The 2019 AFCON continues today at 15:30 CAT time with 1968 and 1974 winners the DRC playing against the Cranes of Uganda to complete Group A’s first round of fixtures.
DRC vs Uganda (Cairo International Stadium 15:30 CAT)
The DRC are the only country to have won an African Cup of Nations hosted by Egypt when they won the 1974 tournament beating Zambia in the final. Egypt have lifted the other three trophies in the other three times they have hosted, 1959, 1986 and 2006.
The Cranes of Uganda will be making their seventh appearance in the AFCON, with their biggest achievement being a runners-up position in the 1978 tournament which was lifted by Ghana.
Florent Ibenge’s DRC qualified as runners-up of Group G of the qualifiers behind Zimbabwe. They did not have a very prolific qualifiers campaign with just eight goals scored and six conceded. However, they are experienced AFCON campaigners making their 19th appearance in the tournament.
Uganda qualified as Group winners of Group L of the qualifiers scoring seven goals and conceding three. Coach Sebastien Desabre has a great mastery of African football after coaching spells with ASEC Mimosas, Cotonsport of Garoua, Esperance of Tunis, Wydad of Cassablanca, Recreativo Libolo and Ismaily of Egypt, the 42 years old French man has worked magic with Uganda.
In today’s game Florent Ibenge’s team will have to be at their best to avoid any upset from a very hungry Ugandan team that has showed no complex under Desabre.
Players to watch
Cedric Bakambu (DRC)
Position: Striker Club: Beijing Sinobo Guoan FC Age: 28
Cedric Bakambu will be the main man for the DRC going forward. With four goals and two assists in four game in the Chinese Super League and three goals in six Asian Champions league games, Bakambu will spearhead the DRC frontline. He has also scored eight goals in 20 caps for the DRC.
They will also depend on West Ham’s Arthur Masuaku in defence and captain Youssouf Mulumbu from Celtic of Glasgow to pull the strings in the middle of the pack
Farouk Miya (Uganda)
Position: Midfielder Club: HNK Gorica Age:21
Farouk Miya was Uganda’s top scorer in the qualifiers with three goals, Sebastien Desabre will build his team around the 21 year old midfielder who plays his professional football in Croatia.
Nigeria vs Burundi (Alexandria Staduim 18:00 CAT)
Three times winners Nigeria and new comers Burundi will open hostilities in Group B.
Nigeria qualified as Group winners of Group E in the qualifiers scoring 14 goals and conceding 6.
The Super Eagles will be making their 18th appearance in the competition after missing out from the last two editions.
Burundi were runners-up from Group C of the qualifiers with 11 goals scored and 5 conceded.
48 years old Alain Olivier Niyungeko is the first coach ever to lead the Swallows of Burundi to the African Cup of Nations
Nigeria have a better team but Burundi will push them all the way
Players to Watch
Alex Iwobi (Nigeria)
Position: Winger Club: Arsenal Age: 23
Alexander Chuka Iwobi will be the brain behind all Nigeria’s attacking initiatives. The Arsenal winger has had one of his best seasons playing in 35 English Premier League games in the just ended season, scoring three and providing six.
Nigeria will count on their top scorer in the qualifiers with seven goals Odion Ighalo from Shanghai Shenua and Wilfried Ndidi from Leicester City.
Saido Berahino (Burundi)
Position: Forward Club: Stoke City Age:25
Despite his tough times with his English club Stoke City, Saido Berahino is Burundi’s most feared player.
However, their JS Kabylie striker Fiston Abdul Razak with six goals in the qualifiers with be another attraction.
Guinea vs Madagascar (Alexandria Stadium 21:00 CAT)
Guinea qualified as Group H winners in the qualifiers, scoring 8 goals and conceding 4. The 1976 runners-up will be playing in the tournament for a 12th time. The Syli National or the National Elephants as they are popularly known will be under the tutelage of 64 year old experienced Belgian coach Paul Put.
Madagascar will be making their debut in the tournament after they qualified as Group A runners-up scoring 8 goals and conceding 8. Their French coach Nicolas Dupius is a hero in Madagascar after masterminding the Barea’s first ever AFCON appearance.
Guinea are expected to win this game, but Madagascar will like an honourable start to their AFCON journey.
Players to Watch
Naby Laye Keita (Guinea)
24 year old Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita is the heart beat of the Guinean team. The 2019 UEFA Champions League winner is the man the whole team and nation are hoping will inspire them to an honourable performance in Egypt. He has some fitness worries but from Conakry to Labe and from Boke to Nzerekore they will be hoping he leads them out against Madagascar.
Another Guinean player to look out for will be Bordeaux’s Francois Kamano who was their top scorer in the qualifiers with three goals.
Feneva Ima Andriantsima (Madagascar)
35 year old Clermont striker Feneva Andriantsima is the Barea’s top target man. He scored three goals in the qualifiers and they will be expecting more from him in this game against Guinea.
Nicolas Dupuis’ team will also benefit from the wealth of experience that Olympique Lyonnais defender Jeremy Morel will bring into the team as well as the keen eye for goals of Njiva Tsilavina.
Muambo Edward.
