24 teams, Salah, Mahrez and Mane compete for the African Nations Cup

Salah and Mane hope to strip Mahrez from the African Cup.

archival

The English Premier League trio, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Riyad Mahrez, are among the most prominent faces expected in the African Nations Cup, starting next Sunday in Cameroon, which promises to be “exceptional” after speculation that it was postponed and canceled.

The 36 matches in the group stage will start on January 9 at the new Olympia Stadium in Yaounde, and the curtain will fall on the competition on February 6 in the same stadium, which has a capacity of 60,000 spectators.

Algeria, the defending champion, is led by 24 teams looking for the title of the 33rd edition of the competition launched in 1957 in Sudan.

To Algeria, the list of winners and participants currently includes the teams of Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Nigeria, Sudan and Tunisia, while Egypt, the seven-time title holder (a record), with its record 25 participation, will test Gambia and the islands of Moon Continental Championship for the first time.

Algeria appears to be a strong candidate to maintain its title, but it may face competition from hosts Cameroon, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia, while Burkina Faso, Ghana and Mali are trying to play the role of the dark horse.

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