Group C
If what we witnessed in Russia 2018 is anything to go by, Senegal are capable of proceeding to the knockout stages. Add the kind of players they have, the Lions of Teranga can even go further. No surprises if they scoop their maiden continental trophy.
The western country has Manchester United’s top target Kalidou Koulibaly manning the defense, Cheikhou Kouyate and Idrissa Gueye of Crystal Palace and Everton respectively will be bossing the midfield. Liverpool’s talisman Sadio Mane will lead the attack line.
Algeria would fancy to finish within the first to places in the group. Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez and other quality players are enough to
Manchester city’s Riyad Mahrez will try to help the Desert Foxes lift the coveted trophy for the second time in their fourth successive attempt.
Frankly, Kenya and Tanzania have a tough task of trying to finish above these two African giants. Harambee Stars boasts of Tottenham’s Victor Wanyama who is expected to skipper his nation on the big after 15 years in the cold. if only the local boys put their heads together then they can tactfully dance past the group phase.
Nothing much to be said about Taifa Stars other than the fact that head coach- Emmanuel Amunike who had such a successful football career with the national team of Nigeria. It’s also important note that Tanzania qualified for the continental showpiece after a 39-year hiatus in style hammering neighbors Uganda 3-0 to end their long wait.
Predicted order:
- Senegal 2. Algeria 3. Kenya 4. Tanzania
GROUP D
The pool consists of Ivory Coast, Morocco, South Africa and Namibia.
They didn’t qualify for the 2018 World Cup, Ivory Coast need to prove that they are better than that, and this is the perfect stage to silence the naysayers. With the likes of Wilfred Zaha of Crystal Palace in the fold, the Elephants can progress without breaking much sweat. The Ivorians would fancy to bag a third title from their record 23 previous appearances.
Morocco received lots of praises in Russia last summer from the way they approached their games but unfortunately luck wasn’t on their side and have nothing to show for it. Perhaps Egypt 2019 is their place to make a statement. They have Harve Renard for a manager- a serial winner of this trophy. The Frenchman has won it twice with Ivory Coast and Zambia in 2012 and 2015 respectively. Who knows, Atlas Lions might be the next.
The 1996 winners and 2010 World Cup hosts are like that student in class who has all the revision books and best tutors the parents can afford but still fail the final paper. Bafana Bafana have everything but the squad but the squad lack quality but they won’t go down without a fight either.
Namibia will be gracing their third final after a dramatic qualification on the last day. The Brave Warriors are still in hunt for their first win in the tournament and are now already in Cairo, that itself is a splendid achievement for a country ranked at 113 globally.
Predicted order:
Ivory Coast 2. Morocco 3. South Africa 4. Namibia
