lions’ training camp, as he has agreed to make the journey to Yammoussokro after his club fixture on Saturday, 13 January 2024. The goalie will join captain Vincent Aboubakar, who is making his fifth AFCON appearance, and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, a key part of the Scudetto-winning Napoli squad last season.
After a historic run in the past five years, recording podium finishes in the last two AFCON editions and climbing up the FIFA rankings, the Teranga Lions are highly favoured for success this time out, but Cameroon could pose a significant challenge right from the group stage. The two heavyweight clash, a repeat of the 2017 quarter-finals where Cameroon edged Senegal 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out after a goalless 120 minutes, is expected to be a memorable one, as the Indomitable Lions would be on the run for a sixth AFCON title while Senegal would be aiming to reach the third straight final.
Away from the AFCON giants, we have Guinea and The Gambia thrown into the mix to make things fascinating. The Gambia recorded a surprise quarter-final finish at AFCON 2021, which was only their second appearance at the tournament, and their Belgian tactician Tom Saintfiet named a strong side that could see them go all the way.
2021 hero Musa Barrow is a doubtful option for the tournament but has been included in the delegation to Cote d’Ivoire. Young Boys duo Saidy Janko and Ebrima Colley will join the Scorpions’ training camp, as well as Jacob Mendy from Wrexham, who will make his AFCON debut for his national team.
Guinea’s national squad is no stranger to the continental tournament, and they will be going for their 13th AFCON outing in 2024. Their grandest exit came in the 1976 AFCON, where they ended as runners-up to Morocco, and team coach Kaba Diawara has named a squad comprising skipper Naby Keita, Anderlecht’s Amadou Diawara, and in-form Stuttgart forward Serhou Guirassy in hopes of clinching the trophy this time.
Action in Group C starts on Monday, January 13, 2024, as Senegal hosts The Gambia in Yammoussokro at 3:00 pm.
