After missing out in the 2015 and 2017 editions of the African Cup of Nations tournament, the Super Eagles of Nigeria returns to the continental championships with renewed determination. Will they be crowned African Champions once again like in 2013? BRANDPOWER examines the odds for and against ultimate victory for and against the Mikel-led team.
With its glitz and glamour, the 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) begins on Friday, June 21st, 2019 at the land of the Pharaohs to the delights of many football enthusiasts across the African continent. Many African soccer stars will once again be the given the platform to showcase their unique skills to the world and club managers who, as usual, will be hoping to discover new stars and buy them off to their teams ahead of the 2019/2020 football season across Europe.
The battle line has been drawn, and the 24 teams that qualified for this year’s showpiece will be engaging in tactical battle for Africa’s most-coveted soccer prize. Grouped alongside Guinea, the Super Eagles of Nigeria, who are three-time champions, will be making a return to the continental championship after missing out during the last two editions in 2015 and 2017. Unlike 2013, the Super Eagles have their easiest group stage run ever in the history of the competition. With two AFCON debutantes, Madagascar and Burundi along with an experienced Guinea side, many soccer fans are tipping the Super Eagles not just to top the group but to lift the 2019 AFCON trophy the way they did under the ‘Big Boss’ of blessed memory, Stephen Keshi.
Aside the Super Eagles, the remaining 23 countries that will do battle to become the next continental champions are: Egypt, Madagascar, Tunisia, Senegal, Morocco, Nigeria, Uganda, Mali, Guinea, Algeria, Mauritania and Ivory Coast.
Others include: Kenya, Ghana, Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia, Zimbabwe, DR Congo, Benin, Tanzania and South Africa.
Equatorial Guinea, Sudan, Malawi, South Sudan, Seychelles, Ethiopia, Central African Republic, Rwanda, Botswana, Niger and Eswatini all missed out on qualification, while Sierra Leone were disqualified.
Looking at the team, since 1957, when the first AFCON tournament held, Guinea has qualified for only 12 editions; while Madagascar and Burundi just recorded their first-ever qualifications. So, based on those stats, Guinea is really the only team Nigeria needs to be worried about.
Another parameter that put the Super Eagles atop the group is the strength and depth of the squad. Gernot Rohr’s Super Eagles team boasts of fast-paced wingers like Ahmed Musa and a range of different styles of attacking players to dismantle the opponents. Similarly, creating chances against the Super Eagles too won’t be easy with Wilfred Ndidi screening the defence. Madagascar conceded the highest number of goals of all the teams during the qualifiers, so the Nigerian strikers will be looking at the group match as a chance to fill their boots.
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However, while we are relieved Nigeria isn’t going to face any big team in the group stage, we cannot rule out the possibility of surprises. African teams that were once seen as underdogs are now dominating.A good example is Guinea who effortlessly picked up a group winner’s ticket in the preliminary stages, beating heavyweights, Ivory Coast along the way to become Nigeria’s biggest threat in Group B.
The Guinea team are gradually is beginning to stamp some sort of authority on the continent and have reached the tournament quarter-finals in four recent editions (2004, 2006, 2008, and 2015).The likes of Naby Keita, Francois Kamano and Abdoulaye Sadio Diallo are enjoying fine seasons with their European clubs and will be expected to bring some special quality to this team in Egypt. Guinea are unbeaten in their last five competitive games, thanks to their steely approach to executing games and after scoring in all but one of their qualifiers will be imbued with unquestionable confidence.
Nigeria’s next group opponents, Burundi are debutants at the 2019 AFCON and as such, are very much regarded as underdogs. But then, picking a runner-up ticket at the expense of a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang-led Gabon is enough to massage their ego going up against the glamorous teams at the showpiece. The fact that they conceded just five goals in qualification, one less than the likes of DR Congo, Angola and Nigeria means they are a defensively astute side. Meanwhile, Madagascar’s qualification alongside Senegal in the first stage shows they can spring up surprises. But will they do that against an energetic and well-drilled Super Eagles team, we shall know when the contest begins.
One thing that will definitely boost these Super Eagles confidence and favour their chances is the return of former captain, John Obi Mikel after a year’s absence. Will the ace midfielder guide these relatively new set of Eagles to another AFCON glory? That is every Nigeria’s hope. The 2019 AFCON officially kicks off on Friday 21, 2019. It promises to be enthralling, especially with the presence of the Super Eagles of Nigeria whose coach has remarkably selected a team of young and vibrant Nigerians home and abroad to reclaim the African soccer crown for a record four times. Coach Rhor and Mikel will definitely like Nigerians to place their bets on the Super Eagles but Nigerians hope they will not disappoint and will be with them in support and prayers.
Samson Oyedeyi
