SoccerClub examines the Afcon 2107 group stages and picks four matches not to miss as the continental showpiece takes centre stage.
Gabon vs Guinea-Bissau –14 January (Stade l’Amitie, Libreville)
The opening game between the hosts and tournament debutants should be an interesting affair as the Panthers seek to get their campaign off to a good start, which will set the tone for the three-week event.
It will be the first meeting between the two countries as Guinea-Bissau have not played too many internationals, either withdrawing from previous qualifying campaigns or simply failing to make it past the preliminary rounds.
Algeria vs Senegal – 23 January (Stade de Franceville)
Africa’s most powerful teams confront each other in a game that may well decide the winners of Group B.
The Algerians have won their last three meetings against the Lions of Teranga, including a 2-0 victory at the 2015 Afcon in Equatorial Guinea to book their place in the quarter-finals
at the expense of their opponents.
Ivory Coast vs Morocco – 24 January (Stade d’Oyem)
If previous meetings between the two countries, who share three Afcons between them, is anything to go by, it will be a tasty affair and it will be ratcheted up a notch by the presence of coach Herve Renard on the Atlas Lions bench.
The 48-year-old Frenchman, who ended the Elephants’ 23-year Afcon title drought when he guided them to victory over Ghana two years
ago, will keen to put one over his former employers.
Their last three full international meetings, all World Cup qualifiers, have ended in draws and another tight encounter is in the offing.
Ghana vs Egypt – 25 January (Stade de Port Gentil)
Two of Africa’s most successful teams renew their rivalry just over two months after the Pharaohs cruised to a 2-0 win in their 2018 World Cup qualifier in Alexandria.
The Egyptians, who return to the tournament for the first time since 2010, when they beat Ghana in the final to clinch a record-extending seventh title, will be out to make up for lost time but can be expected to run into a Black Stars side determined to exact revenge.
