Guide to the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations groups - who will reach quarter-finals
Posted On Thursday, 25th October 2012
Siphiwe Tshabalala of South Africa celebrates his goal with Teko Modise of South Africa
MTNFooball.com brings you a quick guide to the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations groups and who will advance to the quarter-finals.
GROUP A
Who should advance: South Africa and Morocco. Both Cape Verde and Angola are likely to give these two a run for their money, but South Africa’s homeground advantage and Morocco’s quality should see them safely through.
The Dark Horses: Cape Verde. The tiny island nation will be no pushovers with all their Portuguese-based players, just ask Cameroon. They have the potential to cause an upset, but might also be overawed by the stage.
Wooden spoonists: Angola. Palancas Negras have been to each of the last four Nations Cup tournaments and have two quarterfinal showings from that. But they are also an aging team and Manucho aside, there is not that much quality there.
GROUP B
Who should advance: Ghana and Mali. These two contested the third-place play-off match at the last Nations Cup tournament in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, with the Maliens coming out on top. They are some way ahead of the rest of the group in terms of ability and it would be a major surprise were they not to make it through to the next round.
The Dark Horses: DR Congo. But having said that … DR Congo are a team on the up and ably led by the wily old Frenchman Claude LeRoy. They certainly have the ability to spring a surprise, but as LeRoy admitted himself, they are a “decent” team, not a “strong” one.
Wooden spoonists: Niger. In Niamey? Unbeatable. Out of Niamey? Can’t win a game …
GROUP C
Who should advance: Zambia and Nigeria. It should be a breeze for these two through the pool stages, even if Nigeria are not quite the force of old. Zambia have also struggled a bit with form since lifting the Nations Cup trophy earlier this year, but they remain a team packed with quality.
The Dark Horses: None
Wooden spoonists: Battle between Burkina Faso and Ethiopia. Ethiopia are a one-trick pony with their forward Saladin Said, take him out of the game and they offer little. Burkina Faso have some good players, but can’t seem to get it together as a team.
GROUP D
Who should advance: Cote d’Ivoire and Algeria. This is the toughest pool to call, but if you look at form since the last Nations Cup finals then it should be these two who go through. Both have had team good enough to win the tournament in the past, but have failed to get over the line.
The Dark Horses: Tunisia. Tunisia battled to qualify for this competition, riding their luck against Sierra Leone to make it this far. But they have a squad capable of beating anybody on their day, the problem for them is those days are few and far between.
Wooden spoonists: Togo. Togo have their talisman Emmanuel Adebayor back with them, but appears to be fighting almost a one-man battle. The squad was badly shaken by the events prior to the 2010 Nations Cup in Angola and many of them have probably yet to fully recover. Perhaps this will be part of the healing process.
Do you agree with the anaylsis of who will progress? Make your views known in the box below
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Ghana should be strong more especially against Dr Congo and Mali or I see them going no where. We ar good at winning before the game is played. Lets keep our cool. Remember how Zambia walloped us. Too much talking.
Yeah,i think its a fair analysis,but don’t be sure it will Cote d’ivoire and algeria that will qualify..:-(it is an open group:-)
Tricky group. i think ghana should take it easy. They should try to avoid this so called big tea tag and just play football, otherwise they may not make it through. quite honestly i think Mali and DRC will go through. reason Ghana is kind of a ‘talk alot’ and they let this get to them even on the pitch. the other teams will want to prove a point against them and it’s sad because these teams have alot of quality in them. You just cant tell but Mali and DRC will pull through.
@Josua J. The mere fact that Ghana talks a lot so they will not pull through? That’s one lame analysis. Bcos U have access to GH site that’s why U c GH talk. Do you know how others brag and yob about their teams without us hearing? Masa, go and get yourself a nursery school rhyme to analyse than football.
dadaba, the game is not only skill and talent it;s also psychological, and how you handle this also affects your performance. this is the trap that has befallen Ghana. I am Zambian and i also believe we are having the same kind of pressure too by being champions. if you heard how appiah was talking lastnight on supersport in comparison to the other coaches and comentators you will undertand what i mean. otherwise. i still feel it will be very difficult for ghana unless this talking is lessened and more focus is on the field of play.
@Joshua,
If u say that Ghana will not win the cup cause they talk a lot then u MIGHT have a point, but ur talking of Ghana not making it out the group. Thats very very funny my friend. If theres anything that Ghana knows how to do best is making it out the group stages. Ur talking nonsense, This is an easy group for Ghana
@tbdarko…Ghana has all the power and advantages to make it to the top and advance from the group stages. and my comments are not in anyway undermining or disrespecting the ghana team. it’s just that, they tend to talk before games as if all is done and raise to many expectations that teams always go at them with the aim of giving them stern tests..For this reason ghana’s pomposity will bring them down because DRC and Mali are almost as good as anybody and lapses in concentration from the ghana team will ensure their downfall. unless something is done to adress this which is not easy to do. i still say Ghana wont make it.
I pray we meet ghana at finals. I know it can be a tough game. Even winning them by penalts. By the way you guyz should allow Asamoah Gian to take penalts.
Ei gsn last night was tough but today tricky..mmm 3s3 muara.
GH WILL BREEZE TO THE SEMIS. IVORY COAST MAY FIND IT VERY TOUGH TO MAKE IT OUT OF THIS GROUP. DROGBA IS PLAYING IN CHINA. THE ONLY GOOD IVORIAN PLAYERS ARE GERVINHO N THE MAN CITY GUY. TOGO WILL SHOCK IVORY COAST. SO WILL TUNISIA. ZAMBIA ALSO STAND A CHANCE OF NOT MAKING IT OUT OF THE GROUP. THEY WILL LOSE TO NAIJA N POSSIBLY BURKINA. IF ZAMBIA MAKES IT OUT, THEY WILL LOSE MANY PLAYERS TO SUSPENSION.
The analysis is good, however i caution Ghana b’cos DR CONGO with claude le roy would not be a push over moreso when he knows Ghana so well, like wise Mali that has beaten Ghana the last encounter. I expect the handlers and especially the newly appointed psychologist of the team to psyche the players not to be complacent. I can say for a fact that Ghana performs better as an underdog in tournaments. Remember 2010 afcon and the world cup where we performed so well b,cos of ur underdog status. i expect all and sandry especially sports journalists to avoid singing the praise song which could get into the head of our players and crush the team’s advancement. osseeeeee black stars.
Ghana has the team,tenacity and the zeal not an individual brilliance though in the likes of ABEDI,YAGOALA etc to go all the way.
The problem is preparation.l hope that this time around THE GFA will ensure that all the players report on time and don’t go around to do any dodgy deal with any team with insipid explanation that we have a good relationship with THIS and THAT TEAM as happened prior to THE AFCON 2012 where THE AYEWS,KWADWO ASAMOAH AND AGYEMAN reported just some few days to the tourney BECAUSE they had to play some so called important matches.
These where four important players who missed on all the initial preparation because their teams needed them.Nyantakyi could have used the FIFA rule to demand the players but knowing what he got in his bank account remained silent and offered a childish explanation.In the END Plavi was sacked forgetting that ”YOU CAN’T EAT YOUR CAKE AND HAVE IT”.
Whilest IVORY COAST,ZAMBIAH,MALI had all their players in time,Nyantakyi WAS lining his pocket.
It is sad that nobody is talking about these things but expect AKWASI APPIAH TO CONJURE MAJIC.
The abysmal performance of the Black Stars can only be attributed to insufficient preparation because they was no cohesion in our team.
The situation could be more fatal because as at now, Akwasi Appiah doesn’t know his best eleven.
I BELIEVE IN THE ABILITY OF OUR TEAM BUT ABSOLUTE PREPARATION WILL BE KEY.GOD BLESS GHANA.
there is alot of sense in what you are saying, i am kindly asking you to change your username. please am on my knees. it’s not good we africans call each other pigs after all that we went through from our colonial masters. please my dear brother i beg.
my brother JOSHUA JERE,God Bless.l will change on condition that those zambians stop insulting us on our own site.
okay bro, am sorry we have people who have no morals even in our country (Zambia), i have tried to stop all this insulting and bad talking and i hope it stops soon. honestly this site is exciting and i like to visit here just to share in the fun and enjoy soccer talk as we support our teams. please bear with the few who are insulting for the sake of the beautiful game and the african race, i apologize on behalf of my countrymen. to be honest Zambians are friendly people and it’s just a few that are denting our image.
Man u hv won my heart. We have been waiting for people like you to comment. Am a Ghanaian with a lot of Zambian friends (Kalombo, Musengu, Musonda, Chituta, Kaunda, not the prez etc). Anytime we meet, we discuss soccer devoid of insult.Keep it up.
I see Zambia n Nigeria not making it to the next stage out of their groups.
It’s a fair analysis,but am worried 4 Zambia making it out.
Ghana is rubbish
Nigeria is not interesting in just qualifying.
We must top the group.
Anything short of that,is unacceptable to the fans.
Typical Nigerian arrogance.I remember before the 2010 world cup how nigerians were saying they were going there to win it,not even winning a match but winning the trophy.In the end ayigbeni missed an open net and they went home.They seem not to have learnt anything….abi
^^
intresting=intrested