Africa’s Flagship football competition; the Africa Cup of Nations kicks off on Sunday in Cameroon.
As part of our coverage of the latest edition of the biennial tournament, FMiG takes readers through a perfunctory journey across the various groups.
The focus of this piece is on Group E.
GROUP E Fixtures
Tuesday, January 11
5pm: Alergia v Sierra Leone / 8pm: Egypt v Nigeria / 11pm: Sudan v Guinea-Bissau
Saturday, January 16
8pm: Ivory Coast v Sierra Leone / 11pm: Algeria v Equatorial Guinea
Monday, January 20
8pm: Sierra Leone v Equatorial Guinea / Ivory Coast v Algeria / 11pm: Gambia v Tunisia / Mali v Mauritania
Algeria
Nickname: The Fennec Foxes
Algeria are the defending champions of the tournament
Group E of the Cameroon edition houses the defending champions of Africa’s prestigious competition.
Algeria were the victors of the 2019 tournament after defeating Senegal 1-0 in the finals in Egypt.
Despite their status, they will have to restart the whole process as they eye to defend their crown.
Their first task will be to qualify from a group that houses Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea.
This will be the 19th time that the Algerians will be making it to the finals of the African Cup of Nations.
Their best finishes have been in 1990 and of course in 2019 when they won the tournament.
The Algerians certainly have a great opportunity to win their third tournament, as they return with a host of stars including Riyad Mahrez.
The Manchester City winger who was the leading scorer for his club in 2021 will be expected to lead the charge for the defense of their crown.
Mahrez wouldn’t have to do it alone as he has AC Milan’s Ismael Bennacer, West Ham’s Said Benrahma and the veteran trio of Sofiane Feghouli, Islam Slimani and Yacine Brahimi to help him out.
Again, The foxes’ confidence will be very much on the ascendency heading into the tournament due to their impressive form guide.
They have won four of their last five games.
Their last game saw them defeat the Black Stars of Ghana by 3-0 in an international friendly and they will be looking to maintain the unbeaten record when the tournament begins.
Algeria form guide (all competitions): W-W-W-D-W
Ivory Coast
Nickname: The Elephants
Ivory Coast won the tournament in 2015
The Ivorians are certainly favorites to finish either first or second and advance to the next phase of the competition.
With their rich history in the tournament over the years, it will come as a surprise if they are unable to make an impact in this tourney.
Talking about rich history, The Elephants are set to make their 24th appearance at the African Cup of Nations, making them the most experienced team in Group E.
Ivory Coast won their first trophy two years after Algeria had achieved their feat and won the second in 2015.
Like Algeria, they have assembled a good squad to help them win their third trophy.
The Elephants perhaps have the most talented group of attacking players at the tournament this year.
Sebastien Haller who currently leads the UEFA Champions League golden boot race with 10 goals for Ajax will certainly be a handful for opposition defenders alongside others such as Wilf Zaha and Nicolas Pepe of Arsenal.
Ivory Coast’s last competitive game was a 1-0 defeat at the hands of host nation, Cameroon, in the second round of the World Cup qualifiers in Africa.
The defeat was the only suffered by Ivory Coast in their last five games having won the preceding four against Malawi, Mozambique and Cameroon.
Ivory Coast form guide (all competitions): W-W-W-W-L
Sierra Leone
Nickname: Leone Stars
Sierra Leone are making the finals for the first time since 1996
Sierra Leone will be making their first African Cup of Nations final appearance after over two decades.
The West African side have not made it since their last outing in 1996.
Their appearance in Cameroon will be third in the country’s history and they will be hoping to at least make an impact.
But of course with the profile of the teams in the group, it is unlikely for the Leone Stars to cause an upset.
Their form guide does not even suggest otherwise, with the team struggling in its recent games.
Sierra Leone in their last five competitive games have won just once, drawn three times and lost one.
All of these games came in the qualifiers for the African Cup of Nations.
Sierra Leone form guide (all competitions): D-D-W-L-D
Equatorial Guinea
Nickname: Nzalang Nacional (National Thunder)
Equatorial Guinea finished 4th in 2015
Alongside Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea will be making their third appearance at the African Cup of Nations this year.
But unlike the Stars, the Thunders have made a significant impact in the finals, having finished 4th in 2015.
That is their best finish in the tournament and if their form guide is anything to go by, then there is the possibility of springing up another surprise.
Equatorial Guinea have had a decent return in their last five games, as they are unbeaten in those fixtures.
They have returned three wins in their last games and drawn the remaining two.
Equatorial Guinea form guide (all competitions): W-W-D-W-D
