GROUP C TEAMS: Senegal, Algeria, Kenya and Tanzania.
Venue: 30 June Stadium, Cairo.
General Overview
The 30th June Stadium is expected to be one of the host venues for tournament. This group made up of Senegal, Algeria, Kenya and Tanzania will serve followers with some interesting and mouthwatering fixtures when the tournament returns to Cairo. Coincidentally, Senegal and Algeria were housed in the same group in the last edition. Kenya and Tanzania went beyond expectations in the qualifiers – the former beating Ghana on their way to seek qualification and the latter’s 3-nil drubbing of former arrogant Uganda in Dares Salaam confirmed their appearance in the final qualifier.
SENEGAL
Can the Teranga Lions win their first Cup of Nations title? This question has been on the lips of many fanatics of the tournament over the years and it’s so because Senegal had a star-studded side in their previous four editions but failed to meet expectations. A convincing display during the qualifiers in group K over teams like Niger, Namibia and Burundi confirms their readiness to go beyond the country’s best performance they have had in 2002 as runners-up for a maiden continental glory.
The Teranga Lions can boast of an all-round team with every member of the team having an ability to score and also help in defensive duties. No wonder they won all their games in the qualifiers by scoring 13 goals and conceding just 2 to make their 15th AFCON appearance. Tagged as ‘perennial underachievers’, inability to win this year’s edition will be a huge dent on the image of this generation considering their performance for clubs in Europe and their consistent disappointments in the previous tournaments.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Undoubtedly, every eye will be on the Liverpool’s attacker Sadio Mane who had a blistering form this season for both club and country. Coach Aliou Cisse would be counting on his captain to right the wrongs in Egypt. Sadio Mane comes into the tournament with a renewed motivation after becoming the joint top scorer in the English premiership with 22 goals same as fellow African compatriots Mohammed Salah and Pierre Aubameyeng. With 35 league and 12 champions league appearances respectively, the former Southampton attacker will be hoping to put his team on his shoulders in Cairo. Helping the Merseysiders to dramatically qualify for the Uefa Champions league final and winning it in Madrid, Mane is tipped to be the headache for the defenders of the tournament and could emulate his rich vein of goal scoring form.
YOUNG PLAYER TO WATCH
In recent times, Senegal hasn’t been bereft of young talents and the performance of their juvenile teams recently is a testament to this assertion. 22-year old Amath Diedhioum is another player who could give coach Aliou Cisse another option in the middle of the pitch. The hard hitting midfielder has made giant strides for Getafe FC in the Spanish La Liga. Making 19 La Liga appearances for the Spanish giants.
ALGERIA
Nicknamed “The Desert Foxes” are one of the consistent countries in the tournament with 18 appearance under their sleeves with their last show being the 2017 edition in Gabon. Algeria shockingly conceded a last minute goal against Gambia to draw 1-1 at home to put a seal on their qualification. Eleven (11) points were enough for the 1990 AFCON winners to top Group D which had Togo, Benin and Gambia as other group members where Baghdad Bounedjah scored 3 goals to become the top scorer of the group qualifiers. Their last appearance in Gabon was a disaster and coach Djamel Belmadi would be hoping his side rewrite that embarrassing history.
The ‘Desert Foxes’ have a descent squad including (but not limited to) Yacine Brahimi which should be able to compete at all fronts to replicate the 1990 glory. The FC Porto forward has had a very ancestry season in the Portuguese League. With 10 league goals in 27 appearances, he is expected to replicate his fine form to set the wing side of the pitch ablaze. The 29-year old was also a key figure in the FC Porto’s Champions league campaign where he made 7 appearences with 2 goals. Scoring 3 goals apiece in the Bundesliga and the the Uefa Champions League for Schalke 04, Nabil Bentaleb’s creativity can’t be ignored to help make his country’s midfield thick.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Obviously the spotlight is Riyad Mahrez. The former English PFA winner is coming into the tournament with very high motivation after helping his team Manchester City to win domestic treble including the dramatic winning of the premiership on the last day.
YOUNG PLAYER TO WATCH
Versatile midfielder Youcef Atal was regular for the North Africans scoring in their 4-1 drubbing of Togo in Lome. Born in 17th May 1996, the OGC Nice youngster is counted among the young lads to give the tournament a befitting class. The 23-year old has made 30 appearances in all competitions in France, and with his strong defensive contribution he can also be drafted to the right side of defense if need be.
KENYA
The final whistle in the final game against Ghana at the Accra Sports Stadium gave the ‘Harambee Stars’ a sigh of relief they never anticipated. Despite the 1-0 defeat to the homesters, they had qualified behind Ghana as runners up in group F. Kenya grabbed 7 points in the originally four team group which was made up of Ghana, Ethiopia and Sierra Leone before the disqualification of the Leone Stars by FIFA. The East Africans are staging a return to the tournament for the first time since 2004 which makes it their 6th in all. With the abysmal record of not progressing beyond the group phase in all their outings, onus lies on coach Sebastien Migne to set a new record.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Victor Wanyama was given a stimulating welcome at the Kotoka International Airport by some Ghanaians prior to their last qualifier against the Black Stars. This is a testament that the performance of the Tottenham Hotspurs midfielder is reveled by not only his countrymen but all over the continent. His contribution towards the campaign of the London club cannot be underemphasized after aiding them qualify for the finals of the Uefa Champions league. If the Harambee Stars are to cause an upset in this group, much would be dependent on the 27-year old midfield enforcer.
YOUNG PLAYER TO WATCH
Sebastien Migne announcing Ovella Ochieng as member of his attackers didn’t come as a surprise to many. The 19year old who is currently playing for Vasalund IF in Sweden made his intentions known when he scored his debut goal in New Zealand. The former Kariobangi Sharks forward is primed for the task ahead and expected to dazzle defenders with his silky skills.
TANZANIA
Coached by former Nigeria international Emmanuel Amunike, The ‘Taifa Stars’ finished the qualifiers behind group winners Uganda with 8pts to book their seat in the tournament. Paired in relatively manageable group including Cape Verde, Lesotho, and Uganda, winning two and drawing two games including the smashing of previously imperious Uganda 3-0 in Dares Salaam in their final qualifier was all they needed to make second appearance in the continental showpiece. The last time Tanzania participated in the Africa Cup of Nations was in 1980 where they finished at the bottom of group A with just a point. Coincidentally, that has been the only tournament the ‘Taifa Stars’ have played.
With the Nations Cup experience as a player for the Super Eagles, Emmanuel Amunike’s name would be written in gold if he is able to lead his charges beyond group stage.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Despite scoring just two goals for Tanzania during the qualifiers, Mbwana Samatta’s exploits cannot be overlooked. The 26year old striker has been in the form of his life for RKC Genk in the Belgian league. With a total of 6goals in 18 appearance in all competitions under his belt, Samatta is expected to carry The Taifa Stars on his shoulders in Egypt.
YOUNG PLAYER TO WATCH
Tanzania could pass as the team with the youngest player at the tournament following a call up given youngster Kelvin John. Despite their failure to progress beyond the group phase of the just ended Africa U17 Cup of Nations, the 15year old was very instrumental during the qualifiers and his individual display caught the attention of the coach. Several clubs including Anderletch in Belgium have shown interest in signing him and this could serve as the tonic to motivate him during the tournament.
GAME OF THE GROUP
Senegal vs Algeria
Tasty. Battle of top seeded teams. Battle of top performing teams in the group. Without shred of doubt, this game is difficult to predict looking at the pedigree and the form of both countries heading to the tournament. Apart from the battle for the 3 points on the field and the bragging right, the game could determine which country tops the Group C to confirm group supremacy. Coincidentally, they were housed together in the same group during the 2017 Cup of Nations held in Gabon and that game ended 2-2 draw in Franceville which happens to be the last meeting between these two countries at this level. Both countries are headlined by forward Riyad Mahrez and Sadio Mane who play in the English Premiership with Manchester City and Liverpool FC respectively. Viewers, brace yourself and fasten your seat-belts as the game is served on the pitch of 30th June Stadium in Cairo.
GROUP PREDICTION
With all the necessary respect to the other teams but this group is a straight forward battle for the top of the table between Senegal and Algeria. However, this is one of the groups expected to produce three teams in the next stage. The ‘Teranga Lions’ are the hot favorites for this group. Their opening game is a 2-0 win over Tanzania and the game of the group between them and Algeria will go in their favor with 2-1 victory. The desire to win the tournament could force coach Aliou Cisse to rest some of his key players in their last group game against Kenya after already securing 6 points in their first two matches. This decision could swing in favor of Kenya which will aid them get a point.
Algeria will make it to the next stage with a slim win over Kenya and Tanzania. A defeat to Senegal would mean they have 6 points which is enough to progress.
The Harambee Stars are imperious but cannot go beyond Senegal and Algeria. Kenya’s 2-0 win over returnees Tanzania in the second group game and a point against Senegal in their final group game will guarantee them 4 points with a possibility of being among the 4 best 3rd placed teams with a slot in the knockout phase.
Predicted Results
- Senegal 2-0 Tanzania
- Algeria 1-0 Kenya
- Senegal 2-1 Algeria
- Kenya 2-0 Tanzania
- Kenya 1-1 Senegal
- Tanzania 0-1 Algeria
Predicted Table
- Senegal 7points
- Algeria 6points
- Kenya 4points
- Tanzania 0 point
