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By Peter Akinbo
The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off today with a tricky tie bwtween Ivory Coast and Guniea-Bissau. The 34th edition of the tournament is considered one of the most wide-open in recent times, with several teams capable of lifting the title on February 11.
The Super Eagles are in Group A alongside hosts, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau
This group is straightforward on paper as Ivory Coast and Nigeria have better players than the other two nations, so, most would fancy both to easily progress to the knockout stages.
The Elephants are hosting the event for the second time and are looking for their third continental title. They last won it in 2015 at the tail end of their Golden Generation. They have a young squad led by the experienced Max Gradel, who was part of the 2015 title-winning team. The likes of Sebastien Haller, Nicolas Pepe, Ibrahim Snagare, and Franck Kessie should make qualification easy for the hosts.
Meanwhile, Nigeria have been accused many times for underachieving at the tournament. They have reigning African Player of the Year Victor Osimhen in their strike force, so they are expected to get through. They are making their 20th AFCON appearance and are eyeing a fourth continental title.
Equatorial Guinea finished fourth in 2015, so they could be a problem for the two fancied nations. They have exciting players who play across Europe.
Guinea-Bissau will be playing in their fourth AFCON tournament and they will face the hosts in the opening game, which is daunting. Their clash with Equatorial Guinea will be huge if they both lose to the West African giants.
Ivory Coast will take on Guinea-Bissau in the tournament’s opening game at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium on Saturday (today).
The tournament hosts are favourites to top Group A, while the Djurtus seek group-stage progress for the first time.
The pressure is on Jean-Louis Gasset’s Elephants when they take to the field on Saturday as AFCON 2023 commences, keen to impose themselves against Guinea-Bissau.
The West African side partook in qualifying despite being assured of a spot at the finals, finishing second after ending level with Zambia on 13 points, winning four of their six games (one loss).
Ivory Coast have group-stage history on their side, having progressed from that phase in eight of the previous nine times they have played at the Cup of Nations, and they seek to boost their prospects of making it nine in 10 with a strong showing against Guinea-Bissau.
Gasset’s troops wiped the floor with Sierra Leone in their tune-up game, claiming a 5-1 victory over the Leone Stars last weekend, as they impressed with their decisive execution in the final third.
Carrying that form into Saturday’s AFCON opener with the expectant home support is anyone’s guess, but their goalscoring form at least gives the Elephants reason to be optimistic in the lead-up to facing Guinea-Bissau.
As for the Djurtus, they aim to progress from the group stage for the first time at the fourth time of asking, having failed to play a fourth game at the continental showpiece in the past three tournaments.
Part of that process includes winning their first game at the finals, a feat they have not managed despite playing nine times in 2017, 2019 and 2021.
Even though Baciro Cande’s men ended second in their qualifying group, the Djurtus secured a shock victory over Nigeria in the latter’s home, and they could pick up another positive result against the Super Eagles at AFCON 2023.
First, they must battle the host nation, hoping to frustrate the Elephants and take their counter-attacking opportunities and set-piece chances on Saturday.
However, it is easier said than done for Guinea-Bissau, who sit 54 places below the Ivory Coast in FIFA’s rankings heading into the competition.