The 2015 Africa Cup of Nations begins in earnest in Equatorial Guinea today, with the continent's finest going up against each other amid a backdrop of Ebola fears and hope that the tournament can provide Africans with a footballing feast that can distract them from health concerns.
Ahead of the competition, Firdose Moonda looks at the teams vying for glory.
GHANA
Coach: Avram Grant
Captain: Asamoah Gyan
Nickname: Black Stars
AFCON record: Champions 1982, 1978, 1965, 1963; Qualified 20 times
Steady progression from the round of 16 at the 2006 World Cup to under-20 World Cup winners in 2009 and World Cup quarter-finalists in 2010 created expectation that Ghana were on course for glory. Instead, they were gutted in embarrassing fashion at the 2014 tournament, where infighting marred a campaign in which they did not win a single game.
In the aftermath, coach Kwesi Appiah was sent on his way but there was no overturning of the bans slapped on Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng who were punished for ill-discipline at the tournament. Instead, Ghana are looking to the future with a squad of players mostly in their early 20s including Mahatma Otto, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, Frank Acheampong and the Ayew brothers. Avram Grant has only had six weeks to turn them into a competitive unit but the former Chelsea boss’ only mandate is to “do well,” according to the Ghana FA, for now with an eye to winning the 2017 event.
One to watch: He has the same name as the former coach but Kwesi Appiah, the player, has no relation. The London-born striker is seen as the next bright young thing for the Black Stars because of his ability to find the back of the net. His career has been limited to the lower tiers of English football, although he is officially on the books of Crystal Palace, where he scored 35 goals in 33 appearances for Margate and 16 goals in 23 matches for Cambridge United. A fraction of those will do for Ghana.
Trivia: Goalkeeper Fatau Dauda is the only locally based player in Ghana’s squad. After a stint at South Africa’s Orlando Pirates and Chippa United, he has returned to Ashanti Gold back home.
Prediction: May fall short in a tough group but if they get out of it, should reach the final four.
ALGERIA
Coach: Christian Gourcuff
Captain: Madjid Bougherra
Nickname: The Dessert Warriors
Nations’ Cup record: Champions 1990; Qualified 15 times
Africa’s top-ranked team enjoyed a stunning 2014, which saw them rise to their highest position in the FIFA rankings – 15th – reach the last 16 at the World Cup and become one of the first two teams (Cape Verde was the other) to qualify for this tournament. The last of those was perhaps the most impressive because it saw them negotiate a coaching change after Vahid Halilhodzic decided not to seek a contract renewal and Christian Gourcuff was appointed in his place.
Their squad contains the perfect blend of experience, with the likes of captain Madjid Bougherra, and exciting talent, particularly up top. Islam Slimani, Sofiane Feghouli and Hilal Soudani should form a potent strike force and Algeria will be tough to beat.
One to watch: Yacine Brahimi was crowned La Liga’s best African player of the 2013-14 season, won the BBC’s African Footballer of the Year in 2014 and the DZfoot (the trophy given to Algeria’s best player of the year) last December and is hailed for his ability to form the creative heartbeat of the team. He has netted five times in the Champions League for Porto this season and brings quality and class to the Algerian line-up.
Trivia: Mohamed Raouraoua, president of the Algerian Football Federation, is responsible for key rule changes which have aided his country’s success. He lobbied successfully for players to be able to switch national allegiances before the age of 21 and at any age if they have not received a senior international cap. As a result, many French-born footballers with Algerian heritage have been to able to play for Algeria.
Prediction: Following a successful 2014, they are rightly favourites to win the title.
SOUTH AFRICA
Coach: Ephraim Mashaba
Captain: Dean Furman
Nickname: Bafana Bafana
AFCON record: Champions 1996; Qualified 8 times
For a country that has won the rugby World Cup twice and is ranked top of their game in Test cricket, South Africa are woeful underperformers in the biggest sport in their country, football. They have only one continental title to their name and this tournament is the first they have qualified for in seven years since 2008 – they played in the 2013 edition as hosts.
This side is on the rise, however. Ephraim Mashaba is undefeated in his second stint as coach, which also included seeing them through tragedy when their captain and goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa was murdered during qualifying. Mashaba has infused the squad with youth and has not been afraid to make big calls, such as leaving out Ajax Amsterdam’s Thulani Serero for the tournament. They have been beset by injuries in the build up but if all Mashaba’s gambles pay off, South Africa could finally have something to celebrate.
One to watch: Often criticised for their inability to find the back of the net, South Africa needed an incisive striker and Bernard Parker has promised to be that. After a 10-month absence from the national side, Parker was recalled for the tournament and immediately reiterated his desire to become his team’s all-time top goalscorer. He currently has 23 goals to his name, nine behind Benni McCarthy.
Trivia: South Africa’s slain captain Senzo Meyiwa kept a clean sheet in the seven matches he played for his country.
Prediction: Will have to play well to get out of the group but will fancy their chances of going far if they do.
SENEGAL
Coach: Alain Giresse
Captain: Bouna Coundoul
Nickname: Les Lions de la Teranga (Lions of Teranga)
AFCON record: Runners-up 2002; Qualified 13 times
For a team that did its bit to put African football on the map, thanks to a remarkable run to the World Cup quarter-finals in 1998, Senegal have remarkably little to show for the path they've paved. Even at their best, they did not manage to win an ANC and have been particularly poor of late. They have not qualified for two of the last four events and have been knocked out of the first round in the other two.
Their form has picked up ahead of this edition of the competition, but they have been unable to shake controversy. The exclusion of Demba Ba, who is in fine form for his Turkish club Besiktas, was the first stirring of something out of the ordinary and they have since found themselves without West Ham strike Diafra Sakho, who was ruled out with a back injury. If they can put those incidents behind them, they may be able to spring a few surprises at this tournament.
One to watch: Without Demba Ba, attention will turn to Papiss Cisse as Senegal go in search of goals at the tournament. Cisse is joint-fifth on the goalscorers’ list in the current English Premiership season with nine for Newcastle and will hope to transfer some of that form to the tournament.
Trivia: Senegal’s best year was 2002. They reached the World Cup quarter-finals in their only appearance at the global showpiece and were runners’ up in the ANC.
Prediction: May find their journey ends before it can really begin in the group of death.
