The qualifiers for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations that will take place in Ivory Coast in January were finalised this week with heavyweights Cameroon and Namibia booking their tickets at the last throw of the dice.
Ivory Coast, Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Congo DR, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia and Zambia will be thrown into the hat for the final draw next month.
The last edition of the tournament, which took place in Cameroon last year, produced fireworks throughout and many observers agree that the standards improved significantly. So, the bar is expected to be raised even higher when the first whistle is blown to get the tournament underway on January 13.
The final will be played on February 12.
According to Cafonline.com, a strong field of 12 former African Champions will be heading to the west of the continent to enthral football fans around the world, the continent is also fortunate to have its 16 top-ranked teams at the finals according to current Fifa rankings.
The hosts, Ivory Coast, will be leading a strong West African field with holders Senegal, four-time champions Ghana and 2013 winners Nigeria, all among this group that also includes Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania and Gambia.
Tanzania returns for its second finals, its team built on the successes of Yanga SC and Simba.
Tunisia, which has played in 15 successive tournaments since 1994, will want another trophy after winning in 2004 as hosts.
Algeria is also returning for a third title.
Africa’s first Fifa World Cup semifinalist Morocco will be looking to duplicate its performances in Qatar, while Egypt will be looking for an eighth unprecedented title.
Some of the big guns who will be in Ivory Coast:
Mo Salah: The Liverpool talisman is always a figure in the Pharaohs national team, and last year he was very emotional after losing in the final against then teammate Sadio Mane of Senegal. He will be looking to bring the goods home this time around.
Sadio Mane: The bursting forward has not had the best of times since leaving Liverpool to join German Bundesliga side Bayern Munich. He played about 25 matches for the Germans before making a big money move to the Saudi Pro League at Al Nassir. Mane will be looking to add more gold to the Senegalese trophy cabinet.
Andre Ayew: The Ghanaian captain is fully aware of what is at stake in this tournament. This could be his last Afcon and so, he might need to deliver the goods in case this is his last shot. He leads a very talented team that has the likes of Mohammed Kudus, Thomas Partey and his brother Jordan Ayew, who are playing in the English Premier League.
Achraf Hakimi: The PSG defender led the Atlas Lions to the semifinals of the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar last year. It was the first time an African country achieved such a feat and the Moroccans will be inspired to break more records and to conquer their own continent, something that has been eluding them for decades now.
Percy Tau: The Al Ahly forward has won numerous club accolades with the Egyptian giants and Mamelodi Sundowns, and will be hoping for the rebirth of Bafana Bafana at continental level. His task will be much more difficult with a very inexperienced Bafana but he’s got the leadership qualities to spur his teammates to the top.
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