Today, I want to talk to you about this 34th edition of the African Cup of Nations which is currently taking place in Ivory Coast..
From the outset, I chose the title of this article “The CAN of surprises” because since the start of this competition, the great football nations still called “big calibers” have been surprised by teams called ” small”. Even defending champion Senegal, who managed to maintain their rank as favorite until the round of 16, did not manage to stay in the competition.
Senegalese Abdoulaye Seck faces Guinean Facinet Conte during CAN 2023 in Yamoussoukro on January 23, 2024 © Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix / Feguifoot via Wikicommons
The voiceless tenors
Now countries such as Ghana (4 times African champions), Algeria (2 times African champions), Cameroon (5 times African champions), Tunisia (once African champions) , and Egypt (7 times African champions) could not win their first matches. However, the first match is decisive for the start of a competition. I assure you that this CAN is oversized.
Otherwise, how can we explain that Algeria drew with Angola? That Ghana was held in check by Cape Verde? Which, although classified among the so-called “small” football nations, is making a remarkable rise.
How to explain that Egypt fought to snatch a draw against Mozambique? And that the Super Eagles (Nigeria) shared the points with Equatorial Guinea? This group stage was just impressive. There were 89 goals scored, 21 more than the previous edition. Other figures, 100 yellow cards and 4 red cards were handed out, 6 coaches were sacked and the host country team was resurrected (laughs).
For “small” nations, the dream is allowed
The so-called “small” football nations are those which have created the most surprises since the start of the competition. During the first day in this case, Namibia beat Tunisia, Cape Verde made the country bite the dust. GhanaMozambique held off Egypt with a draw, the same result was recorded during Equatorial Guinea Vs matches Nigeria, Algeria Vs Angola, and Guinea Bissau Vs Cameroon. These “small” nations keep the dream alive in this competition and they did not stop capitalizing, even during their second matches to stay the course.
Fédération Guinean de Football via Wikicommons
As for the “large calibers” or favorites, if some do not wake up like Cameroon during the last day of the group, they will be able to say to God the fight which promises to be tough for the next stage of this African Cup of Nations.
My favorite
My favorite among all these teams taking part in this final phase of CAN 2023 is Cape Verde who dominated Ghana by going for their victory. She played offensively and knew how to undermine this Ghanaian team.
So for me it was a deserved victory. Facing Mozambique,are Cape Verdeans didn’t give up and there you have it, they will play the eighth of this CAN. As well as Mauritania for the first time in their history. That’s wonderful !
Let the youth commune around African values and football!
May the party be beautiful!
Beautiful ? It tends to no longer be so. I talk about it in the next post. Until then, be on top!