CAN 2021: Ivory Coast-Algeria, Tunisia-Mali, Morocco-Ghana, the matches not to be missed
The Algerian Ramy Bensebaini in the duel with the Ivorian Wilfired Zaha and the Malian Abdoulay Diaby in the fight with the Tunisian Naim Sliti, at the CAN 2019. RFI montage © REUTERS / Suhaib Salem
Text by: Tom Rossi Follow
12 mins
The day after the draw for the 2021 African Cup of Nations (postponed to 2022), RFI offers you a selection of six matches to follow during the group stage which will begin on Sunday, January 9 in Yaoundé.
Lovers of beautiful posters, revenges and surprises: there is something for everyone.
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From January 9 to 20, 2022 will take place in five cities of Cameroon,
the group stage of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations
(postponed to 2022).
The 24 selections entered will fight to obtain their ticket for the round of 16, either by finishing among the first two of their group of four, or via the best third.
The composition of the groups of the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
© FMM Graphic Studio
After the draw made on Tuesday
,
August 17
, RFI offers you a selection of six matches to organize your start of competition, before the knockout matches.
Cameroon-Burkina Faso: the opening match
It is the meeting that launches the competition after the opening ceremony which, we hope, will take place in a well-filled Olembé stadium in Yaoundé.
At home, the Indomitable Lions will want to reassure their public after an
elimination in the round of 16 of CAN 2019,
and not very enthusiastic performances since: four 0-0 in a row in 2020 and a defeat last March against Cape Verde that 'they will find during this group stage.
Opposite, Burkina Faso will return to competition, with great fanfare, after his absence in 2019. During their last CAN, in 2017, the Stallions had already met Cameroon in a group
(1-1)
, before finishing
third in the competition
.
The Indomitable Lions had
lifted the trophy
.
A scenario that would perfectly suit both selections.
The Cameroonians, winners of the CAN 2017, pose with the trophy awarded to the winner of the African Cup of Nations football.
Pierre René-Worms / RFI
Morocco-Ghana: two greats who rarely meet
They have not faced each other in an official match since CAN 2008. At the time, the Black Stars had imposed themselves to eliminate the Atlas Lions during the last meeting of the group stage.
It will not be a choppy match this time around, but a poster of the first day that will set the tone in a tough group which also includes Gabon d'Aubameyang and The Comoros,
enthusiastic for their first participation
.
Moroccans and Ghanaians,
eliminated in the round of 16 in 2019 on penalties
, aspire to much better.
Atlas Lions coach Vahid Halilhodzic is eagerly awaited.
His star player Hakim Ziyech also.
Hakim Ziyech, the Moroccan striker, missed a penalty in added time of the match against Benin, in the round of 16 of CAN 2019. Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuters
Note that the two selections met in a friendly last June, for a 1-0 victory for the Moroccans.
Morocco-Ghana, Monday January 10 at 4 p.m. UT, at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium in Yaoundé.
Comoros-Gabon: the great first of the Coelacanths
It was the beautiful story of the qualifiers
: The Comoros, a small island country in the Indian Ocean which qualified for the CAN, for the first time. Gabon will therefore be the adversary of a historic event for the Comorians, who will immediately have to take points if they want to exist in this complicated pool. And why not dream of imitating their Malagasy neighbors who achieved the feat of reaching the
quarter-finals during their first CAN
, in 2019.
For the Panthers, this match will mark their return to competition after their absence two years ago.
If the coach Patrice Neveu considers that Gabon "
is one of the good teams
" in this group, the teammates of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang should not miss before challenging Ghana and Morocco.
Comoros-Gabon, Monday January 10 at 7 p.m. UT, at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium in Yaoundé.
Nigeria-Egypt: the clash of the giants
Star match in Garoua: ten CAN will be gathered at the Roumdé Adjia stadium, located just 65 kilometers from the Nigerian border.
If the health situation allows it, thousands of Super Eagles supporters should be present to attend one of the most beautiful posters of this first round.
Third in 2019
, Gernot Rohr's Nigeria will at least want to do as well, knowing that the Nigerians have always reached the last four of the CAN in which they have participated since 1984, except once, in 2008 (quarterfinals).
Nigeria finished third in CAN 2019 after beating Tunisia.
Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuters
For the Egypt of Mohamed Salah, it will be a question of redeeming itself after
the failure of CAN 2019
, at home (round of 16).
In the event of a poor performance during this shock of the first day, the two teams will have the opportunity to recover against Sudan and Guinea-Bissau.
Nigeria-Egypt, Tuesday January 11 at 4 p.m. UT, at the Roumdé Adjia stadium in Garoua.
Tunisia-Mali: the reunion
Their face-to-face at CAN 2019
during the group stage had not found a winner (1-1) after a clear Tunisian domination.
Tunisia had also qualified for the round of 16 without winning a single match, before reaching the last four.
What this young Malian team had failed to do after finishing first in the group.
Mouez Hassen, the Tunisian goalkeeper, lets the ball escape and allows Mali to lead, temporarily, 1-0, in Suez, Friday, June 28.
REUTERS / Suhaib Salem
Since then, the Eagles have grown well and Amadou Haidara is still there to secure the midfield.
This team has gained experience and was able last June, in a friendly, to shake up Algeria champion Africa, at home, then these same Tunisians.
Mohamed Magassouba's men lost 1-0, after securing several chances in Fennecs soil, and playing part of the match at 9 in Tunisia.
Tunisians and Malians will also find Mauritania, as in 2019, and Gambia, which will participate in the CAN for the first time.
Tunisia-Mali, Wednesday January 12 at 1 p.m. UT, at the Limbé stadium.
Ivory Coast-Algeria: a revenge that tastes like a final
This group E shock will bring the group stage to a close.
It is undoubtedly the poster of this first round.
First, because it opposes two long-awaited historical selections: the Ivory Coast of Nicolas Pépé, Wilfried Zaha, Franck Kessié, against the Algerian African champion of Riyad Mahrez and Ismaël Bennacer.
It will also be a revenge for the quarter-final of the CAN 2019
won on penalties by the Fennecs
, after a thrilling meeting.
Algerians' joy after eliminating Côte d'Ivoire at CAN 2019. Suhaib Salem / Reuters
And then, after meetings against Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea, these two giants will fight for first place in the group or qualification for the knockout stages.
"
We will prepare to sell our skin very expensive
,"
warned Elephants coach Patrice Beaumelle after the draw.
Ivory Coast-Algeria, Thursday January 20 at 4 p.m., at the Japoma stadium in Douala.
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