Category: Football

The beauty of the AFCON tournament is that all teams start on a level playing field. It’s anyone’s game as the teams stake their claim for the trophy. As a result, coaching staff and players encounter tests that are generally not on their radar. 

In this edition of the AFCON tournament, we saw small nations reach new heights and giants fall. Countries like Ghana, Algeria, Nigeria and Ivory Coast were tipped to reach the last four stages of the tournament, but they all went out quite early. However, their exit allowed the football-loving continent to pay attention to the smaller nations.

10bet Africa will look at some of the small nations that performed well and made sure their countries are proud of them and; these teams entertained and were revelations in the tournament.

The Gambia

AFCON debutante, The Gambia, took the tournament by storm. They had their first goal, win, and made it to the last 16 and quarter-finals, eventually losing to Cameroon.

Comoros

Comoros were also in their debut AFCON campaign. Little was known about the island nation; many people did not even know they played football. Unfortunately, they lost their opening two games to Gabon and Morocco in the group stages.

Their last group match was against Ghana, a nail-biting game that could easily be a top contender for the “Match of the Tournament”. Comoros won the match 3-2 and sent the Black Stars of Ghana crashing out of the tournament.

Comoros made it to the last 16 as one of the four third-placed teams, thanks to that win. In the previous 16, they met Cameroon and lost 2-1. They celebrated even in defeat because their run was excellent.

Malawi

Malawi is a country known for its beauty and hospitality. They are also one of the biggest football-loving nations in East Africa.

In this AFCON tournament, they had a star player in Gabadinho Mahango. The Orlando Pirates striker scored a brace to give his side their first win at the AFCON; beating Zimbabwe 2-1.

He then followed that up with a wonderful long-distance strike against Morocco. The goal came out of nowhere, and it showed his technical abilities. The goal is expected to be the “Goal of the tournament.”

Looking ahead to life after AFCON 2022, we can expect to see much more from these three nations. The 2022 AFCON has given them a platform to launch from and to be regular teams in the tournament.

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Mane and Salah play together at Premier League giants Liverpool and the two have been vital in Liverpool’s resurgence under the German manager Jurgen Klopp.

The month they have spent at AFCON should make those associated with Liverpool proud, Salah and Mane have given their all for their club, and now they have done the same for their countries.

Mane and Salah, there’s no deadlier duo in football when they are in full swing. They have incredible goal-scoring records and enjoy a good friendship on and off the field. Together they have won trophies at club level such as the Premier League, UEFA Champions League and the FIFA Club World.

The pair have not won anything with their national teams, and they are both desperate to win a trophy for their football-loving countries. Salah and Mane are arguably the most significant players their nations have produced; an AFCON win will solidify that for one of them.

The road to the final was similar for both of these stars, they started slowly in the tournament, and then they suddenly started peaking in the knockout stages.

For Salah, the tournament started with a loss to Nigeria in the group stages, and as the captain, he took matters into his own hands, scoring the winning goal against Guinea Bissau. Then, in the last 16, he scored the winning penalty that saw Egypt beat Ivory Coast.

His standout performance came in the quarter-final against Morocco, where Egypt won 2-1; he scored a goal and assisted the winning goal. In the semi-final against Cameroon, he shifted into another mode that showed he’s a team player. Egypt eventually won the match in penalties.

With Mane, his tournament started in the knockout stages, delivering powerful performances and goals. Senegal faced Covid-19 challenges, with many members of the team testing positive. Mane stepped up as a leader and kept the group together until the rest of the team recovered.

Now Senegal is back to full strength; you can judge that by their performance in the knockout stages. They blew Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea and Burkina Faso; they scored eight goals in those three games.

This is the biggest game Salah and Mane will play because of the sentimental value of winning the AFCON. So the story of the 33rd AFCON is Mane and Salah meeting in the final.

Both Egypt and Senegal will approach this match cautiously; they will be meticulous on the field. We have seen Egypt go to extra time and penalties while Senegal has dispatched teams quickly. Egypt had to take the hard way to the final, while Senegal had the easier route.

Senegal are playing their second final in as many years, and this time they will want to lift the trophy; Senegal and  Mane will beat Egypt and Salah by 2-0.

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Up for grabs is a bronze medal that will console one of the teams for missing out on the final. Of course, the third-place match is not as glamourous as the final, but it is an important event for the competition.

This match acknowledges the efforts of the losing semi-finalists. Reaching the last four is an outstanding achievement in any international football because getting there is tough.

Saturday’s match will be the second time Cameroon and Burkina Faso meet in this AFCON edition. The teams met in the tournament’s opening game, where the host Cameroon came out with 2-1 winners.

Since then, both of these teams have gone on to light up the tournament both on and off the field. They provided some of the tournament’s most memorable performances.

Cameroon was bidding to be the first host nation to secure an AFCON  title, hopefully, their sixth, since Egypt in 2006. However, it was not meant to be. Instead, they would end up losing to Mohamed Salah and Egypt.

The host was dominant against the Egyptians, hitting the crossbar and missing great opportunities. However, Captain Vincent Aboubakar and Karl Toko Ekambi could not break the resilient Egypt defence.

Those missed chances came back to haunt them in the penalties. Cameroon missed three penalties as they lost out 3-1 in the lottery. Of course, Cameroon would be devastated by not reaching the final, but they can hold their heads up knowing they represented their country well.

Burkina Faso was steamrolled by a back to full strength Senegal who ran circles around Burkina Faso. Senegal was at their level best. They played their best game against Burkina Faso, beating them 3-1.

The loss to Senegal does not take away from Burkina Faso’s excellent performances at the AFCON. They played brave, fearless football, attacking with pace and skill. They were a joy to watch. The Burkina Faso side showed incredible resilience and strength as they carried on with the tournament while their country was experiencing social issues.

Now they have the opportunity to go back home with a medal from the AFCON and show that they did not make up the numbers at the tournament, but they came to participate.

Like Burkina Faso, Cameroon is equally ambitious for a medal. They will want to be remembered as the tournament host and who did not get any reward on the pitch. Likewise, the Cameroon fans showed up for the team, and a medal will be a great thank you gesture to them.

The first game these two sides played at the start of the AFCON is a blueprint of what we can expect. Although Cameroon won by 2-0, it was a tight match.

We can expect a similar result on Saturday, Cameroon will defeat Burkina Faso 1-0 and take third place at the AFCON.

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Neither Burkina Faso nor Senegal has won the AFCON title. In 2013 Burkina Faso lost out to Nigeria, while in 2019, Senegal finished in second place, defeated by Algeria.

Burkina Faso and Senegal are no strangers to each other. The teams have met 12 times across all competitions, with each match closely contested and the last three ending in draws.

This will be the first meeting between the two teams in the knockout stage of the competition. While Senegal is ranked the best team in Africa and was the only side to keep a clean sheet in their group stage, this match is expected to be a tough one. Burkina Faso’s defence will be difficult to crack.

Burkina Faso suffered an opening game loss to host Cameroon, but they have been consistent in their game. A win over Cape Verde and a draw against Ethiopia saw them finish second in the group stages. In the last 16 they defeated Gabon 7-6 on penalties.

Their best performance in tournament so far was in the quarter-finals against Tunisia, where they dominated the game. A goal by their youngster Dango Ouattara was enough to send them through to the semis, but Ouattara won’t be playing in the final as he was sent off in the dying stages of the match against Tunisia. All of Burkina Faso will be pinning their hopes on Bertrand Traore in the semi-final.

Senegal joined AFCON with a thin squad depleted by Covid. They made the most of what they had and managed to qualify for the knockout stages at the top of their group. They moved forward with a solid defence and have found their feet as the competition has progressed.

The Teranga Lions beat Cape Verde 2-0 in the last 16, and in the quarter-finals, they were back to full strength and showed why they are amongst the favourites to win the title. Aliou Cisse’s team looked formidable and played at their level best when they beat Equatorial Guinea 3-1.

Each team will want their star players to be at peak performance on Wednesday. Burkina Faso will be pinning their hopes on Bertrand Traore in their semi-final, while Liverpool star Sadio Mane will look to carry Senegal to a second consecutive AFCON final.

Our prediction is that both teams will score, but Senegal has the stronger squad and should be able to defeat Burkina Faso by 2-0 to advance to the final. 

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Cameroon and Egypt are two of the most successful teams in the history of AFCON, winning 12 titles between them – Egypt bagging seven wins and Cameroon five. The two teams last met in the 2017 AFCON final, which Cameroon won. Egypt has not won the African Cup since bagging its seventh title in 2010.

Both teams have displayed great qualities this season and played spirited games leading up to the semi-finals.

Egypt beat Morocco 2-1 in their quarter-final match to earn a place in the semis. After losing 1-0 to Nigeria in the opening round, many discounted the team as title contenders, but they have proved their doubters wrong.

Leading their charge for an eighth title has been their inspirational captain Mohamed Salah. He scored an equalizer in the second half and assisted Trezeguet for the winning goal in extra time. Salah’s performance was worthy of the man of the match award. It also showed that one world-class player can completely change the game’s character.

AFCON has reached its quarter-finals stage, and there are two mouth-watering matches to look forward to on Saturday 29 January as the teams fight it out for a place in the semi-final. The first quarter-final will be between Gambia and Cameroon, followed by Burkina Faso and Tunisia. Here are 10Bet Africa’s match previews for the weekend games and our best prediction.

Gambia vs Cameroon – 6 PM SAST

The first quarter-final match will be a classic David and Goliath meet when AFCON debutants Gambia take on the hosts and five-time champions Cameroon.  

The Gambians have been making history in this year’s AFCON – making their first appearance, scoring their first goals, getting their first win, and qualifying for the knockout stages. The team has played inspiring soccer and defied the odds to reach the final eight of the tournament. They scored two wins and a draw before defeating Guinea 1-0 in the last 16. The Gambia is a well-drilled team that does the basics of football effectively. They will have to play at their best when they meet Cameroon on Saturday. 

With a place in the semi-finals in sight, both teams will want to bring out their best in the quarter-finals. 10bet Africa looks at how Sunday’s fixtures will go and offer of best predictions.

Egypt vs Morocco 

A North Africa derby between Egypt and Morocco is the best match the Cameroon AFCON edition has dished up. The two giants will reignite their rivalry in the continental football showpiece, the biggest stage they can play on as these two tactical superior sides battle it out.

Morocco has been one of the best team’s in the tournament and will look to continue their winning streak when they take on Egypt. Morocco reached the last eight after defeating Malawi 2-1 in the last 16. Goals from Youssef En-Nesyri and Achraf Hakimi secured the win, cancelling out Gabadinho Mahango’s wonderful opening strike. In the end, Vahid Halihodzic’s team outclassed the Malawian team. The performance was so good that it even had Halihodzic smiling after the game, a rare sight to behold.  

Egypt’s AFCON tournament started in the last 16 when they met Ivory Coast. Egypt showed why they are the seven-time champions as they dominated the game with their superior technical abilities. 

The match was evenly contested, and the 0-0 draw pushed the game into overtime. Mohamed Salah scored the winning penalty to win the shootout 5-4.   

Salah and his teammates will take on the star-studded Morocco team on 30 January. This match promises to be tactical; the team with fewer mistakes will win. Morocco has a point to prove, and they will win 2-1 to end Egypt’s AFCON journey. 

Senegal vs Equatorial Guinea 

Equatorial Guinea face Senegal in their biggest match in recent years on Sunday. The team managed to edge out Mali in a shootout after the game went into extra dime after a 0-0 draw. 

They will need a miracle to beat Senegal, a two-time runner up in the competition. Senegal defeated Comoros 2-0 in the last 16. A positive for Senegal is that their main man Sadio Mane got on the score sheet. The Liverpool forward will want to kick on and score crucial goals in the knockout stages. 

With Nigeria, Ivory Coast, and Algeria out of the game, Senegal is a firm favourite to reach the final. When they meet Equatorial Guinea, they will defeat them 2-0  and go to the last four.

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Mali hopes to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2013 when they finished third in South Africa. The team is top of Group F with seven points after winning two games and drawing one. They finished ahead of Gambia and Tunisia, who both made it to the last eight. 

The foundation of the team’s success in the tournament has been their defence. The team keeps their structure when defending, and their compact game has helped them keep two clean sheets and only concede one goal. 

In the middle of the park, Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Yves Bissouma have brought stability to the team. Ibrahima Kone has been leading the line-up front well and has scored in all three group stage matches. 

Equatorial Guinea has been a marvel to watch and finished as the runner up to the Ivory Coast in Group E. In their first match, they lost to Ivory Coast but scored historic wins over Algeria and Sierra Leone. The team has kept four clean sheets from their last five games and will be looking to make it three wins in a row when they face Mali. 

These two teams have managed to qualify for the knockout stages easily, and the match will be a close encounter as they go head-to-head. 

This quarter-final match promises to be a showstopper between two powerhouses in African football. Both countries have produced some of the greatest footballers the continent has seen. Between them, they share nine AFCON titles and hold the enviable position of the most appearances in the history of AFCON.

In 2019, Egypt hosted the AFCON, and they bowed out in the last 16 after losing to South Africa. This season, their performance has been lacklustre. The Pharaoh’s lost their first match to Nigeria and narrowly beat Guinea Bissau and Sudan 1-0 to make their way to the last 16. They remain a challenging opponent and are out to win. With Mohamed Salah, the best player in the world on their side, they will be dependent on him to score goals. 

”Egypt are getting stronger in this competition. From the first to the last group game, you have noticed that the team is better. Against Cote d’Ivoire, we will ignore the past to focus on the present.” –  Carlos Queiroz, Egyptian Coach.

In comparison, Côte d’Ivoire has scored in all three group stage games. They scored six goals, which averages at two goals per game. They were at their devastating best in their last group match and defeated the defending champions Algeria 3-1.

Ghana, Algeria, and Nigeria have been knocked out of the competition, despite being tipped as the tournament favourites and boasting star players in Europe. They quickly realized that the game is won on the pitch and not necessarily on paper in football. Having big-name players doesn’t always guarantee you a victory at AFCON. This tournament is one of the most demanding international competitions to play in. Simply because of its unpredictable nature and surprise element.

Senegal, who have some of the biggest names in football, are aware of what happened to their rivals but do not want to follow suit and head to head to an early exit in the tournament. The Lions of Teranga have had a very challenging AFCON. They have had to play with a depleted squad after their senior players contracted Covid-19.  

Head coach Aliou Cisse had to do without his star players like Chelsea’s Eduoard Mendy and field fringe player. Nevertheless, Senegal has managed to finish their group in the first place! They have secured one win and two draws to finish with five points.