The drama of the African Cup of Nations
If you desire drama, passion and long to experience the unexpected, look no further than the African Cup of Nations. This year the competition has exceeded expectations with everyone tuning in being entertained. There have been numerous twists and turns, unexpected stars have risen on the biggest stage, there have been long range screamers, goalkeeping howlers. This tournament can be characterised by excitement, anguish and pain. And what’s great about all of this is that this is just the beginning.
AFCON is the great leveller
If you are looking for a tournament with a level playing field, then look no further than the AFCON. Equatorial Guinea finished top of Group A which consisted of hosts Ivory Coast and a Nigerian side with African player of the year — Victor Osimhen. Group B was topped by Cape Verde, who successfully fought off the challenge of Egypt and Ghana, and Angola finished top of Group D. As proven in the past tournaments. The AFCON is not a tournament won by assembling star players together. Ivory Coast will be well aware of their history and history seems to be repeating itself with the hosts underperforming at this year’s tournament. Having the best players doesn’t necessarily mean that you will win the tournament. For many players, it is an honour to represent their nation on this stage, so seemingly average players raise their levels to outperform nations with players with significantly higher international reputations.
Big teams exit the tournament
Abysmal Algeria
Despite best attempts by Baghdad Bounedjah who scored all of Algeria’s goals in the group stages, Algeria crash out at the group stages, finishing bottom of their group, in what can only be considered to be an embarrassment. Where many had them as one of the favourites to reach the final, the Algerians lacked potency and their key players underperformed. They finished with two points and their lowest point came at the hands of a Mauritania side who are ranked 105th in the Fifa national football rankings in a 1–0 defeat.
Gloomy Ghana
For the second tournament in a row, the Ghanaians exit the tournament at the group stages. Ghana were on the verge of going through but conceded 2 stoppage time goals to Mozambique which brought hopes of winning AFCON gold to an end. After the game, star man Mohamed Kudus was lost for words as he seemingly could not comprehend the crazy turn of events that had just occurred. Swiftly after the tournament Chris Hughton has been sacked by the Ghanaian football association, and he leaves Ghanaian football in a bad state and in need of surgery.
Close call for the hosts
After their tournament opening victory, no one would have expected the Elephants to be reliant on Morocco defeating Zambia, to go through to the round of 16 stage as one of the four best 3rd place finishers. After defeat to Nigeria, Ivory Coast were unexpectedly brought to the sword on home soil by an inspired Equatorial Guinea side. Ivory Coast shipped 4 goals and were deservedly met by boos by their home fans at the full time whistle. Ivory Coast’s tournament doesn’t get any easier as they face tournament favourites Senegal, who had a perfect record in the group stages, topping group C with 9 points.
End of the tournament for Salah
Mo Salah may play no further part in this year’s tournament after suffering a muscle injury. He faced backlash from Egyptian fans who questioned his commitment, following his decision to return back to Liverpool to receive treatment. Chances of Salah playing again at this year’s AFCON are dependent on if Salah can recover in time for a potential semi-final or final, and. Ultimately this is not the ending Salah desired, as he had hope of strengthening his legacy as one of Africa’s greatest ever players. But the AFCON trophy may once again prove elusive.
Unexpected story of Nsue and Equatorial Guinea
One of the tournament’s biggest surprises has been Emilio Nsue and Equatorial Guinea. Nsue currently leads the tournament top goal scorer charts with five goals in three games. What’s more interesting about the former Birmingham and Middlesbrough player is that he plays as a right back for Spanish third division side CF Intercity. He led his side to the top of group A, level on points with Nigeria and ahead of tournament hosts Ivory Coast. Equatorial Guinea have played some of the best football at this year’s AFCON and will be confident of advancing against Guinea in the next round. This could be a story in the making.
Bring on the round of 16
As the group stages have been brought to an end, this is surely only the beginning of the drama. The group stages brought us goals, but the knockout phase will have more jeopardy, and tensions will be higher. In the next round, many questions will be answered. Will hosts Ivory Coast overcome tournament favourites Senegal? Will minnows Mauritania upset Cape Verde? Will Osimhen find his shooting boots and help Nigeria soar past Cameroon. Stay tuned, because AFCON 2023 is only going to get better.
