adminJOHANNESBURG. — The 30th edition of African Cup of Nations kicks off on Saturday in Equatorial Guinea, who are hosting the tournament at short notice after Morocco’s withdrawal. Several nations can be considered among the favourites including top-ranked team Algeria. Algeria, Cote d’lvoire and Ghana are regarded as the favourites to win an unpredictable African Cup of Nations tournament which begins on Saturday in Equatorial Guinea.
But it is Algeria, the top-ranked team in Africa, where most betting men are putting their money.
“Algeria pushed Germany more than any other team at the World Cup in Brazil last year,” said former Peruvian national player Augusto Palacios, who now coaches in Johannesburg.
“They are a religious team and so are very disciplined. They are also very organised and structured. Most of their players play in the local league. For me, Algeria are the team to beat at the Afcon tournament.”
Algeria, under French coach Christian Gourcuff, steamed through the Afcon qualifiers with five wins in six games after an excellent World Cup in which they took champions Germany into extra time in the last 16.
One of the team’s stars, Porto winger Yacine Brahimi, was recently voted the BBC’s 2014 African Footballer of the Year. Brahimi scored his first international goal in the group stage against South Korea in the World Cup last year. He has scored six goals in 15 appearances for the Portuguese club.
Algeria, are part of the Group C “group of death” which includes the “physical” Senegal, “well-organised” Ghana and South Africa who is looking confident after not having lost in 11 games, said Palacios.
Another team to watch, he believes, is the Elephants of Cote d’lvoire who have a collection of excellent players, including brothers Yaya Toure and Kolo Toure, Cheick Tiote and Wilfred Bony.
The team, under coach Herve Renard, will take on Guinea, Mali and Cameroon in Group D.
Midfielder Yaya Toure, who was pivotal for English Premier League champions Manchester City, will captain the Elephants after the retirement from international football of striker Didier Drogba.
“Coted’lvoire have a history of under-performing in major tournaments and Toure will have to play as well he does for Manchester City if the team is to reach the finals of the tournament,” Palacios said.
The Black Stars of Ghana, who are also in Group C, are another team to watch but have a tough challenge against Algeria, Senegal and South Africa. — Supersport.com
Online Reporter