AFCON 2021: Preview of Group C – Ghana, Morocco, Comoros, and Gabon
Arsenal duo, Partey and Aubameyang likely to play against each other
The Africa cup of nations 2021, Group C starts with a heavyweight contest between the Black Stars of Ghana and Atlas Lions of Morocco, three hours later, Comoros and Gabon will take the centre stage.
Morocco and Ghana are the favorites to qualify from this group.
Comoros are making their debut in this edition of Afcon, and they aim to cause an upset.
The Gabonese captain, Aubameyang who the country leans on for Afcon success has tested positive to covid, hence, he may miss the opening games.
Ghana will want to bounce back and revenge their humiliating defeat at the hands of Algeria against Morocco.
AFCON Group C Fixtures
Monday, 10 January: Morocco v Ghana -17.00 GMT, Comoros v Gabon- 20.00 GMT
Friday, 14 January: Morocco v Comoros- -17.00, Gabon v Ghana- 20.00 GMT
Tuesday, 18 January: Gabon v Morocco -17.00, Ghana v Comoros- 20.00 GMT
Ghana
Former Arsenal midfielder, Frimpong said in an interview that the Black Stars does not have the team to win the championship. He may be right, after all, following their heavy defeat against Algeria in a buildup match to the continental championship.
The game features the big players like Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew, Amartey, Jonathan Mensah, but still lost heavily- they have a lot to improve on.
The Ghanaian Afcon team is a blend of experience and young talents as Milovan Rajevic adds multiple young talents like Kamaldeen Sulemana, Rennes, Ajax’s Kudus Mohammed, Roma’s Felix Afena-Gyan, and FC Sheriff’s Edmund Addo to the squad. The Seventeen-year-old, Abdul Fatawu is also ready to make a statement at the biennial Africa showpiece.
This is similar to 2010 when Rajevic takes majorly young talents to Angola. The young talents, which include Andre Ayew, Jordan Ayew, and Jonathan Mensah reach the final but lost 1-0 to Egypt.
That team also includes experienced players like Asamoah Gyan, Kevin-Prince Boateng, and Muntari.
Rajevic is trying to use the same system to achieve a better performance in this edition after a horrible outing in the 2019 edition where they crashed out of the competition at the round of 16.
Best Performance- Winners ((1963, 1965, 1978, 1982)
First Appearance-1963
Last Appearance-2019
Appearances-23
Morocco
Wolverhampton defender, Romain Saiss will be leading the group of young Moroccan players, to win the Afcon title for the first time in 4 decades.
Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech will not be part of the men that will make that happen following a row with his coach, Vahid Halilhodzic. But the team includes the PSG star, Achraf Hakimi, who can make the difference for Morocco.
Morocco will be relying on its young players for a successful outing. Rajevoic did it with Ghana in 2010. The Bosnian manager will aim to achieve the same thing at Afcon 2021.
Best performance- Winners (1976)
First Appearance- 1972
Last Appearance- 2019
Appearances- 18
Comoros
The Coelacanths will make their debut in the 2021 Africa cup of nations in Cameroon. Though much is not expected from a team making its first appearance at this stage, they can’t be underrated.
They will aim to cause an upset and take the continent by storm. The majority of the Comoros players are foreign-based and that can make the difference.
The Red Star Belgrade star, El Fardou Ben Mohamed can lead the team to the round of 16, and that will be a remarkable feat. Four points are enough to get them to the next round.
First Appearance- 2021
Last Appearance- 2021
Appearances – Debutant
Gabon
The Panthers are making their eighth appearance in 2021 Afcon with their best finish in 2012 as a quarter-finalist.
Coach Patrice Neveu will be aiming to set a new record by qualifying for the next round. However, that will be a difficult task with Aubameyang testing positive for Covid.
Should the Arsenal forward be forced to quarantine, Gabon will play their opening games without him and that may affect the team’s performance, which is full of young talents.
Moreover, Aubameyang’s quest to make a big impact in Afcon after his situation in Arsenal is hanging in the balance.
Best Performance quarterfinal (1996 and 2012)
First Appearance- 1994
Last Appearance- Last Appearance- 2017
Appearances- 8
