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Sports Reporter
From the fans to the players to the media, a huge chunk of the world in general and Africa in particular is ready and excited for what is set to be a magnificent 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Over one billion people will watch 24 nations compete. With great goals, tense games and most of the best players in the world, there is so much that makes an Afcon tournament one of the most watched events on earth.
Every single game is an event in itself and a chance to make history. Every Afcon starts with a host of questions that always pull out surprising answers.
How will the established hierarchy do? What dark horses will emerge?
Can the top players produce on the biggest stage? Who will make themselves an overnight star?
These questions will only be answered once the tournament is underway but here is a breakdown of what will probably and possibly happen at Egypt 2019.
Crashing out early
Like any great sporting event, despite all the fun and games someone has to come home a loser. Uniquely, in the Africa Cup of Nations many will come away feeling like losers. Only maybe four or five teams will feel happy just to participate, the rest will feel they should and could reach the knock-out stages, so anything less is a major failure.
Probably: Some teams are fairly obviously not going to go past the group stage, such as the likes of Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Mauritania and an Angolan team that hasn’t the quality it not too long ago had. Others such as the Democratic Republic of Congo are also unlikely to go through, although they have more chance of springing a surprise.
Possibly: There are some big names that may not go beyond the group stage. It will be a shock for whichever nation out of Egypt, Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and Ivory Coast fail to make the next stage. South Africa have stumbled at this stage before and have the athletic sides to get by. Odds on Mali or Algeria going home earlier than expected are not that high.
The surprise package
One of the aspects of the tournament that makes it so watchable, the Afcon always has one team that goes way further than expected, from South Africa in 1996 to Zambia in 2015. Seeing the joy a good Afcon run can bring to an entire nation is a lifting to the sport itself. This year, there are a few teams that have a real chance to do this.
Probably: One of the other North African teams will be more acclimatised in a tournament that will definitely be affected by the scabby, dry pitches and stifling weather. If Egypt can manage to get an effective partnership for Mo Salah firing they could go all the way to the final. Algeria have created a real team with their own identity that on their day can beat anyone, while Tunisia have top quality within their ranks.
Possibly: The Lions of Terranga (Senegal) have arguably the most in form player in the world right now in the magnificent Sadio Mane. In a solid team, captained by Mane upfront, the Senegalese will not fear any team and will also be used to the tropical conditions. Also from West Africa, Nigeria may just have the best squad outside of the super-power names in the tournament, giving them hope of pushing all the way to the semis.
The Golden Boot
The Afcon is a place that can make legends out of mere mortals, and there is no better way to do that than to be the tournament’s top scorer. Cameroonian legend Samuel Eto and Egyptian Hossam Hassan are the answers to one of African football’s toughest quiz questions, sealing themselves in the history books with multiple high scoring tournaments to their name. Their names have gone alongside legends such as Patrick Mboma, Roger Milla, Benny McCarthy, Didier Drogba as Africa’s class centre forwards. So who is likely to join the list this year?
Probably: Both Sadio Mane and Mo Salah are fairly high on confidence so expect either or maybe both of them to be contending for the boot. Mahrez will be on free-kick and penalty duty for Algeria, and is also given all the freedom he wants to score and create goals.
Possibly: Looking at the strength of the group and regardless of how their respective seasons went, Knowledge Musona and Khama Billiat should be getting at least a couple of goals this tournament.
Rising to the occasion
A good Afcon can be the catalyst for a player’s whole career. Many a player has come back after a good tournament and gone on from strength to strength, sometimes even turning around a whole career. This year there are many that hope to become proven stars with a by starring for their respective nations.
Probably: George Chigova is Zimbabwe’s number one goalkeeper and at club level has come through every test and will be hoping to prove himself true international class in Egypt. This season Mahrez has played second fiddle to higher profile teammates but has his own undoubted quality. A certain starter for Algeria, Mahrez could seal his own legacy this tournament. Bolasie has always been magnificent for the DRC but still has questions asked of him at the highest level.
Possibly: In a difficult group, Kenya will be looking to qualify by getting the best out of Victor Wanyama, who often saves his best for his EPL club Tottenham Hotspurs. A surprise star could be Tino Kadewere, having scored regularly for his French Ligue 2 side this season, the lanky winger is one of Zimbabwe’s best attacking threats.
The Golden Ball
If ever there was a pantheon of greats in football, it is the Golden Ball award winners list, given to the outstanding player of the tournament. This year some of the very best players in the world will be competing for this individual title in every game they play.
Probably: No one can doubt Mo Salah and Sadio Mane will be up for contention come the end of the tournament, with both geniuses being the star players for the two favourites for the cup.
Online Reporter
derick.khumalo