CAN 2017 Media Guide

Antรณnio Valente Cardoso

Samba, the Black Panther, official mascot to the CAN 2017 in Gabon

EFriendship Stadium (Stade de l’AmitiÊ), Libreville, Photo: africanews channel

Stadium Port Gentil. Photo: africanews channel

Stade de Franceville. Photo: africanews channel

Oyem Stadium. Photo: africanews channel

Yr

Host nation Champion

1957

Final Score 4–0

Sudan Egypt

1959

United Arab Republic

1962

United Arab Republic Ethiopia

4–2 aet

Tunisia Ghana

3–2 aet

Zaire Ethiopia

Nigeria 1982

Libya Ghana

1984

Côte d'Ivoire

1986

Egypt Morocco Cameroon 1990

Algeria Senegal Côte d'Ivoire 1994

Tunisia

0–0 (11 – 10) pen 2–1

Nigeria 1996

South Africa

1998 Faso 2000

2002

Cameroon

Mali Cameroon

2004

Tunisia

Egypt

Guinea

Nigeria

Egypt 2–0

Nigeria

Tunisia 2–0

Morocco

Egypt 2–0

Libya

Zambia

Algeria 3–1

Algeria

Egypt 3–2

Cameroon

Côte d'Ivoire

Nigeria

Algeria

Nigeria

Zambia

Morocco 1–1 (4 – 3) pen 1–0

Morocco

Senegal 2–1

Ghana

Nigeria

Cameroon 3–1

Côte d'Ivoire

Mali 1–0

Tunisia

2–2 (4 – 3) penalties 0–0 (3 – 2) penalties 2–1

Congo n/a

Zambia

2–0 Egypt

Ghana Nigeria

Zambia

Zambia

South Africa

Zaire 4–0

2–0

Burkina

Côte d'Ivoire

Cameroon

1–0

Algeria

1992

United Arab Republic 5–2

Nigeria 0–0 (5 – 4) penalties 1–0

Ethiopia 3–1

Algeria 1–1 (7 – 6) penalties 3–1

Cameroon

Egypt

1988

Côte d'Ivoire

3–0

Nigeria

Senegal 1–0

Uganda

Ghana

Ethiopia

Côte d'Ivoire

2–0

Ghana

1980

Tunisia

Mali 2–2 aet 2–0 replay n/a

Morocco 1978

United Arab Republic 1–0

Ghana

Congo Egypt

1976

3–0

3–2

Cameroon

Uganda

Tunisia

3–2 Sudan

1974

3–0 United Arab Republic

Ghana

Congo DR Sudan

1972

Ethiopia

1–0

Ethiopia

1970

Sudan

Sudan

Ghana

1968

Sudan

3–0

Ghana

1965

Ethiopia n/a

Ethiopia

1963

Third Place Second Place

South Africa

Congo DR

Nigeria

South Africa

Senegal

Nigeria

Ghana 4–4 (4 – 1) pen 2–2 (4 – 3) pen 1–0

Burkina Faso

Tunisia

Mali 2–1

Morocco

Tunisia 2006

0–0 (4 – 2) penalties

Egypt Egypt

2008

2015

Zambia

Ghana

Côte d'Ivoire

Nigeria 2–0

Côte d'Ivoire

Mali

Burkina Faso

Mali

Ghana

DR Congo

Ghana 3 –1

1-0

South Africa

Nigeria 0-0 (9-8) penalties

Eq. Guinea

Most Valuable Players Year Player 1957 Mohamed Ad-Diba 1959 Mahmoud El-Gohary 1962 Mengistu Worku 1963 Hassan El-Shazly 1965 Osei Kofi 1968 Kazadi Mwamba 1970 Laurent Pokou 1972 François M'Pelé 1974 Ndaye Mulamba 1976 Ahmed Faras 1978 Karim Abdul Razak 1980 Christian Chukwu 1982 Fawzi Al-Esawi 1984 Théophile Abega 1986 Roger Milla Top scorers Year Player 1957 Mohamed Ad-Diba 1959 Mahmoud Al-Gohari 1962 Abdelfatah Badawi

Goals 5 3 3

Mengistu Worku Hassan El-Shazly Ben Acheampong

6 3

Osei Kofi Eustache Manglé 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976

Senegal

1–0 Ghana

0–0 (8 – 7) penalties

Côte d'Ivoire

1963 1965

Nigeria 4–2

Cameroon

Gabon Eq. Guinea

2013

Côte d'Ivoire

1–0

Angola Egypt

2012

Mali 1–0

1–0

Ghana Egypt

2010

Nigeria

Laurent Pokou Laurent Pokou Salif Keita Mulamba Ndaye Aliou Mamadou Keita

6 8 5 9 4

Ghana 0-0 (4-2) penalties

1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2013 2015

Aziz Bouderbala Rabah Madjer Abedi Pele Rashidi Yekini Kalusha Bwalya Benedict McCarthy Lauren Etame Rigobert Song Jay-Jay Okocha Ahmed Hassan Hosny Abd Rabo Ahmed Hassan Christopher Katongo Jonathan Pitroipa André Ayew

1978

Phillip Omondi

Eq. Guinea

3

Opoku Afriyie Segun Odegbami 1980

Khaled Labied Segun Odegbami

3

1982 1984 1986 1988

George Alhassan Taher Abouzaid Roger Milla Lakhdar Belloumi

4 4 4 2

Roger Milla Abdoulaye Traoré Gamal Abdelhamid

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998

Djamel Menad Rashidi Yekini Rashidi Yekini Kalusha Bwalya Hossam Hassan

4 4 5 5 7

Shaun Bartlett Patrick Mboma

5 3

René Salomon Olembé Julius Aghahowa

Winning coaches Year Head coach

Patrick Mboma

4

Frédéric Kanouté Youssef Mokhtari Jay-Jay Okocha Francileudo dos Santos

Benni McCarthy 2000 2002

2004

Champions

2006 Samuel Eto'o 2008 Samuel Eto'o 2010 Mohamed Nagy "Gedo" 2012 7 players with 3 goals Emmanuel Emenike 2013 2015 5 players with 3 goals

5 5 5 4

1988

Claude Le Roy

Cameroon

1990

Abdelhamid Kermali

Algeria

United Arab 1992 Republic 1994 Ethiopia

Yeo Martial

Côte d'Ivoire

Clemens Westerhof

Nigeria

1957

Mourad Fahmy

1959

Pal Titkos

1962

Slavko Milosevic

1963

Charles Gyamfi

Ghana

1996

Clive Barker

South Africa

1965

Charles Gyamfi

Ghana

1998

Mahmoud El-Gohary

Egypt

1968

Ferenc Csanad

Congo DR

2000

Pierre Lechantre

Cameroon

1970

Jiri Starost

Sudan

2002

Winfried Schäfer

Cameroon

1972

Amoyen Bibanzulu

Congo

2004

Roger Lemerre

Tunisia

1974

Blagoje Vidinic

Zaire

2006

Hassan Shehata

Egypt

1976

Gheorge Mardarescu

Morocco

2008

Hassan Shehata

Egypt

1978

Fred Osam-Duodu

Ghana

2010

Hassan Shehata

Egypt

1980

Otto Glória

Nigeria

2012

Hervé Renard

Zambia

1982

Charles Gyamfi

Ghana

2013

Stephen Keshi

Nigeria

1984

Radivoje Ognjanović

Cameroon

2015

Hervé Renard

Côte d'Ivoire

1986

Mike Smith

Egypt

Egypt

General Statistics Country

App

P

W

D

L

GF

GA

Dif

Pts*

Egypt Ghana

22 20

90 51 15 89 50 17

24 22

154 121

84 74

+70 +47

168 167

Nigeria

17

86 46 21

19

121

82

+39

159

Côte d'Ivoire

21

87 39 22

26

129

94

+35

139

Cameroon

17

74 37 22

15

112

67

+45

133

Zambia

17

67 26 20

21

81

69

+12

98

Algeria

16

64 22 18

24

75

77

-2

84

Tunisia

17

64 20 24

20

81

80

+1

84

Morocco

15

57 19 22

16

66

54

+12

79

Congo DR

17

65 17 22

26

75

89

−14

73

Senegal

13

49 16 12

21

55

50

+5

60

Mali

9

43 15 14

14

54

59

−5

59

South Africa

9

38 14 13

11

45

41

+4

55

Guinea

11

39 11 15

13

55

57

-2

48

Congo

7

26

7

7

12

27

40

−13

28

Sudan

8

24

7

6

11

28

38

−10

27

Ethiopia

10

27

7

3

17

29

61

−32

24

Gabon

6

18

6

4

8

17

24

−7

22

Angola

7

23

4

10

9

29

37

−8

22

Burkina Faso

10

35

4

10

21

30

59

−29

22

Togo

7

22

3

7

12

17

36

−19

16

Equatorial Guinea

2

10

4

3

3

8

10

−2

15

Libya

3

11

3

5

3

12

13

−1

14

Uganda

5

16

3

1

12

17

31

−14

10

Cape Verde

2

7

1

5

1

4

5

-1

8

Kenya

5

14

1

4

9

8

24

−16

7

Zimbabwe

2

6

2

0

4

8

13

−5

6

Liberia

2

5

1

2

2

5

7

−2

5

Rwanda

1

3

1

1

1

3

3

0

4

Malawi

2

6

1

1

4

6

11

−5

4

Sierra Leone

2

5

1

1

3

2

11

−9

4

Namibia

2

6

0

2

4

9

18

−9

2

Mozambique

4

12

0

2

10

4

26

−22

2

Tanzania Niger

1

3

0

1

2

3

6

1

2

6

0

1

5

1

9

−3 −8

Benin Mauritius Botswana *points added using a 3 pt/win system

3 1 1

9 3 3

0 0 0

1 0 0

8 3 3

4 2 2

20 8 9

−16 −6 −7

1

1 0 0

PERFORMANCE PER NATION Ethiopia Sudan Egypt Ghana Uganda Tunisia Nigeria Cote d’Ivoire Senegal DR Congo Algeria Congo Guinea Cameroon Mali Morocco Kenya Togo Zambia Mauritius Burkina Faso Tanzania Libya Malawi

1957 1959 1962 1963 1965 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 2 3 1 4 6 4 8 5 8 3 2 2 1 8 6 1 1 2 3 3 3 4 4 4 1 1 2 2 1 5 1 6 4 7 6 8 2 3 5 2 4 7 6 3 3 1 6 2 3 3 4 7 6 5 4 5 5 1 7 4 1 7 6 2 4 3 8 1 4 7 6 5 2 7 5 3 5 1 2 5 1 6 3 6 7 8 2 5 3 8 8 8 2 7

Ethiopia Sudan Egypt Ghana Uganda Tunisia Nigeria Cote d’Ivoire Senegal DR Congo Algeria Congo Guinea Cameroon Mali Morocco Kenya Togo Zambia

1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 16 8 1 5 8 11 6 8 1 7 5 10 1 1 1 2 5 4 11 8 6 10 3 2 4 9 2 7 4 11 1 6 5 11 6 2 2 3 1 2 3 3 3 7 3 3 6 6 1 3 11 5 9 16 2 3 5 2 5 4 7 7 5 2 8 4 12 13 7 8 8 7 3 12 8 15 8 6 3 1 10 6 15 6 15 5 4 6 14 11 9 7 7 8 9 2 1 5 4 9 8 1 1 6 5 2 7 4 4 4 10 9 3 4 4 9 6 11 9 2 13 11 12 8 7 12 13 12 10 12 15 WD 7 3 5 2 3 10 13 14 11 9 6 1

Mauritius Burkina Faso Tanzania Libya Malawi Mozambique Gabon Sierra Leone South Africa Angola Liberia Namibia Zimbabwe Benin Eq. Guinea Niger Botswana

Ethiopia Sudan Egypt Ghana Uganda Tunisia Nigeria Cote d’Ivoire Senegal DR Congo Algeria Congo Guinea Cameroon Mali Morocco Kenya Togo Zambia Mauritius Burkina Faso Tanzania Libya Malawi Mozambique Gabon Sierra Leone South Africa Angola Liberia Namibia

8

-

2013 16 4 9 1 6 10 13 3 10 7 12 2 5 14 -

-

-

2015 2 5 1 9 3 7 6 8 13 10 13 16 12 15 -

12 10

15 14 5 12 1 13 10

2017

4 16 2 13 14

15 16 3 -

13 7 10

14 11 -

14 16 9 -

12 16

12 -

13 6 14 15

13 12 15 10 8 14

15 10 5 11 7 14 16

Zimbabwe Benin Eq. Guinea Niger Botswana Cape Verde Guinea-Bissau

15 8 -

4 11 -

First Qualifying presence                   

2012 to 2017: 2010:

Comoros

2002 to 2008: 2000:

Djibouti,

1996:

Namibia

1994:

Botswana,

1992:

Chad

1990:

São Tomé and Príncipe

Seychelles

Cape Verde,

Guinea-Bissau,

1984:

Swaziland

1982:

Angola,

1980:

Mauritania

Guinea Equatoriale,

Mozambique,

   

Rwanda,

Zimbabwe

1978: None 1976:

Burundi,

1974:

Central African Rep.,

Gambia,

1972:

Benin(Dahomey),

1970:

Niger,

1968:

Algeria,

Malawi Lesotho Gabon,

Sierra Leone,

Madagascar Somalia,

Burkina Faso(Alto Volta), Tanzania,

Zambia Cameroon,

Congo(Congo-Brazzaville),

Liberia,

Líbia,

Togo

1965:

Congo RD (Congo-Kinshasa, Zaire),

1963:

Egypt (United Arab Republic),

1962:

Ethiopia,

Ghana,

Costa d’Ivoire,

Mali,

Guinea-Conakry,

Moroco,

Nigeria,

Senegal

Sudan Kenya,

Tunisia,

Uganda,

Zanzibar

1959: 1957:

Egypt,

Etiophia,

South Africa(DSQ),

Debut in Finals  2017: Guinea-Bissau  2013: Cape Verde  2012: Botswana, Equatorial  

South Africa

1986 to 1988:

Mauritius,

    

Eritreia,

1998: None

Guinea, Niger 2006 to 2010: None 2004: Benin, Rwanda, Zimbabwe 2000 to 2002: None 1998: Namibia 1996: Angola, Liberia, Africa 1994:

Gabon,

Sudan

        

South

Sierra Leone



1988 to 1992: None 1986: Mozambique 1984: Malawi 1982: Libya 1980: Tanzania 1978: Burkina Faso(as Upper Volta) 1976: None 1974: Mauritius, Zambia 1972: Kenya, Mali, Morocco, Togo 1970: Cameroon, Guinea

 

1968: Algeria, Congo(as CongoBrazzaville) 1965: Congo DR(as Congo-Kinshasa), Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal

   

1963: Ghana, 1962: Tunisia, 1959: None 1957: Egypt, Africa, Sudan

Never qualified: Burundi*, Central African Republic*, Chad*, Eritrea, Gambia*, Lesotho*, Madagascar*, Mauritania, Seychelles*, Somalia, Swaziland*

Nigeria Uganda Ethiopia,

South

Comoros, Djibouti, São Tomé and Príncipe*,

Average Goals 1957 Sudan 1959 Egypt 1962 Ethiopia 1963 Ghana 1965 Tunisia 1968 Ethiopia 1970 Sudan 1972 Cameroon 1974 Egypt 1976 Ethiopia 1978 Ghana 1980 Nigeria 1982 Lybia 1984 Cote Ivoire 1986 Egypt 1988 Morocco 1990 Algeria 1992 Senegal 1994 Tunisia 1996 South Africa 1998 Burkina Faso 2000 Nigeria/Ghana 2002 Mali 2004 Tunisia 2006 Egypt 2008 Ghana 2010 Angola 2012 Gabon/Eq. Guinea 2013 South Africa 2015 Equatorial Guinea 2017 Gabon

Nr. Matches 2 3 4 8 8 16 16 16 17 18 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 20 20 29 32 32 32 32 32 32 29 32 32 32 32

Nr. Goals 7 8 18 33 31 52 51 53 54 54 38 33 32 39 31 23 30 34 44 78 93 73 48 88 73 99 71 75 69 68

Average 3,50 2,67 4,50 4,13 3,88 3,25 3,19 3,31 3,18 3,00 2,38 2,06 2,00 2,44 1,94 1,44 1,88 1,70 2,20 2,69 2,91 2,28 1,50 2,75 2,28 3,09 2,45 2,34 2,16 2,13

BRIEF HISTORY CAF was designed or thought during the FIFA 3rd congress, in Lisbon. It was the year of 1956. At first the African wishes were denied by the Congress, on the basis that there were only four nations, however the walk out of the founders led to the acceptance of the new African Confederation.

Upon the creation, in February 1957, it was already decided to hold a continental nations tournament with the four countries, the founding members of CAF, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia and South Africa (whose apartheid policy excluded them from the tournament).

Bear in mind that, at this time, we didn’t have still the Euro. Apart from the World Cup, there was the Olympic football tournament, that compited directly with the FIFA World Cup, and the Copa America, with the Asian Cup and the African Cup of Nations becoming real at the same time, alongside the creation of both confederations.

The 50’s were years of national statement, the start of the African independence, first from the former English territories, the Italian, the Dutch, then the French ones and finally the Spanish and Portuguese, it took decades and, unfortunately, a lot of blood spill, which still is bleeding all across the Continent. This meant that the participation, the entrance of the independent nations, the new nations, took time and it was gradual.

1962 saw nine nations entering the tournament, the first to have a qualifying stage. 1968 was the year that premiered eight sides in the final stage. The 70’s decade was, probably, the best of the tournament, six different champions, a replayed final and the continuous increase of the participating nations, years of growth in the African football.

The social and civil problems in many countries were reflected in the qualifyings with many withdraws throughout the years. For the 2017 edition, for instance, Eritrea and Somalia withdrew from the qualification process.

The tournament started to be closed to foreign playing footballers, which prevented the professionals that were already, essencially, in Europe to take part in the African Cup of Nations. 1968 was the year that started to change this ruling, allowing from that year’s tournament on that two footballers playing outside their country to defend the nation’s colors in the tournament. Professionalism and the growing emigration led to the abolishment of those rulings and, instead, the creation of the CHAN (African Nations Championship), tournament with only home based players’ participation, debuted in 2009.

Road to Group A Tunisia Togo Liberia Djibouti Group B DR Congo Central A.R. Angola Madagascar Group C Mali Benin Eq. Guinea South Sudan Group D B. Faso Uganda Botswana Comoros Group E G-Bissau Congo Zambia Kenya Group F Morocco Cape Verde Libya ST Principe Group G Egypt Nigeria

6 6 6 6

4 3 3 0

1 2 1 0

1 1 2 6

16 11 11 1

3 4 8 24

13 11 10 0

6 6 6 6

5 3 1 0

0 1 2 3

1 2 3 3

16 9 7 5

6 11 8 12

15 10 5 3

6 6 6 6

5 3 1 1

1 2 1 0

0 1 4 5

13 12 6 3

3 10 6 15

16 11 4 3

6 6 6 6

4 4 2 1

1 1 0 0

1 1 4 5

6 6 5 2

2 2 8 7

13 13 6 3

6 6 6 6

3 2 1 1

1 3 4 2

2 1 1 3

7 9 7 5

7 7 7 7

10 9 7 5

6 6 6 6

5 3 2 1

1 0 1 0

0 3 3 5

10 11 8 4

1 7 6 19

16 9 7 3

4 4

3 1

1 2

0 1

7 2

1 2

10 5

Tanzania Chad Group H Ghana Mozambique Rwanda Mauritius Group I Ivory Coast Sierra Leone Sudan Gabon (H) Group J Algeria Ethiopia Seychelles Lesotho Group K Senegal Burundi Namibia Niger Group L Zimbabwe Swaziland Guinea Malawi Group M Cameroon Mauritania South Africa Gambia

4 0

0 0

1 0

3 0

0 0

6 0

1 0

6 6 6 6

4 2 2 2

2 1 1 0

0 3 3 4

14 5 9 3

3 7 6 15

14 7 7 6

4 4 4

1 1 1

3 2 1

0 1 2

3 2 2

2 2 3

6 5 4

6 6 6 6

5 3 1 1

1 2 1 0

0 1 4 5

25 11 5 5

5 14 11 16

16 11 4 3

6 6 6 6

6 2 2 2

0 0 0 0

0 4 4 4

13 8 5 5

2 12 9 8

18 6 6 6

6 6 6 6

3 2 2 1

2 2 2 2

1 2 2 3

11 6 5 5

4 9 5 9

11 8 8 5

6 6 6 6

4 2 1 0

2 2 4 2

0 2 1 4

7 6 8 1

2 5 6 9

14 8 7 2

Foundation – 1962 CAF Affiliation – 1968 FIFA Affiliation – 1966 Nickname – Les Panthères Republic Gabonaise Gentilics – Gabonese Capital – Libreville Largest city - Libreville 2 Area – 267667 km Population – 1 475 000 Language – French Religion – Christians (73%) Ethnic Groups – Fang (29%), Punu (10%), Nzebi (9%), French (7%), Mpongwe (4%), Motto – Union, Travail, Justice (Union, Work, Justice) Currency – Franc CFA Borders – Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Republic of Congo

CAN – Quarters (1996, 2012) UDEAC/UNIFAC/CEMAC – Winners (1985, 1988, 1999, 2013) Most capped – Didier Ovono (88) Top scorer – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 20 goals 1960 saw the debut of the Gabonese national football team, taking part in the Friendship tournament hosted by Madagascar for several French speaking former African colonies. Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso) was the opponent and the match ended in a 4-5 defeat.

The first official matches were played in the qualification towards Tokyo 1968 Olympic football tournament, drawing 0-0 with Guinea and beaten 6-1 in the return leg.

Their first African Nations Cup qualifying was against Ivory Coast, aiming to enter the 1972 Ethiopian tournament. They lost both matches against the Ivorians, 0-1 and 1-2 were the final results.

It was a huge accomplishement to qualify for the African Cup of Nations of 1994, their finals debuts. Lined up in Group 1 with Benin, Niger and Cameroon, the Gaboneses were able to eliminate one of the strongest sides in the Continent, who had just surprised the world in the 1990 World Cup. The Belgian Jean Thissen, who took the side after his passage through the Portuguese side Beira-Mar, was the ‘white wizard’ that managed this feat.

In their best ever performance, equaled in their co-hosted tournament of 2012, Gabon was able to outperform Zaire and Weah’s Liberia to qualify for the quarters, in which they only lost to Tunisia via penalty shootout.

Former Portuguese international Jorge Costa was expected to lead the side in the finals, but problems with the board led to his exit, also Portuguese and former centre back Garrido took over as interin until Spanish Jose Antonio Camacho agreed to take over the side and he’ll be the one guiding Aubameyang and co. to their expected better ever performance.

FC 105 from the capital Libreville and Mangasport from Moanda are the most prestige sides in the country, although 18 different clubs have already claimed at least one national league title in Gabon.

FC 105 13 LINAF/D1 Championnnat 5 Gabon Cup 1 Gabon Supercup

AS Mangasport 8 LINAF/D1 Championnat 6 Gabon Cup 4 Gabon Supercup

Gabon Against Matches Wins Draws Losses Algeria 7 4 1 2 Burkina Faso 20 8 9 3 Cameroon 21 3 9 9 DR Congo 13 3 7 3 Egypt 3 0 0 3 Ghana 11 2 2 7 Guinea-Bissau 0 0 0 0 Ivory Coast 12 2 2 8 Mali 10 5 4 1 Morocco 14 5 3 6 Senegal 5 1 1 3 Togo 11 6 3 2 Tunisia 8 1 5 2 Uganda 2 1 1 0 Zimbabwe 4 1 1 2

Gabon CAN Finals Matches Wins Draws Losses Goals for – Goals against First Participation Biggest Win

Date 14-04-60 12-04-63 09-10-88 23-10-88 02-01-93 22-12-95 19-10-96 20-12-96 04-01-99 20-02-99 28-11-99 09-01-00

City Antananarivo Dakar Libreville Ouagadougou Libreville Ouagadougou Libreville Cotonou Ouagadougou Libreville Libreville Ouagadougou

Country Madagascar Senegal Gabon Burkina Faso Gabon Burkina Faso Gabon Benin Burkina Faso Gabon Gabon Burkina Faso

6 18 6 4 8 18-24 1994 2-0 Zaire/Niger/B. Faso

Opponent Burkina Faso Burkina Faso Burkina Faso Burkina Faso Burkina Faso Burkina Faso Burkina Faso Burkina Faso Burkina Faso Burkina Faso Burkina Faso Burkina Faso

Result 4-5 4-0 3-0 0-1 1-1 5-2 2-0 1-1 1-2 1-1 3-2 1-1

Competition Tournament Tournament CAN CAN Tournament Friendly Friendly Tournament Friendly Friendly Tournament Friendly

Stage

Qual Qual SF

08-11-03 06-09-10 09-01-12 09-06-12 07-09-13 11-10-14 15-10-14 17-01-15 29-06-76 27-08-81 14-12-84 20-04-87 16-12-87 30-11-88 08-12-88 22-01-89 13-08-89 16-08-92 25-04-93 26-11-95 02-12-95 06-10-96 22-06-97 05-09-09 09-09-09 13-01-10 28-07-13 10-08-13 06-09-16

Moanda Cannes Bitam Libreville Ouagadougou Libreville Ouagadougou Bata Libreville Huambo Brazzaville Brazzaville N’Djamena Yaoundé Yaoundé Libreville Yaoundé Libreville Yaoundé Libreville Libreville Libreville Yaoundé Libreville Yaoundé Lubango Yaoundé Libreville Limbé

Gabon France Gabon Gabon Burkina Faso Gabon Burkina Faso Eq. Guinea Gabon Angola Congo Congo Chad Cameroon Cameroon Gabon Cameroon Gabon Cameroon Gabon Gabon Gabon Cameroon Gabon Cameroon Angola Cameroon Gabon Cameroon

Burkina Faso Burkina Faso Burkina Faso Burkina Faso Burkina Faso Burkina Faso Burkina Faso Burkina Faso Cameroon Cameroon Cameroon Cameroon Cameroon Cameroon Cameroon Cameroon Cameroon Cameroon Cameroon Cameroon Cameroon Cameroon Cameroon Cameroon Cameroon Cameroon Cameroon Cameroon Cameroon

0-0 1-1 0-0 1-0 0-1 2-0 1-1 2-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-2 0-1 0-0 1-0 1-3 1-2 0-0 0-0 1-2 0-0 0-0 2-2 0-2 1-2 1-0 0-1 1-0 1-2

Friendly Friendly Friendly World Cup World Cup CAN CAN CAN CAG CAG UDEAC Cup CAG UDEAC Cup UDEAC Cup UDEAC Cup FIFA WC FIFA WC CAN CAN Tournament Tournament CAN CAN FIFA WC FIFA WC CAN FIFA WC FIFA WC Friendly

Qual Qual Qual Qual Gr Stage Gr Stage Gr Stage Gr Stage Semis Gr Stage Final Qual Qual Qual Qual 3rd/4th Qual Qual Qual Qual Gr Stage Qual Qual

Gabon Didier Ovono

P.O.B. Port-Gentil

Age 33

Club Oostende (Bel)

Aaron Appindangoyé

Franceville

24

Laval (Fra)

Lloyd Palun Merlin Tandjigora

Arles (Fra) Mouila

28 26

Red Star 93 (Fra) MZ Hakka (Chn)

Bruno Ecuele Manga

Libreville

28

Cardiff City (W/E)

Johann Obiang Malick Evouna

Le Blanc (Fra) Libreville

23 24

Troyes (Fra) Tianjin Teda (Chn)

Didier Ndong Pierre-E. Aubameyang

Lambaréné Laval (Fra)

22 27

Sunderland (Eng) B. Dortmund (Ger)

Mario Lemina

Libreville

22

Juventus (Ita)

Levy Madinda Guélor Kanga

Libreville Oyem

24 26

Nástic (Spa) Red Star (Srb)

Samson Mbingui

Moanda

24

Raja (Mar)

Serge Kevyn

Port-Gentil

22

União Leiria (Por)

Franck Obambou Anthony Mfa Mezui André Biyogo Poko Serge Martinsson-Ngouali Benjamin Zé Ondo

Libreville Beauvais (Fra) Bitam Sweden

29 25 23 24 29

Akanda No club Karabukspor (Tur) Brommapojkarna (Swe) Mosta FC (Mlt)

Denis Bouanga Cédric Ondo Biyoghe Yohann Wachter Yves Stéphane Bitséki Average Age/Height Jose Antonio Camacho

Paris (Fra)

22 22 24 33 26,07 61

Tours (Fra) Mounana Sedan (Fra) Mounana

Courbevoie (Fra)

Trajectory SM Port-Gentil, Mangasport, Sogea, Alianza, P. Ferreira, D. Tbilisi, Le Mans, Sochaux FC 105, Mounana, Boavista, ETG Martigues, La Trinité, OGC Nice SM Port-Gentil, Metz, Carquefou, Istres, Leixões FC 105, G. Bordeaux, Rodez, Angers, Lorient Châteauroux Centre Mbérie, Mounana, Wydad, Al Ahly Cairo Centre Mbérie, Sfaxien, Lorient Laval, Le Havre, Toulouse, At. Júnior, OGC Nice, Rouen, Bastia, Milan, Dijon, Lille, ASSE Nanterre, Rueil-Malmaison, Garenne-C, Lorient, Marseille SM Port-Gentil, Celta Vigo Mangasport, Missile, Mounana, Rostov Mangasport, MC Alger, MC El Eulma, NA Hussein Dey Sp. Braga, AD Nogueirense, Marítimo, Vizela Tucanes Metz, Seraing US Bitam, G. Bordeaux Gunnilse, Vastra Frolunda US Bitam, ES Sétif, MC Oujda, Wydad Le Mans, Lorient, Strasbourg Clermont, Strasbourg, Lorient US Bitam

The former left back who achieved high standards at Real Madrid but Camacho is far from his playing skills as a footballer at the bench. His highest achievements were at Espanyol, bringing the ‘Pericos’ back to the Spanish top flight with the second league title in 1994, and the Portuguese Cup with Benfica in 2004. His passage at the helm of the Chinese National Team wasn’t one to remember, failing yet again to qualify the country to the FIFA World Cup 2014 and leaving it in 2013. Now it’s time to manage another national side, Gabon, who is hosting the big African football event and is expected to get further than ever before.

Star Player: The captain Aubameyang, son of a former Gabonese international, he was born and grew mainly in the French football school, finishing the formative years at the AC Milan academy. He’s fast, skillful and capable of scoring from anywhere. All the team will try to help and follow the leader.

Pos GK CB RB/CB DM CB LB/LW ST CM/DM CF/RF/LF CM CM/RM OM/RW/LW LW/RW/OM ST CB GK DM/RB DM LB/LM RW/LW LW/RW CB GK 1.79

The squad’s average age is little over 26 years old and the expected starting line-up is also little over 26. Camacho called only 4 of the African U23 champions in 2011, the inaugural edition of that championship; it was expected a higher number.

Almost 1/3 of the names called up by Camacho were born and raised in Europe (7), six of them in France, including the former youth internationals for France and Sweden and uncapped for Gabon, the likes of Martinsson-Ngouali, Bouanga and Wachter.

Evouna proves to be a very good partner to Aubameyang and he can also score easily as showed in the tough Egyptian League and in China. Tandjigora, Madinda, Ndong, Biyogo-Poko and Lemina offer a vast number of solutions to the strongest sector of the team, the midfield, and it will be curious to see whether Camacho will keep the 3 tough and hard midfielders Jorge Costa used, giving a closer support to Aubameyang in order to free him from the opposition’s markings or if he’ll change and bet on the wings.

Ondo-Biyoghe will try to impress scouts from all around the world. Still playing in Gabon, he’s a ‘gazzelle’, shifting fast and speeding faster on the corridors, he’s the unknown man to watch.

República da Guiné-Bissau Gentilics – Bissau-Guinean Capital – Bissau Largest City – Bissau 2 Area – 36125 km Language – Portuguese, Creole Population – 1693398 Ethnic Groups – Fula (28%), Balanta (23%), Mandinga (14%), Manjaca (8%) Motto – Unity, Fight, Progress Religion – Islamic (50%), Christian (20%) Currency – Franc CFA Taça Amílcar Cabral – 1983 (Finalists) Most capped player – Highest scorer – The Portuguese historical relation makes football the Guinea Bissau national sport. A lot of Guinea-Bissau born players defends Portuguese colours and most of the debutant squad in the Afcon finals is Portuguese football graduate and former youth Portuguese international.

The poverty of the country saw the national teams withdrew from the African competitions several times and it’s rare to see the clubs compete outside the country. Although many of the teams have a founding relation with Portuguese sides and despite the huge number of youngsters going to Portugal to play football in the academies, there’s a lack of investment from those clubs in the local development.

This was an unexpected qualification because of the continuous instability in the country and the federation and just being present is already a win. Nevertheless, they’ll try to make a mark in the finals too.

This could be the beginning to a more sustained development of local football and perhaps foreign major clubs can understand the advantage of creating academies in the country.

The main teams of the country prove the close Portuguese relation, both in colors and names, being Sporting Clube de Bissau a ‘son’ of the Portuguese side Sporting Clube Portugal, as the logo shows and Sport Bissau e Benfica, founded in close relation with Sport Lisboa e Benfica, with red and green being the colors of the Portuguese flag and of the two Lisbon ‘big’ clubs.

Sporting Bissau holds 13 national championships while Bissau e Benfica has 10, followed by the biggest club outside the capital, Os Balantas, from Mansoa, with 4 titles.

Guinea-Bissau Opponent Matches Wins Draws Losses Algeria 2 0 0 2 Burkina Faso 0 0 0 0 Cameroon 2 0 0 2 DR Congo 0 0 0 0 Egypt 0 0 0 0 Gabon 0 0 0 0 Ghana 0 0 0 0 Ivory Coast 1 0 0 1 Mali 15 1 4 10 Morocco 0 0 0 0 Senegal 15 1 4 10 Togo 8 1 4 3 Tunisia 1 0 0 1 Uganda 2 0 0 2 Zimbabwe 0 0 0 0

Guinea-Bissau CAN Finals Matches Wins Draws Losses Goals for – Goals against First Participation Biggest Win

Date 29-02-2012 16-06-2012

City

Country Guinea-Bissau Cameroon

Opponent Cameroon Cameroon

0 0 0 0 0 0 2017 -

Result 0-1 1-2

Competition CAN CAN

Stage Qualifiers Qualifiers

Guinea-Bissau Jonas Mendes

P.O.B. Cabienque

Age 27

Club Salgueiros (Por)

Papa Mbaye Rui Dabó Emmanuel Mendy

Dakar (Sen) Setúbal (Por) M. Gounass (Sen)

31 22 26

Aguadulce (Spa) Cova Piedade (Por) Pulpileño (Spa)

Juary Soares

Bissau

24

Mafra (Por)

Agostinho Soares

Bissau

26

Sp. Covilhã (Por)

Eridson

Bissau

26

Freamunde (Por)

Rudinilson Silva Tomás Dabó Mamadu Candé

Bissau Bissau Cascais (Por)

22 23 26

No club No club No club

Bocundji Cá

Biombo

30

No club

Francisco Júnior

Bissau

24

Stromsgodset (Nor)

Naníssio

Bissau

25

Felgueiras (Por)

Zezinho

Bissau

24

Levadiakos (Gre)

Saná Camará

Bissau

24

Ac. Viseu (Por)

Jean-Paul Mendy João Mário Toni Silva

Évreux (Fra) Bissau Bissau

34 23 23

US Quevilly (Fra) Chaves (Por) Levadiakos (Gre)

Aldair Idrissa Camará Piqueti Abel Camará

Vila Meã (Por) Bissau Bissau Bissau

24 24 23 26

Olhanense (Por) Avellino (Ita) Sp. Braga B (Por) Belenenses (Por)

Frédéric Mendy

Paris (Fra)

28

Ulsan Hyundai (Kor)

Baciro Candé

Trajectory Amora, Beira-Mar, Atlético CP, Vianense, Vizela Ciudad de Vicar, Las Novias, Meppen V. Setúbal, Caldas, Pinhalnovense Murcia, Liverpool, D. Tbilisi, Daugava, Huércal, Ceahlaul Sp. Bissau, U. Leiria, Sporting CP, Sertanense, Tirsense, Bf. Macau, 1º Dezembro AS Real Bamako, Pelotas, Bf. Bissau, Pesqueira FC Porto, Tourizense, P. Ferreira, Portimonense, Belenenses, Atlético CP, A. Viseu Sporting CP, Benfica, Lechia Gdansk Sp. Braga, Arouca 1.º Dezembro, Aves, Videoton, Portimonense, Tondela G. Bordeaux, Nantes, Tours, Nancy, Stade Reims, Châteauroux, Paris FC Bf. Bissau, Benfica, Everton, Vitesse, Port Vale, Wigan GDR Portugal, Naval, Trofense, Gil Vicente Sp. Bissau, Sporting CP, Atlético CP, Veria, AEL Limassol Benfica, Servette, Valladolid, Académica, Botafogo BA, Sp. Braga Pacy d’Eure, Rouen, Orléans Etoile Lusitana, Benfica, Atlético CP Real SC, Benfica, Liverpool, Barnsley, Northampton, Dag&Red, CSKA Sófia, Sanliurfaspor, U. Madeira Penafiel Etoile Lusitana, Chaves, Visé, Correggese Sp. Braga, Gil Vicente Belenenses, E. Amadora, Beira-Mar, Petrolul, Faisaly Rezé, Evreux, Etoile, Home Utd, Estoril, Moreirense, U. Madeira

25,97 49

It’s a tough job for Baciro Candé. The Guinea-Bissau national coach faced several denials, with many of the Portuguese-Bissau-Guinean footballers opting to stay with their clubs instead of entering this historical feat. Four of the named footballers are without a club, including the side’s captain Cá and the two of the usual starters in the defense. On the other hand, the team has no pressure, the achievement was already conquered, several of the players will want to make an impression and the side is very young.

Star Player: With the absence of Cícero it lays on Frédéric Mendy the responsibility of scoring and Zezinho will be the leader, alongside Cá, but the return of Sami to the national team puts him on the spotlight as the star of the side.

Pos GK GK GK RB/CB/LB CB/RB/LB LB CB CB/RB/LB RB/LB/RM LB/LM DM CM/RM/LM CM CM OM/CM LW/RW LF/RF/CF RW/LW/CF RW/LW RW/LW/CF RW/LW/CF CF/RF/LF ST 1.80

Toni Silva and Francisco Júnior were teen starlets, as is still Zé Turbo, with lots of hopes laying on them and pro contracts with the likes of Liverpool, Everton and Inter Milan, all former Portuguese youth internationals, like several of their teammates, having here another opportunity to shine and again catch the eyes of scouts.

The lack of competition for Rudinilson will probably see Eridson grab a starting spot in center defense next to Juary and Agostinho is the likely choice for the left back instead of Mamadu Candé, also without a club in the moment.

The midfield and attack, despite the casualties, have a lot of alternatives, each one bringing different things to the starting line-up and it will be interesting to note the manager’s choices.

Idrissa Camará, currently playing in the Italian Serie B side of Avellino, is one to watch.

Together with the above mentioned Toni Silva, Francisco Júnior and Zé Turbo, he’s able to make a difference on his own and aims higher in his career.

The respect for the opponents may see Baciro Candé being too conservative and filling the midfield with contention footballers, not giving the needed time to the freedom, fantasy and irreverence of those youngsters. The balance will be the most important for the team, but the midfielders will need to be not only defensively minded, hence our ‘bold’ choice of Francisco Júnior for the starting line-up.

Burkina Faso Gentilics – Burkinabé Capital – Ouagadougou Biggest city - Ouagadougou Area – 274200 km2 Language – French Population – 17322796 Ethnic Groups – Mossi (48%), Fulani (10%), Lobi (7%), Bobo (7%), Mandé (7%) Motto – Unity, Progress, Justice Religion – Islam (61%), Christian (23%) Currency – CFA Franc Borders – Mali, Niger, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast CAN – 2013 (runners-up) WAFU Cup – 1984, 1986, 2010 (4th) Most capped – Charles Kaboré (70) Biggest scorer – Moumouni Dagano (31)

Burkina Faso (as Upper Volta) first match happened in Madagascar, 1960, defeating Gabon 5-4.

The Ghanaian 1978 CAN was the first finals for the nations in the African championship, only missing in 2006 and 2008 since the 1996 South African second presence for the nation, first as Burkina Faso.

2013, again in South Africa, saw Burkina Faso reach the final of the African Cup of Nations, their major feat so far in football.

The two Burkinabé major cities dominate local football, with only one national league title managing to escape either Ouagadougou or Bobo-Dioulasso clubs.

Football is the national sport, like in basically all the African nations, although still poorly explored and on a club level with no international expression. Étoile Filante de Ouagadougou won 13 leagues, 20 cups, being the most successful club in the country.

The main derby opposes Étoile Filante and ASFA Yennenga that also hold 13 leagues, 3 cups and 1 UFOA Cup.

Burkina Faso Opponent Matches Wins Draws Losses Algeria 19 5 5 9 Cameroon 5 0 1 4 DR Congo 6 2 1 3 Egypt 6 0 2 4 Gabon 20 3 9 8 Ghana 16 4 2 10 Guinea-Bissau 0 0 0 0 Ivory Coast 19 1 9 9 Mali 21 5 3 13 Morocco 9 2 2 5 Senegal 11 2 5 4 Togo 21 6 6 9 Tunisia 4 1 2 1 Uganda 6 2 3 1 Zimbabwe 4 3 1 0

Burkina Faso CAN Finals Matches Wins Draws Losses Goals for – Goals against First Participation Biggest Win

Date 14-04-60 12-04-63 09-10-88 23-10-88 02-01-93 22-12-95 19-10-96 20-12-96 04-01-99 20-02-99 28-11-99 09-01-00 08-11-03 06-09-10 09-01-12 09-06-12

City Antananarivo Dakar Libreville Ouagadougou Libreville Ouagadougou Libreville Cotonou Ouagadougou Libreville Libreville Ouagadougou Moanda Cannes Bitam Libreville

Country Madagascar Senegal Gabon Burkina Faso Gabon Burkina Faso Gabon Benin Burkina Faso Gabon Gabon Burkina Faso Gabon France Gabon Gabon

10 35 4 10 21 30-59 1978 5-1/4-0 6 times

Opponent Gabon Gabon Gabon Gabon Gabon Gabon Gabon Gabon Gabon Gabon Gabon Gabon Gabon Gabon Gabon Gabon

Result 5-4 0-4 0-3 1-0 1-1 2-5 0-2 1-1 2-1 1-1 2-3 1-1 0-0 1-1 0-0 0-1

Competition Tournament Tournament CAN CAN Tournament Friendly Friendly Tournament Friendly Friendly Tournament Friendly Friendly Friendly Friendly World Cup

Stage

Qual Qual SF

Qual

07-09-13 11-10-14 15-10-14 17-01-15 07-02-98 19-05-98 11-01-00 07-01-02 06-06-15

Ouagadougou Libreville Ouagadougou Bata Ouagadougou Yaoundé Ouagadougou Ouagadougou Colombes

Burkina Faso Hervé Koffi Steeve Yago Issouf Paro Bakary Koné Patrick Malo Bouba Saré

P.O.B. Bobo-Dioulasso Sarcelles (Fra)

Burkina Faso Gabon Burkina Faso Eq. Guinea Burkina Faso Cameroon Burkina Faso Burkina Faso France

Gabon Gabon Gabon Gabon Cameroon Cameroon Cameroon Cameroon Cameroon

Abidjan (CiV)

Age 20 24 22 28 24 26

Club ASEC Mimosas (CiV) Toulouse (Fra) Santos FC (RSA) Málaga (Spa) Smouha (Egy) Moreirense (Por)

Prejuce Nakoulma

Ouagadougou

29

Kayserispor (Tur)

Abdou Razack Traoré

Abidjan (CiV)

28

Karabukspor (Tur)

Banou Diawara Alain Traoré

Bobo-Dioualasso Bobo-Dioulasso

24 27

Smouha (Egy) Kayserispor (Tur)

Jonathan Pitroipa

Ouagadougou

30

Al-Nasr (UAE)

Adama Guira

Bobo-Dioulasso

28

Racing Lens (Fra)

Abidjan (CiV)

24 25 32

ASEC Mimosas (CiV) RS Berkane (Mar) FC Riga (Lat)

Ouagadougou Bobo-Dioulasso

27 27 28

RC Kadiogo Almería (Esp) FC Kranodar (Rus)

21 22 20 22 24 25.90 47

Ajax (Ned) Omonia Nicosia (Cyp) Sheriff Tiraspol (Mda) RC Bobo-Dioulasso Beauvais (Fra)

Souleymane Koanda Issoufou Dayo Aristide Bancé

Aboubacar Sawadogo Jonathan Zongo Charles Kaboré

Ouagadougou

Bertrand Traoré Blati Touré Cyrille Bayala Yacouba Coulibaly Germain Sanou

Bobo-Dioulasso Ivory Coast Ouagadougou

Paulo Duarte

Porto (Por)

Bodo-Dioulassou

1-0 0-2 1-1 0-2 0-1 0-2 2-2 1-3 2-3

World Cup CAN CAN CAN CAN Friendly Friendly Friendly Friendly

Qual Qual Qual Gr Stage Gr Stage

Trajectory

Etoile Filante Etoile Filante, Guingamp, O. Lyon JS Kabylie FC Bibo, Anderlecht, Rosenborg, CFR Cluj, D. Zagreb, Al-Ain, V. Guimarães CF Ouagadougou, Granica LK, Hetman Zamosc, Stalowa Wola, G. Leczna, Widzew Lodz, G. Zabrze, Mersin IY CF Ouagadougou, Raja C, Rosenborg, Lechia Gdansk, Gaziantepspor, Konyaspor JC Bobo Dioulasso, JS Kabylie JE Bobo Dioulasso, Planète Champion, Auxerre, Brest, Lorient, Monaco Planète Champion, Freiburg, HSV, Rennes, Al Jazira Gavá, Alicante, Logroñes, Djurgardens, Dacia Chisinau, SonderjyskE ASFA Yennenga, Étoile Filante JC Bobo Dioulasso, Etoile Filante, Vita Club Stade d’Abidjan, Ath. Adjamé, RFC Daoukro, Santos, Lokeren, M. Donetsk, G. Beerschot, K. Offenbach, Mainz 05, Al-Ahli, Umm Salal, Samsunspor, Augsburg, F. Dusseldorf, HJK, Irtysh, Chippa United US Ouagadougou Sonabel, Etoile Filante, Libourne, Ol. Marseille, Kuban Krasnodar ASFA, Auxerre, Chelsea, Vitesse Rayo Vallecano, Recreativo Huelva, ETG ASFA, El Dakhlia ASSE, Drancy

The former central defender Paulo Duarte, a Portuguese manager, and his team are to be accountable for the development of Burkina Faso national teams. He first took care of the Stallions in 2007, growing the youth sides, scouting schools and playgrounds to build a pyramid of national sides. In 2012 he left the side to take over Gabon and the 2013 amazing

Pos GK CB/RB CB CB LB/CB/RB DM LW/RW/CF CF/RW/LW CF/RF/LF OM/LM RW/LW/CF CM CB CB ST

GK RW/LW/CF DM RW/LW/CF CM/RM RW/CF DF GK 1.81

performance was achieved under the command of the Belgian Paul Put, however the building of the team is of Duarte’s and his staff responsibility and that’s the reason he was brought back, again to pick the national team up and renovate it, a task he’s doing with vigor, now with an all new defense lining up on the pitch.

Star Player: While Bertrand Traoré still struggles to confirm all his precocious potential talent, Pitroipa is still the main guy in the squad. Bancé keeps on scoring but Duarte has been opting to place 3 shifting elements upfront, supported by Alain Traoré, instead of a more physical and ‘easier’ to mark striker. Koffi was a discovery for the goal and the defense line is all new and 4 out of 5 play in Africa, an advantage often disregarded by several managers coming into this event.

Banou Diawara showed very good scoring capabilities in Burkina Faso and Algeria, the latter one of the leagues with lower scoring average. His numbers led him to the wealthier Egyptian league to play for Smouha but he’s struggling to make a mark, although having scored twice already, he’s lining himself up to succeed Bancé as the frontman of the Stallions.

The expected starting line-up, based on the last qualification matches, has an average age under 26, as does the squad.

Republic of Cameroon Gentilics – Cameroonian Capital – Yaoundé Biggest city - Douala Area – 475442 km2 Language – French, English Population – 22534532 Ethnic Groups – Cameroon Highlanders (31%), Equatorial Bantu (19%), Kirdi (11%), Fulani (10’%) Motto – Paix, Travail, Patrie (Peace, Work, Homeland) Religion – Christian (66%), Islam (20%) Currency – Franc CFA Borders – Nigeria, Chad, Central African Rep, Eq. Guinea, Gabon, Rep. Congo CAN – 1984, 1988, 2000, 2002 (winners) FIFA World Cup – 1900 (quarters) FIFA Confederations Cup – 2003 (finalists) Olympic Games –2000 (winners) Most capped – Rigobert Song (137) Highest scorer – Samuel Eto’o (56) The first international match of Cameroon was in 1956 against Belgian Congo, still under French administration. The first ‘independent’ match happened in 1960 with a thrashing of French Somalia by 9-2. Chad succumbed to a 9-0 defeat in 1965, Cameroon biggest win ever, so far.

They turned into one of the powerhouses of African football, 17 presences in the CAN, 4 times winner, making an African mark in the 1990 World Cup and producing enormous talents to the world football.

Problems between Federation, Government and several top players saw Cameroon missing out on the 2012 and 2013 finals and now the next generation is starting to establish itself in the national side.

Cameroon won the first ever African Club Champions Cup with Oryx Douala and the country can claim 5 champions’ cup and 3 cup winners cups, with the one of the most awarded sides, Canon Yaoundé, having 3 African Champions Cup/Leagues and 1 Cup Winners Cup, alongside 10 national leagues, 11 national cups and a Mohamed V cup.

Coton Sport Garoua has 14 national championships, 5 cups and lost two continental finals, Champions League (08) and CAF Cup (03).

Nowadays far from their 60’s domination, Oryx Douala holds 5 championships, 3 cups and the first ever African Club Champions Cup. Their rivals Union Douala have also 5 leagues, 6 cups, 1 Champions Cup and 1 Cup Winners Cup. From the capital, main rival of Canon, Tonerre Yaoundé also won 5 leagues, 5 cups, 1 Cup Winners Cup and 2 other continental finals.

Cameroon Opponent Matches Wins Draws Losses Algeria 8 3 4 1 Burkina Faso 5 4 1 0 DR Congo 34 16 8 10 Egypt 24 5 7 12 Gabon 21 9 9 3 Ghana 7 1 3 3 Guinea-Bissau 2 2 0 0 Ivory Coast 19 8 4 7 Mali 6 2 4 0 Morocco 10 5 5 0 Senegal 12 3 4 5 Togo 21 14 4 3 Tunisia 16 9 5 2 Uganda 4 2 1 1 Zimbabwe 9 6 0 3

Cameroon CAN Finals Matches Wins Draws Losses Goals for – Goals against First Participation Biggest Win

Date 29-06-76 27-08-81 14-12-84 20-04-87 16-12-87 30-11-88 08-12-88 22-01-89 13-08-89 16-08-92 25-04-93

City Libreville Huambo Brazzaville Brazzaville N’Djamena Yaoundé Yaoundé Libreville Yaoundé Libreville Yaoundé

Country Gabon Angola Congo Congo Chad Cameroon Cameroon Gabon Cameroon Gabon Cameroon

17 (won 4 times) 74 37 22 15 112-67 1970 5-1 (Zambia 2008)

Opponent Gabon Gabon Gabon Gabon Gabon Gabon Gabon Gabon Gabon Gabon Gabon

Result 0-0 0-0 0-0 2-0 1-0 0-0 0-1 3-1 2-1 0-0 0-0

Competition CAG CAG UDEAC Cup CAG UDEAC Cup UDEAC Cup UDEAC Cup FIFA WC FIFA WC CAN CAN

Stage Gr Stage Gr Stage Gr Stage Semis Gr Stage Final Qual Qual Qual Qual

26-11-95 02-12-95 06-10-96 22-06-97 05-09-09 09-09-09 13-01-10 28-07-13 10-08-13 06-09-16 29-02-2012 16-06-2012 07-02-98 19-05-98 11-01-00 07-01-02 06-06-15

Libreville Libreville Libreville Yaoundé Libreville Yaoundé Lubango Yaoundé Libreville Limbé

Gabon Gabon Gabon Cameroon Gabon Cameroon Angola Cameroon Gabon Cameroon Guinea-Bissau Cameroon Ouagadougou Burkina Faso Yaoundé Cameroon Ouagadougou Burkina Faso Ouagadougou Burkina Faso Colombes France

Gabon Gabon Gabon Gabon Gabon Gabon Gabon Gabon Gabon Gabon Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau Burkina Faso Burkina Faso Burkina Faso Burkina Faso Burkina Faso

Cameroon Fabrice Ondoa

P.O.B. Yaoundé

Age 21

Club Sevilla B (Spa)

Collins Fai

Bamenda

24

Standard Liège (Bel)

Nicolas N’Koulou Joseph Ngwem Adolphe Teikeu

Yaoundé Bandjoun

26 25 26

Ol. Lyon (Fra) P. Sambizanga (Ang) Sochaux (Fra)

Ambroise Oyongo Clinton N’Jie Benjamin Moukandjo

Ndikinimeki Douala Douala

25 23 28

Montreal Impact (Can) Ol. Marseille (Fra) Lorient (Fra)

Robert Ndip També Vincent Aboubakar Edgar Salli

Yaoundé Garoua

22 24 24

Spartak Trnava (Svk) Besiktas (Tur) Nurnberg (Ger)

Christian Bassogog Michael Ngadeu Ngadjui

Douala Maroua

21 26

Aalborg BK (Dnk) Slavia Prague (Cze)

Sébastien Siani

Douala

30

KV Oostende (Bel)

Ernest Mabouka Jules Goda

Douala Yaoundé

28 27

Zilina (Svk) Ajaccio (Fra)

Arnaud Djoum

Yaoundé

27

Hearts (Sco)

Franck Boya Jacques Zoua

Garoua

20 25

Apejes Kaiserslautern (Ger)

Karl Toko Ekambi Georges Mandjeck

Paris (Fra) Douala

24 28

Angers (Fra) FC Metz (Fra)

Mohamed Djetei Georges Bokwé

Yaoundé

Hugo Broos

Humbeek (Bel)

22 Nástic T. (Spa) 27 Coton Sport 25.44 64

2-1 0-0 0-0 2-2 2-0 2-1 0-1 1-0 0-1 2-1 1-0 2-1 1-0 2-0 2-2 3-1 3-2

Tournament Tournament CAN CAN FIFA WC FIFA WC CAN FIFA WC FIFA WC Friendly CAN CAN CAN Friendly Friendly Friendly Friendly

3rd/4th Qual Qual Qual Qual Gr Stage Qual Qual Qualifiers Qualifiers Gr Stage

Trajectory Fundación Eto’o, Barcelona, Pobla Mafumet, Nástic Tarragona FC Bamenda, Union Douala, Njala Quan SA, D. Bucharest Kadji Sports, Monaco, O. Marseille Unisport Bafang M. Zaporozhye, FC Krasnodar, Ch. Odessa, Terek Grozny Coton Sport, NY Red Bulls Ol. Lyon, Tottenham Kadji Sports, Rennes, Entente SSG, Nimes, Monaco, Nancy, Stade Reims Njala Quan SA, LZS Piotrowka Coton Sport, Valenciennes, Lorient, FC Porto Coton Sport, Monaco, Lens, Académica Coimbra, St. Gallen Wilmington Hammerheads Canon Yaoundé, Kirchhorder, Sandhausen, Nurnberg, Botosani Kadji Sports, U. Douala, Anderlecht, ZulteWaregem, STVV, FC Brussels Les Astres Bastia, O. Marseille, Portimonense, Larisa, Gazélec Ajaccio RSD Jette, RWDM, FC Brussels, Anderlecht, Roda JC, Akhisar, Lech Poznan Coton Sport, Basel, HSV, K. Erciyesspor, Gazélec Ajaccio Paris FC, Sochaux Kadji Sports, Stuttgart, Kaiserslautern, Rennes, Auxerre, K. Erciyesspor Union Douala

Pos GK RB/RM/LB CB/DM LB CB/LB LB/LM/RB LW/RW/CF CF/RF/LF ST CF/RF/LF RF/LF/CF CF CB/DM DM RB GK CM/RM CM CF/RF/LF LF/RF/CF DM/CB CB GK 1.81

A member of the glorious Belgian ‘Red Devils’ of the 70’s and 80’s, Hugo Broos put his pitch knowledge to the benches, performing very well in Belgium in the 90’s and grabbing 4 times the coach of the year award. However time doesn’t stop and he saw himself overpassed by the young guns. After several club jobs in the Middle East and Northern Africa, Broos took his first national team managing position in the beginning of 2016. With the ‘Indomitable lions’ he has 5 draws, 2 wins and lost only the friendly to France in May last. His job is on the line after letting Nigeria escape in the group qualification towards Russia’18 World Cup. Star Player: After Eto’o, the attacking pair Moukandjo/Aboubakar shares the credit of stars to the side. The back wings are new but Broos keeps on betting on an experimented centre back pairing. The Belgian faced, though, 7 refusals to enter the 2017 CAN, goalies Onana and Ndy Assembe, centre back Matip, right back Nyom, Poundje, Zambo Anguissa and Amadou all preferred to stay with their clubs.

Broos cut from the final squad veterans Bédimo and Chedjou, the latter a starter in center defense during the qualifying matches, confirming the renewal of the ‘Indomitable Lions’. On the other hand, local youngster Franck Boya made the cut.

Foundation – 1962 CAF Affiliation – 1964 FIFA Affiliation – 1963 Nickname – Les Fennecs Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria Gentilics –Algerian Capital – Algiers Largest city - Algiers Area – 2381741 km2 Language – Arabic Population – 40400000 Ethnic Groups – Arab-Berbere (99%) Motto – By the People and for the People Religion – Islamic (99%) Currency – Algerian dinar Borders – Tunisia, Morocco, Libya, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Mali, Niger CAN – 1990 (winners) World Cup finals – 1982, 1986, 2010 Olympic Games finals – 1980 All-Africa Games – 1978 (winners) Afro-Asian Cup of Nations – 1991 (winners) Mediterranian Games – 1975 (winners) Most capped – Lakhdar Belloumi (100) Biggest scorer – Abdelhafid Tasfaout (34) The first international match for Algeria happened in 1957, beating Tunisia by 2-1.

There is a huge rivalry between the Maghreb nations, especially against Morocco and Tunisia, always very ‘hot’ matches.

The Algerian golden generation played in the 80’s, achieving two World Cup finals qualifications, beating the European Champions in their 1982 opening match. In the CAN the 80’s were also the golden years, with the win in 1990 and four podiums in the five previous editions.

The next generation continues to bet mostly on the ‘sons’ of the nation, born and raised in Europe.

Algeria already saw 15 different national champions being the most successful JS Kabylie, with 14 leagues, 5 cups, 1 Super cup, 2 CAF Champions Leagues, 1 CAF Cup Winners’ Cup, 3 CAF Cup. MC Alger has 7 leagues, 8 cups, 2 league cups, 2 Super cups, 1 CAF Club Champions Cup, 2 Maghreb Cup Winners’ Cup. MC Oran should also be mentioned; they won 4 leagues – with 9 second places – and 4 cups, twice losing the final, 1 league cup won other lost, 1 CAF Champions Cup final, 1 Arab Cup of Champions final, 2 Arab Cup Winners’ Cup wins, 1 Arab Super cup win.

USM Alger is emerging, already winning 7 leagues, 8 cups, 1 UAFA Club cup and the Champions League final of 2015.

Algeria Opponent Matches Wins Draws Losses Burkina-Faso 19 9 5 5 Cameroon 8 1 4 3 Ivory Coast 21 6 8 7 DR Congo 5 2 3 0 Egypt 24 8 9 7 Gabon 7 1 2 4 Ghana 11 4 2 5 Guinea-Bissau 2 0 0 2 Mali 18 9 1 8 Morocco 29 8 10 11 Senegal 18 10 4 4 Togo 4 1 2 1 Tunisia 42 17 12 13 Uganda 9 3 4 2 Zimbabwe 5 2 2 1

Algeria CAN Finals Matches Wins Draws Losses Goals for – Goals against First Participation Biggest Win

Date 06-01-89 25-06-89 03-02-04 20-06-04 19-06-05 15-12-63 27-12-64 14-03-65 17-11-68 29-12-68 05-06-72 16-11-72 12-05-73 11-05-74 03-10-74 06-04-75 30-05-75

City Annaba Harare Sousse Harare Oran Tunis Algiers Tunis Algiers Rades Tunis Tunis Casablanca Algiers Damascus Oran

Country Algeria Zimbabwe Tunisia Zimbabwe Algeria Tunisia Algeria Tunisia Algeria Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Morocco Algeria Syria Algeria Algeria

16 (winners 1990) 64 22 18 24 75-77 1968 4-0 (Uganda, 1968)

Opponent Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia

Result 3-0 2-1 2-1 1-1 2-2 0-0 1-0 0-0 1-2 0-0 1-3 2-1 2-1 1-2 0-1 1-1 2-1

Competition FIFA WC FIFA WC CAN FIFA WC FIFA WC Friendly African Games African Games FIFA WC FIFA WC Friendly Friendly Friendly Friendly Arab Cup CAN Friendly

Stage Qual Qual Gr Stage Qual Qual Gr Stage Gr Stage Qual Qual

Qual

04-09-75 06-02-77 28-02-77 23-09-79 07-02-82 19-12-82 11-09-83 30-12-84 01-05-85 06-10-85 18-10-85 11-01-87 27-03-87 12-04-87 05-11-88 04-04-89 01-11-89 05-03-91 07-04-91 23-09-92 16-12-94 22-07-95 05-11-95 04-01-97 31-05-97 24-01-99 06-06-99 28-06-00 12-11-11 22-01-13 01-05-77 03-04-81 14-08-83 28-08-83 12-03-90 17-02-91 10-10-92 10-01-93 25-07-93 05-06-97 16-06-00 21-04-01 30-12-01 17-11-04 31-05-08 05-09-08 27-01-15 13-10-15

Algiers Rades Algiers Split Tunis Tunis El Jadida Abidjan Rades Rades Algiers Rades Algiers Tunis Rades Algiers Rades Annaba Rades Rades Sfax Algiers Rades Sfax Rades Algiers Tunis Tunis Algiers Rustenburg Algiers Oran Dakar Algiers Algiers Dakar Dakar Tlemcen Dakar Annaba Dakar Dakar Toulon Dakar Blida Malabo Algiers

Algeria Tunisia Algeria Yugoslavia Tunisia Tunisia Morocco Ivory Coast Tunisia Tunisia Algeria Tunisia Algeria Tunisia Tunisia Algeria Tunisia Algeria Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Algeria Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Algeria Tunisia Tunisia Algeria South Africa Algeria Algeria Senegal Algeria Algeria Senegal Senegal Senegal Algeria Senegal Algeria Senegal Senegal France Senegal Algeria Eq. Guinea Algeria

Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal

2-1 0-2 1-1 1-1 1-0 1-0 2-3 3-1 0-1 4-1 3-0 2-0 1-0 1-1 0-1 2-0 0-0 2-1 0-0 1-1 0-1 2-1 0-2 0-0 1-0 0-1 0-2 2-2 1-0 0-1 2-0 2-0 1-1 2-0 2-1 3-1 2-1 2-1 4-0 0-0 1-1 0-3 0-1 1-2 0-1 3-2 2-0 1-0

Medit. Games FIFA WC FIFA WC Medit. Games Friendly Friendly Medit. Games Tournament Friendly FIFA WC FIFA WC Friendly CAN CAN Friendly Friendly Friendly Friendly Friendly Friendly Friendly Friendly Tournament Friendly Friendly CAN CAN Friendly Friendly CAN Friendly Friendly CAN CAN CAN Friendly Friendly CAN CAN Friendly FIFA WC FIFA WC Friendly Friendly FIFA WC FIFA WC CAN Friendly

Semis Qual Qual Gr Stage

Gr Stage

Qual Qual Qual Qual

Qual Qual

Gr Stage

Qual Qual Semis

Qual Qual Qual Qual

Qual Qual Gr Stage

Algeria Chamseddine Rahmani Aissa Mandi Faouzi Ghoulam Liassine Cadamuro

P.O.B. Annaba Châlons (Fra) St-Priest-Jarez (Fra) Toulouse (Fra)

Age 26 25 25 28

Club MO Bejaia Betis (Spa) Napoli (Ita) Servette (Sui)

Hicham Belkaroui

Oran

26

ES Tunis (Tun)

Sofiane Hanni

Ivry-sur-Seine (Fra)

26

Anderlecht (Bel)

Riyad Mahrez Saphir Taider

Sarcelles (Fra) Castres (Fra)

25 24

Leicester (Eng) Bologna (Ita)

Yacine Brahimi

Paris (Fra)

26

FC Porto (Por)

Islam Slimani

Algiers

28

Leicester (Eng)

Nabil Bentaleb

Lille (Fra)

22

Schalke 04 (Ger)

Baghdad Bounedjah Malik Asselah Adlène Guedioura

Oran Algiers La Roche s Yon (Fra)

25 30 31

Al Sadd (Qat) JS Kabylie Watford (Eng)

Mehdi Abeid

Montreuil (Fra)

24

Dijon (Fra)

Rachid Ghezzal El Arbi Hillel Soudani Rais M’Bolhi

Décines Charpieu (Fra) Chlef Paris (Fra)

24 29 30

Ol. Lyon (Fra) D. Zagreb (Cro) Antalyaspor (Tur)

Rami Bensebaini Mohamed Benyahia Mokhtar Belkhiter M. Rabie Meftah Djamel Mesbah

Constantine Tremblay (Fra) Oran Tizi Ouzou Zighoud Youcef

21 24 24 31 32

Rennes (Fra) USM Alger Club Africain (Tun) USM Alger Crotone (Ita)

Georges Leekens

Meeuwen (Bel)

26.88 67

Trajectory USM Annaba Stade Reims AS Saint-Étienne Sochaux, Real Sociedad, Mallorca, Osasuna ASM Oran, WA Tlemcen, USM El Harrach, Club Africain, Nacional Ivry, Boulogne, Nantes, K. Erciyesspor, Ankaraspor, Osmanlispor, KV Mechelen Quimper, Le Havre Castres, Albi, INF Castelmaurou, Grenoble, Inter, Southampton, Sassuolo Montreuil, Vincennois, INF Clairefontaine, PSG, Rennes, Clermont, Granada WB Ain-Benian, JSM Chéraga, CR Belouizdad, Sporting CP Wazemmes, Lille, Mouscron, Dunkerque, Tottenham RCG Oran, USM El Harrach, ES Sahel NA Hussein Dey, CR Belouizdad Wolves, Charleroi, KV Kortrijk, CréteilLusitanos, Entente SSG, Noisy-le-Sec, US Roye, Sedan, N. Forest, C. Palace R. Lens, Newcastle, St. Johnstone, Panathinaikos Vaulx-en-Velin ASO Chlef, V. Guimarães CSKA Sofia, Slavia Sofia, Ryukyu, Panetolikos, Ethnikos, Hearts, KS Samara, G. Ajaccio, P. Union JMC Alger, Paradou, Lierse, Montpellier Nimes, CA Bastia, MC Oran MC Oran, USM Blida, MC El Eulma JS Kabylie, JSM Bejaia Annecy, Servette, Basel, Lorient, Aarau, Luzern, Avellino, Lecce, Milan, Parma, Livorno, Sampdoria

Another Belgian part of the golden generation, Leekens has over 30 years on benches and he’s back to Algeria 13 years after taking over the Fennecs for the first time, now replacing Serbian Rajevac. He lost the first match and he’s facing several dilemmas, how to balance the side defensively in order to free the talents of Mahrez and Brahimi offensively, who to place on the right back, having a defensive trio on the midfield or doubling behind Mahrez and daring to start Soudani, who always proves his abilities, scoring and aiding Slimani. Could he dare a 3 defenders mode with Mandi-Medjani-Belkaroui or Cadamuro and have Ghoulam on the left and Feghouli on the right to give depth to the wings? Leekens decided to, surprisingly, leave captain Medjani and Feghouli out of the final 23 names.

Pos GK CB/RB/LB LB/LM CB/RB/LB CB/LB/RB OM/LW/RW OM/RW/LW CM LW/RW/OM ST CM ST GK CM/RM CM RW/LW/OM CF/RF/LF GK CB/LB RB/CB RB/RW RB/RM LB/LM 1.83

Star Player: After the unbelievable Premier League title for Leicester, with Mahrez taking the orchestra’s helm, he’s the one to take the main star role, ahead of Brahimi. As it’s easily seen, most of the called up players were born and raised in France (20), have the French Footballing School and that is noted on the pitch, with the Fennecs continuing to lure French youth internationals to take the ranks of the North African side.

Although M’Bolhi hasn’t been playing for a while, he appears to start ahead of the local goalies, particularly Asselah, who has been performing very well with JS Kabylie. The right back is the biggest ‘mistery’ given that Khoutir-Ziti and Zeffane, the players used in the last matches, are both off the preliminary squad. There was also a big curiosity on Benzia and Ounas, whether they would be on the final list and if they were going to be used properly. However Leekens also left them off the side to travel to Gabon.

The Belgian decided to cut on the youngsters the Algerian federation is attracting, the likes of Benzia, Bennacer, Ounas or Saadi, also cutting on French-born footballers, perhaps understanding that there’s a different motivation towards the African Cup of Nations from African-born footballers, but also showing some conservative choices. The lack of matches on both Medjani and Feghouli is a valid reason to leave them out of the team. The predicted starters average almost 27 years old, so it’s a very experimented side this one.

Republic of Zimbabwe Gentílics – Zimbabwean Capital – Harare Biggest city - Harare Area – 390757 km2 Population – 13061239 Language – 16 official languages Ethnic Groups – Shona (80%) Motto – Unity, Freedom, Work Religion – Christians (80%) Currency – US Dollars Borders – South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Mozambique African Nations Championship (CHAN) – 4th (2014) COSAFA Cup – 2000, 2003, 2005, 2009 (winners) CECAFA Cup – 1985 (winners) Although with some success in the regional cups, Zimbabwe struggles to enter the big football scenario and there are little players in Europe, usually they migrate to South Africa.

The first international match was played in 1929, still as Southern Rhodesia, losing 04 to an England XI. At that time only white players were allowed to play, something that only changed after the independence.

The first match with a ‘mixed racial’ side, a FIFA demand, happened in 1967 against Malawi, winning 1-0.

Like most of the African countries, a civil war broke during the independence struggle, finally achieving it in 1980.

The Warriors are back to the front stage 10 years after the last qualification, something the country claimed in 2004 and 2006, surprinsingly so.

Now they have again the chance to shine and catch the scouting eyes not only from southern African sides but also from Europe and Asia.

Harare Dynamos rule the league, with 22 championships, almost as much as the entire competition combined, also having 7 cups and 7 independence trophies. Dynamos also went just short of the continental title in 1998, only beaten in the final by Ivorian ASEC Mimosas. The Portuguese Paulo Jorge Silva led the club in 15/16, being only the second European to do so in the 21st century, following the Dutch Westerhof (2001).

Highlanders are the main rivals, holding 9 leagues, 7 independence trophies, 2 cups and a vast number of regional trophies.

Zimbabwe Opponent Matches Wins Draws Losses Algeria 5 1 2 2 Burkina Faso 4 3 1 0 Cameroon 9 3 0 6 DR Congo 4 2 0 2 Egypt 12 1 4 7 Gabon 4 2 1 1 Ghana 6 1 2 3 Guinea-Bissau 0 0 0 0 Ivory Coast 3 0 2 1 Mali 6 3 1 2 Morocco 5 0 2 3 Senegal 6 3 0 3 Togo 4 3 0 1 Tunisia 1 0 1 0 Uganda 15 5 8 2

Zimbabwe CAN Finals Matches Wins Draws Losses Goals for – Goals against First Participation Biggest Win

Date 06-01-89 25-06-89 03-02-04 20-06-04 19-06-05 18-08-85 01-09-85 03-10-93 31-07-99 08-08-99 23-01-06 07-11-98

City Annaba Harare Sousse Harare Oran Harare Dakar Harare Harare Dakar Port Said Rades

Country Algeria Zimbabwe Tunisia Zimbabwe Algeria Zimbabwe Senegal Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Senegal Egypt Tunisia

2 6 2 0 4 8-13 2004 2-1 (Algeria, 2004, Ghana, 2006)

Opponent Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal Tunisia

Result 0-3 1-2 1-2 1-1 2-2 1-0 0-3 2-0 2-1 0-2 0-2 1-1

Competition FIFA WC FIFA WC CAN FIFA WC FIFA WC CAN CAN Friendly CAN CAN CAN Friendly

Stage Qual Qual Gr Stage Qual Qual Qual Qual Qual Qual Gr Stage

Zimbabwe Bernard Donovan Costa Nhamoisenu

Age 21 30

Club How Mine Sparta Prague (Cze)

Harare

27 30 27 30

Golden Arrows (RSA) Kaizer Chiefs (RSA) Dynamos SuperSport Utd (RSA)

Matthew Rusike

Harare

26

Helsinborgs (Swe)

Kudakwashe Mahachi Nyasha Mushekwi Tendai Ndoro Lawrence Mhlanga Hardlife Zvirekwi Cuthbert Malajila

Bulawayo Harare Luwewe

23 29 28 23 29 31

Golden Arrows (RSA) Dalian Yifang (Chn) Orlando Pirates (RSA) Chicken Inn CAPS United Bidvest Wits (RSA)

Khama Billiat Tatenda Mukuruva Knowledge Musona

Harare

26 20 26

M. Sundowns (RSA) Dynamos KV Oostende (Bel)

Oscar Machapa Evans Rusike Marvelous Nakamba Teenage Hadebe Bruce Kangwa Takabva Mawaya Timo Kadewere

Harare Chitungwiza Hwange

29 26 22 21 28 24 20 26.53 46

AS Vita Club (DRC) Maritzburg Utd (RSA) Vitesse (Ned) Chicken Inn Azam (Tnz) ZPC Kariba Djurgardens (Swe)

Danny Phiri Willard Katsambe Elisha Muroiwa Onis Bhasera

Callisto Pasuwa

P.O.B. Highfield Harare Mutoko

Fort Charter Eiffel Flats

Norton

Trajectory

Darryn Textiles, AmaZulu, Wisla Ustronianka, Masvingo Utd, Zaglebie Lubin AmaZulu, Raistars, Bantu Rovers, Chicken Inn Frontier Steel, Feruka, Highway, Gunners, Ajax CT Tembisa Classic, Maritzburg Utd, Golden Arrows, Jomo Cosmos, Kaizer Chiefs, Plymouth, Bidvest Wits Monomotapa, Pretoria Univ. Jomo Cosmos, Kaizer Chiefs, Halmstads Bantu Rovers, Chicken Inn, Highlanders, Sundowns CAPS Utd, M. Sundowns, KV Oostende, Djurgardens Chicken Inn, Black Aces Monomotapa, Bantu Rovers Gunners Harare Highlanders, Dynamos, Club Africain, Al-Akhdar, Maritzburg Utd, M. Sundowns Aces Youth, CAPS United, Ajax CT Haka Utd, Aces Youth, Kaizer Chiefs, 1899 Hoffenheim, Augsburg CAPS Utd, Moroka Swallows, Dynamos Kigion, Zimbabwe Saints, Hwange Highlanders, Bantu Rovers, Nancy Bantu Rovers Highlanders Harare City

Pasuwa faces internal criticism, his goalie choices, betting on very young guns and with some, natural, frailties, led to severe critics, especially regarding the non-usage of more experienced men, but Mukuruva has a lot of eyes on him and the move from Dynamos is imminent.

Star Player: Knowledge Musona is the Zimbabwean footballer better known to the world, already with Bundesliga experience and now in Belgium, he has the responsibility of leading the team offensively.

Pos GK LB/CB DM DM/RB CB/RB LB CF/LF LW/RW/OM ST CF CB RB ST CF/RF/LF GK LF/RF/CF RM/CM ST DM CB/LB LB/LM GK ST 1.78

With most of the footballers based locally or in South Africa, there are a lot to know and discover. Ndoro has been scoring high with the Pirates and the attack is very mobile, having two defensive midfielders, also here mixing mature Katsambe with youngster Nakamba, playing well at Dutch side Vitesse too.

If Pasuwa opts to have an attacking reference upfront the choice will lay on Mushekwi, second to former FC Porto Luis Fabiano in the goalscoring list of the Chinese second tier, with 19 goals.

Although with a very young squad and names like Kadewere, Moyo, Chakoroma or Chawapiwa trying to make into the final list, the predicted starting line-up has several mature players and the average tops the 27 years old.

The goal is to do what was never achieved before, getting through the group stage, which is a very difficult task. Nevertheless, Zimbabwe already won with the qualification and now most of his members will want to impress the scouting eyes that will look closely the event.

Eastern Africa countries are less visited by European or Asian scouts, who settled upon the West Africa talent and are used to catching players from countries like Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Senegal, Ivory Coast and the so on, but a good performance from the ‘Warriors’ can open more doors to the local players.

Foundation – 1960 CAF Affiliation – 1963 FIFA Affiliation – 1964 Nickname – Lions of Teranga Repúblique du Senegal Gentilics – Senegalese Capital – Dakar Largest city - Dakar Area – 196712 km2 Language – French Population – 13567338 Ethnic Groups – Wolof (43%), Fula (24%), Serer (15%) Motto – Un Peuple, un But, Une Foi (One People, One Goal, One Faith) Religion – Islamic (94%) Currency – CFA Franc Borders – Mauritania, Mali, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Gambia CAN – 2002 (finalists) Friendship Games – 1963 (winners) African Games – 2015 (winners) FIFA WC – 2002 (quarters) Amilcar Cabral Cup – 8 times winners Gambia hosted the first Senegalese international, beating the British Gambia 2-1 in 1959. Senegal’s biggest win happened in 2010, thrashing Mauritius 7-0.

They are still seeking their first Afcon win, after the almost perfect 2002 year.

The Senegalese league already consecrated 16 different champions with Jeanne D’Arc (10 leagues and 6 cups) and ASC Diaraf (former Foyer France, 11 leagues and 15 cups) dividing the domain, sharing 21 titles and 21 cups between them.

The relative stability of the country, comparing with the rest of Africa, has witnessed the implementation of several academies to take advantage of the local talent, Jean-Marc Guillou, Norton de Matos, the Qatari Aspire are just some of the distinct names betting on developing locally the youth talents.

Jeanne D’Arc went on to the CAF Cup final in 1998 but the local clubs tend not to go very far in the continental or regional competitions, having fierce competition in the very strong leagues of Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt, however the Senegalese league is very interesting to watch and catch talents, as the French and – more recently – Northern European sides prove.

Senegal Opponent Matches Wins Draws Losses Algeria 18 4 4 10 Burkina Faso 11 4 5 2 Cameroon 12 5 4 3 DR Congo 11 5 4 2 Egypt 12 4 2 6 Gabon 5 3 1 1 Ghana 12 3 5 4 Guinea-Bissau 8 4 3 1 Ivory Coast 18 4 3 11 Mali 32 12 12 8 Morocco 27 6 6 15 Togo 19 5 6 8 Tunisia 19 3 7 9 Uganda 4 2 0 2 Zimbabwe 6 3 0 3

Senegal CAN Finals Matches Wins Draws Losses Goals for – Goals against First Participation Biggest Win

Date 01-05-77 03-04-81 14-08-83 28-08-83 12-03-90 17-02-91 10-10-92 10-01-93 25-07-93 05-06-97 16-06-00 21-04-01 30-12-01 17-11-04 31-05-08 05-09-08

City Algiers Oran Dakar Algiers Algiers Dakar Dakar Tlemcen Dakar Annaba Dakar Dakar Toulon Dakar Blida

Country Algeria Algeria Senegal Algeria Algeria Senegal Senegal Senegal Algeria Senegal Algeria Senegal Senegal France Senegal Algeria

13 49 16 12 21 55-50 1965 5-1 Ethiopia (1965)

Opponent Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria

Result 0-2 0-2 1-1 0-2 1-2 1-3 1-2 1-2 0-4 0-0 1-1 3-0 1-0 2-1 1-0 2-3

Competition Friendly Friendly CAN CAN CAN Friendly Friendly CAN CAN Friendly FIFA WC FIFA WC Friendly Friendly FIFA WC FIFA WC

Stage

Qual Qual Semis

Qual Qual Qual Qual

Qual Qual

27-01-15 13-10-15 18-08-85 01-09-85 03-10-93 31-07-99 08-08-99 23-01-06 21-04-63 14-11-65 26-12-79 05-04-80 12-04-81 26-04-81 08-08-87 01-07-89 16-07-89 07-01-95 15-07-95 26-05-96 11-06-00 31-01-02 30-04-03 07-02-04 23-01-08 10-10-14 15-10-14

Malabo Algiers Harare Dakar Harare Harare Dakar Port Said Dakar Tunis Tunis Dakar Tunis Dakar Nairobi Dakar Tunis Ziguinchor Tunis Tunis Tunis Kayes Rades Rades Tamale Dakar Monastir

Eq. Guinea Algeria Zimbabwe Senegal Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Senegal Egypt Senegal Tunisia Tunisia Senegal Tunisia Senegal Kenya Senegal Tunisia Senegal Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Mali Tunisia Tunisia Ghana Senegal Tunisia

Algeria Algeria Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia

Senegal Abdoulaye Diallo

P.O.B. Reims (Fra)

Age 24

Club Rizespor (Tur)

Kara Mbodj Kalilou Koulibaly Henri Saivet Famara Diédhiou Idrissa Gueye Moussa Konaté

Diasse St Dié (Fra) Dakar Saint-Louis Dakar Mbour

27 25 26 24 27 23

Anderlecht (Bel) Napoli (Ita) Saint-Étienne (Fra) Angers (Fra) Everton (Eng) Sion (Swi)

Cheikhou Kouyaté

Dakar

27

West Ham (Eng)

Mame Biram Diouf

Dakar

29

Stoke (Eng)

Sadio Mané

Sedhiou

24

Liverpool (Eng)

Cheikh Ndoye Momo Diamé

Rufisque Créteil (Fra)

30 29

Angers (Fra) Newcastle (Eng)

Moussa Sow Zargo Touré Papakouli Diop Khadim N’Diaye

Mantes (Fra) Dakar Kaolack Dakar

30 27 30 31

Fenerbahce (Tur) Lorient (Fra) Espanyol (Spa) Horoya (GC)

0-2 0-1 0-1 3-0 0-2 1-2 2-0 2-0 1-1 0-0 1-3 0-2 0-1 0-0 1-0 3-0 1-0 0-0 0-4 0-2 1-4 0-0 0-1 0-1 2-2 0-0 0-1

CAN Friendly CAN CAN Friendly CAN CAN CAN African Games CAN Friendly Friendly CAN CAN African Games CAN CAN CAN CAN Friendly Friendly CAN Friendly CAN CAN CAN CAN

Gr Stage Qual Qual Qual Qual Gr Stage Final Gr Stage

Qual Qual 7/8 Qual Qual Qual Qual

Gr Stage Quarters Gr Stage Qual Qual

Trajectory Stade Reims, INF Clairefontaine, Rennes, Le Havre Diambars, Tromso, Genk Saint-Diè, Metz, Genk Cergy Clos, G. Bordeaux, Angers, Newcastle Sochaux, Belfort, Epinal, G. Ajaccio, Clermont Diambars, Lille, Aston Villa Touré Kunda, M. Tel Aviv, FC Krasnodar, Genoa ASC Yego, FC Brussels, Anderlecht, KV Kortrijk ASC Diaraf, Molde, Man. United, Blackburn Rovers, Hannover 96 Génération Foot, Metz, RB Salzburg, Southampton Epinal, Creteil INF Clairefontaine, R. Lens, Linares, Rayo Vallecano, Wigan, West Ham, Hull Mantes, Amiens, Rennes, Sedan, Lille, Al Ahli SC Dakar, Boulogne, Le Havre Rennes, Tours, Nástic, R. Santander, Levante ES St Louis, Casa Sport, ASC Linguère, Kalmar FF, ASC Diaraf

Pos. GK CB/DM CB/RB OM/RW/LW ST CM CF/RF/LF DM/CB CF/RF/LF LW/RW/OM CM CM CF/RF/LF CB/RB DM GK

Badou Ndiaye Ismaila Sarr Saliou Ciss Keita Baldé Lamine Gassama Cheikh M’Bengue Pape Seydou Ndiaye

Dakar Saint-Louis Dakar Arbúcies (Spa) Marseille (Fra) Toulouse (Fra)

Aliou Cissé

Ziguinchor

26 18 27 21 27 28 23 26.74 40

Osmanlispor (Tur) Metz (Fra) Valenciennes (Fra) Lazio (Ita) Alanyaspor (Tur) Saint-Étienne (Fra) Niary Tally

Diambars, Bodo/Glimt Génération Foot Diambars, Tromso Barcelona, Cornellà Martigues, Aubagne, Ol. Lyon, Lorient Toulouse, Rennes

Part of the historical squads of the 2002 African Cup of Nations final and World Cup quarters, Aliou Cissé entered the federation in 2012, was part of the olympic/U21 coaching staff and took over the national ‘AA’ side in 2015 replacing French former star Alain Giresse at the helm and qualifying the team to the CAN’17.

Only 40, Cissé based his final squad in his choices during the qualification, with the return of Saivet being the only difference, alongside the calling of teenager Sarr, who has been shining with Metz and refreshes a mature side. Mané and youngster Keita have been the frontmen choices alongside Konaté and one of the main doubts lays on whether he’ll keep Konaté as a starter or will Cissé put on-form Sow again as the striker.

Star Player: Sadio Mané continues to grow and showing his footballing skills with Liverpool.

Some thought he’d have trouble grabbing a spot in the change from Southampton to the ‘Reds’ but the creative, still with only 24 years old, is proving his quality.

OM/RM LW LB/CB/RB LF/RF/CF RB/LB LB GK 1.84

Foundation – 1956 CAF Affiliation – 1960 FIFA Affiliation – 1960 Nickname – Les Aigles de Carthage Repúblique tunisienne Gentilics – Tunisian Capital – Tunis Largest city – Tunes Area – 163610 km2 Language – Arabic, Berber, French Population – 10982754 Ethnic Groups – Arab-Berbere (98%) Motto – Hurriyyah, Nizãm, ‘Adãlah (Liberty, Order, Justice) Religion – Islamic (98%) Currency – Tunisian Dinar Borders – Algeria, Libya CAN – 2004 (winners) Arab Nations Cup – 1963 (winners) CHAN Cup – 2011 (winners) World Cup finals – 1978, 1998, 2002, 2006 Olympic Games finals – 1960, 1988, 1996, 2004 Most capped – Sadok Sassi ‘Attouga’ (116) Biggest scorer – Issam Jemaa (38) Algeria was Tunisia’s first opponent, in 1957, with a loss 1-2. Since then Tunisia solified itself in the football scenario, being the first African national side to win a match in a World Cup final stage (1978).

In 2004 Tunisia won the CAN Cup while hosting the final stages.

The Tunisian footballers are known for their technical skills and they are a regular entry and interest to the European leagues. Like the Maghreb neighbors the league is well organized and they are very successful in the club Continental Cups.

This will be the 19th finals for the Eagles of Carthage.

Espérance Tunes is the most successful club in Tunisia and also the most popular. They have won 26 leagues, 15 cups, 3 Super cups, 2 CAF Champions Leagues, 1 CAF Cup Winners’ Cup, 1 CAF Super cup, 1 CAF Cup, 2 Arab Champions Cup, 1 Arab Super Cup, 1 Afro-Asian Club Championship and 1 North Africa Cup Winners’ Cup, an impressive trophy room (and this is just football, with the club also having several other sports)!

Club Africain is the other big club from Tunis and this capital derby is intense! They have won 13 leagues, 12 cups, 3 Super cups, 1 Maghreb Cup Winners’ Cup, 3 Maghreb Champions Cup, 1 Arab Champions League, 1 Arab Cup Winners’ Cup, 2 North African Cup of Champions, 1 CAF Champions League and 1 Afro-Asian Club Championship!

It’s inevitable to touch also ES Sahel, one of the only two clubs in the world (with Juventus) to have all international club competitions of the respective confederation! They have won 10 leagues, 10 cups, 1 league cup, 3 Super cup, 1 CAF Champions League, 2 CAF Confederation Cup, 2 CAF Cup Winners’ Cup, 2 CAF Cup, 2 CAF Super Cup, 1 Maghreb Champions Cup, 1 Maghreb Cup Winners’ Cup!

Tunisia Opponent Matches Wins Draws Losses Algeria 43 13 15 15 Burkina Faso 5 1 3 1 Cameroon 16 2 6 8 DR Congo 11 5 3 3 Egypt 36 15 10 11 Gabon 11 4 6 1 Ghana 17 4 4 9 Guinea-Bissau 1 1 0 0 Ivory Coast 18 6 6 6 Mali 9 5 0 4 Morocco 49 9 28 12 Senegal 19 9 7 3 Togo 10 7 3 0 Uganda 4 4 0 0 Zimbabwe 1 0 1 0

Tunisia CAN Finals Matches Wins Draws Losses Goals for – Goals against First Participation Biggest Win

17 (winners 2004) 64 20 24 20 81-80 1962 4-0 (Ethiopia, 1965)

Date 15-12-63 27-12-64 14-03-65 17-11-68 29-12-68 05-06-72 16-11-72 12-05-73 11-05-74 03-10-74 06-04-75 30-05-75 04-09-75 06-02-77 28-02-77 23-09-79 07-02-82 19-12-82 11-09-83 30-12-84 01-05-85 06-10-85 18-10-85 11-01-87 27-03-87 12-04-87 05-11-88 04-04-89 01-11-89 05-03-91 07-04-91 23-09-92 16-12-94 22-07-95 05-11-95 04-01-97 31-05-97 24-01-99 06-06-99 28-06-00 12-11-11 22-01-13 07-11-98 21-04-63 14-11-65

City Tunis Algiers Tunis Algiers Rades Tunis Tunis Casablanca Algiers Damascus Oran Algiers Rades Algiers Split Tunis Tunis El Jadida Abidjan Rades Rades Algiers Rades Algiers Tunis Rades Algiers Rades Annaba Rades Rades Sfax Algiers Rades Sfax Rades Algiers Tunis Tunis Algiers Rustenburg Rades Dakar Tunis

Country Tunisia Algeria Tunisia Algeria Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Morocco Algeria Syria Algeria Algeria Algeria Tunisia Algeria Yugoslavia Tunisia Tunisia Morocco Ivory Coast Tunisia Tunisia Algeria Tunisia Algeria Tunisia Tunisia Algeria Tunisia Algeria Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Algeria Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Algeria Tunisia Tunisia Algeria South Africa Tunisia Senegal Tunisia

Opponent Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Algeria Zimbabwe Senegal Senegal

Result 0-0 0-1 0-0 2-1 0-0 3-1 1-2 1-2 2-1 1.0 1-1 1-2 1-2 2-0 1-1 1-1 0-1 0-1 3-2 1-3 1-0 1-4 0-3 0-2 0-1 1-1 1-0 0-2 0-0 1-2 0-0 1-1 1-2 1-2 2-0 0-0 0-1 1-0 2-0 2-2 0-1 1-0 1-1 1-1 0-0

Competition Friendly African Games African Games FIFA WC FIFA WC Friendly Friendly Friendly Friendly Arab Cup CAN Friendly Medit. Games FIFA WC FIFA WC Medit. Games Friendly Friendly Medit. Games Tournament Friendly FIFA WC FIFA WC Friendly CAN CAN Friendly Friendly Friendly Friendly Friendly Friendly Friendly Friendly Tournament Friendly Friendly CAN CAN Friendly Friendly CAN Friendly African Games CAN

Stage Gr Stage Gr Stage Qual Qual

Qual Semis Qual Qual Gr Stage

Gr Stage

Qual Qual Qual Qual

Qual Qual

Gr Stage Final Gr Stage

26-12-79 05-04-80 12-04-81 26-04-81 08-08-87 01-07-89 16-07-89 07-01-95 15-07-95 26-05-96 11-06-00 31-01-02 30-04-03 07-02-04 23-01-08 10-10-14 15-10-14

Tunis Dakar Tunis Dakar Nairobi Dakar Tunis Ziguinchor Tunis Tunis Tunis Kayes Rades Rades Tamale Dakar Monastir

Tunisia Senegal Tunisia Senegal Kenya Senegal Tunisia Senegal Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia Mali Tunisia Tunisia Ghana Senegal Tunisia

Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal Senegal

Tunisia Rami Jridi

P.O.B. Tunis

Age 32

Club CS Sfaxien

Chamseddine Dhaouadi Aymen Abdennour

Tunis Sousse

29 27

Espérance Tunis Valencia (Spa)

Syam Ben Youssef

Marseille (Fra)

27

Caen (Fra)

Sousse Tunis Bizerte

22 22 26 26 27

CA Bizertin Club Africain ES Sahel Lekhwiya (Qat) Al Ittihad (KSA) Sunderland (Eng) Espérance Tunis Al Ahly (Egy) Espérance Tunis ES Sahel Nimes (Fra) ES Sahel CS Sfaxien Lille (Fra) Club Africain Rizespor (Tur)

Sliman Kchouk Ahmed Khalil Hamza Lahmar Youssef Msakni Ahmed Akaichi Wahbi Khazri Taha Yassine Khenissi Ali Maaloul Ferjani Sassi Mohamed Ben Amor Larry Azouni Aymen Mathlouthi Hamza Mathlouthi Naim Sliti Saber Khalifa

Ajaccio (Fra) Zarzis Sfax Ariana Marseille (Fra) Tunis Zarzouna Marseille (Fra) Gabès

25 24 27 24 24 22 32 24 24 30

Mohamed Ali Yaacoubi

Kairouan

26

Hamdi Nagguez Moez Ben Chrifia Zied Boughattas

Menzel Kamel Tunis Beni Hassen

Henryk Kasperczak

Zabrze (Pol)

24 ES Sahel 25 Espérance Tunis 26 ES Sahel 26.40 70

3-1 2-0 1-0 0-0 0-1 0-3 0-1 0-0 4-0 2-0 4-1 0-0 1-0 1-0 2-2 0-0 1-0

Friendly Friendly CAN CAN African Games CAN CAN CAN CAN Friendly Friendly CAN Friendly CAN CAN CAN CAN

Qual Qual 7/8 Qual Qual Qual Qual

Gr Stage Quarters Gr Stage Qual Qual

Trajectory ES Tunis, ES Zarzis, EOG Kram, Jendouba Sport, EGS Gafsa, Stade Tunisien Hammam-Lif, ES Sahel ES Sahel, Werder Bremen, Toulouse, Monaco Bastia, Espérance Tunis, Leyton Orient, Astra Giurgiu JS Kairouan ES Zarzis, Hammam Sousse Stade Tunisien, Espérance Tunis Bizertin, Club Africain, ES Sahel, Ingolstadt, Espérance Tunis JS Ajaccio, Bastia, G. Bordeaux Sfaxien CS Sfaxien Stade Tunisien, Sfaxien, Metz Sfax Railways O. Marseille, Lorient JS El Omrane, Club Africain CA Bizertin Sedan, Paris FC, Red Star 93 Stade Gabesien, Hammam-Lif, Espérance Tunis, Al-Ahli, Evian TG, O. Marseille JS Kairouanaise, Club Africain, Espérance Tunis

Pos. GK CB/DM CB CB/RB LB/CB CM/CB OM/LW/RW LW/OM CF/RF/LF LW/RW/OM CF LB/LM CM DM DM GK RB/RM LW/OM/RW CF/RF/LF CB RB/LB/CB GK CB/DM 1.84

The Polish-born Frenchman Kasperczak used a 3 central defenders system during the qualifying, but tested a 4 defense line in the friendly against Uganda. However, with Algeria and Senegal as opposition, he’ll likely maintain the 5 men defense in the AFCON group stage.

He has a downside though; the Tunisian centre backs are lacking pitch time in their clubs. On the other hand, the right back position has 2 contenders in top form at the Tunisian league, both Nagguez and Mathlouthi, playing important roles in their sides performances, topping the Group A of the league.

Star Player: The ‘Little Mozart’keeps on shining in the Qatar Stars League, to where he moved in 2013. Msakni makes a difference by himself, has a game of his own and alongside Khazri can destroy any rival. The successive Tunisian managers show some difficulty in placing the stars on the pitch at the same time, happened with these two, with Chikhaoui too, but let’s hope Kasperczak is daring enough to place them together behind on-form Khenissi or Akaichi, not disregarding creative Lahmar, also a serious contender to a starting line-up spot.

If the right back spot is on the line, on the left Maaloul is the owner of the back with the manager debuting Kchouk in the national team in the friendly against Uganda and giving him the reserve place. The young ‘crocodile’ Azouni and Ben Amor are the frontrunners to the contention midfield, having Sassi and Khalil as challengers.

Foundation – 1960 CAF Affiliation – 1960 FIFA Affiliation – 1961 Nickname – Eléphants

Repúblique de Côte d’Ivoire Gentilics – Ivorian Capital – Yamoussoukro Largest city - Abidjan 2 Area – 322460 km Language – French Population – 23919000 Religion – Islamic and Christian (37,5%) Ethnic Groups – Akan (42%), Gur (18%), Northern Mandé (17%) Motto – Union, Discipline, Travail (Union, Discipline, Work) Currency – CFA Franc Borders – Liberia, Mali, Guinea, Burkina-Faso, Ghana CAN – 1992, 2015 (winners) CEDEAO Cup – 1983, 1987, 1991 (winners) World Cup finals – 2006, 2010 Toulon Youth Festival – 2010 (winners) Most capped –Didier Zokora (123) Top goalscorer – Didier Drogba (65) Côte d’Ivoire started its international encounters against Dahomey (now Benin), in 1960, winning by 3-2.

With a major French influence, due to the colonial bond, it is one of the most admired African national sides, even with the absence of titles, in comparison with the teams’ potential.

The mediatic Academical African growth started here, with Jean-Marc Guillou picking the local main team’s Academy to raise and export footballers, a project now taken to other countries but whose legacy is still the pillar of the Elephants.

This will be the 22nd participation in CAN finals and they’re the holders.

Academie Sportive des Employés de Commerce Mimosas (ASEC Mimosas) is the most successful club in the country, with the club’s Academy known for the conditions, the teachings, regarded as the best in Africa and the place of ‘birth’ for most of the present ‘Elephants’. They have won 24 leagues, 18 cups, 14 Super cups, 1 CAF Super cup, 1 CAF Champions League, 1 UFOA Cup. It’s seeded in the former capital and country’s biggest city, Abidjan.

Also from Abidjan is Africa Sports, with 17 leagues, 16 cups, 11 Super cups, 2 CAF Cup Winners’ Cup, 1 CAF Super cup, 3 UFOA Cups.

Cote Ivoire Opponent Matches Wins Draws Losses Algeria 21 7 8 6 Burkina Faso 19 9 9 1 Cameroon 19 7 4 8 DR Congo 17 8 4 5 Egypt 23 7 6 10 Gabon 12 8 2 2 Ghana 34 13 8 13 Guinea-Bissau 0 0 0 0 Mali 25 16 7 2 Morocco 17 6 7 4 Senegal 18 11 3 4 Togo 21 11 5 5 Tunisia 18 6 6 6 Uganda 2 1 1 0 Zimbabwe 3 1 2 0

Côte d’Ivoire CAN Finals Matches Wins Draws Losses Goals for – Goals against First Participation Biggest Win

21 (winners 92, 15) 87 39 22 26 129-94 1965 6-1 (Ethiopia, 1970)

Date 31-07-66 28-02-67 31-03-67 23-03-75 27-04-75 27-01-79 21-10-79 28-10-79 21-02-82 28-09-83 20-12-83 04-03-84 23-11-84 02-02-87 22-11-87 13-12-87 15-01-95 04-01-99 24-01-00 21-01-02 22-01-13 15-04-60 16-04-63 17-07-65 14-11-65 05-03-85 24-11-85 18-03-87 22-03-87 16-03-88 01-06-89 05-01-92 10-03-01 29-07-01 08-02-05 11-10-14 15-10-14 04-02-15 20-05-73 03-06-73 12-02-80 15-01-84 20-03-86 19-03-88 21-02-90 13-01-91 28-07-91

City Lomé Abidjan Lomé Abidjan Dakar Bissau Abidjan Abidjan Porto-Novo Abidjan Abidjan Abidjan Ouagadougou Monrovia Abidjan Lomé Bouaké Abidjan Accra Sikasso Rustenburg Antananarivo Dakar Brazzaville Sfax Abidjan Kinshasa Abidjan Abidjan Casablanca Abidjan Kinshasa Kinshasa Abidjan Rouen Kinshasa Abidjan Bata Abidjan Tétouan Abidjan Abidjan Cairo Casablanca Casablanca Rabat Abidjan

Country Togo Ivory Coast Togo Ivory Coast Senegal Guinea-Bissau Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Benin Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Burkina Faso Liberia Ivory Coast Togo Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ghana Mali South Africa Madagascar Senegal Rep. Congo Tunisia Ivory Coast DR Congo Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Morocco Ivory Coast DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo France DR Congo DR Congo Eq. Guinea Ivory Coast Morocco Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Egypt Morocco Morocco Morocco Ivory Coast

Opponent Togo Togo Togo Togo Togo Togo Togo Togo Togo Togo Togo Togo Togo Togo Togo Togo Togo Togo Togo Togo Togo DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo Morocco Morocco Morocco Morocco Morocco Morocco Morocco Morocco Morocco

Result 2-1 3-0 2-0 2-0 0-3 0-1 3-0 0-1 1-1 3-0 1-0 3-0 1-1 0-1 3-0 0-1 0-0 3-1 1-1 0-0 2-1 2-3 1-0 1-1 3-0 2-1 2-1 2-1 1-3 1-1 1-1 0-2 2-1 1-2 2-2 2-1 3-4 3-1 1-1 1-4 4-4 3-3 3-2 0-0 1-2 1-3 2-0

Competition Friendly CAN CAN Friendly Friendly Unknown Friendly Friendly WAFU Cup WAFU Cup CEDEAO Cup CAN WAFU Cup WAFU Cup CEDEAO Cup CEDEAO Cup Friendly Friendly CAN CAN CAN Tournament Tournament All African Games CAN Friendly Friendly Friendly Friendly CAN Friendly Friendly FIFA WC FIFA WC Friendly CAN CAN CAN FIFA WC FIFA WC Friendly Friendly CAN CAN Friendly CAN CAN

Stage Qual Qual

Semis Gr Stage Final Gr Stage Gr Stage Gr Stage Prel Prel

Gr Stage Gr Stage Gr Stage

Gr Stage Gr Stage

Gr Stage

Qual Qual Qual Qual Semis Qual Qual

3rd/4th Gr Stage Qual Qual

13-11-94 05-06-95 30-04-03 21-01-06 09-06-12 07-09-13 20-01-16 12-11-16

Casablanca Abidjan Rabat Cairo Marrakech Abidjan Kigali Marrakech

Morocco Ivory Coast Morocco Egypt Morocco Ivory Coast Rwanda Morocco

Morocco Morocco Morocco Morocco Morocco Morocco Morocco Morocco

Côte d’Ivoire Mandé Sayouba Mamadou Bagayoko

P.O.B. Abidjan Abidjan

Age 23 27

Club Stabaek (Nor) STVV (Bel)

Serge N’Guessan Lamine Koné Wilfried Kanon

Abidjan Paris (Fra) Abidjan

22 27 23

Nancy (Fra) Sunderland (Eng) Den Haag (Ned)

Jean-Michel Seri

Grand-Bereby

25

OGC Nice (Fra)

Victorien Angban Salomon Kalou Eric Bailly Cheick Doukouré Franck Kessié Wilfried Bony

Oumé Bingerville Abidjan Ouragahio Bingerville

20 31 22 24 20 28

Granada (Spa) Hertha Berlin (Ger) Man United (Eng) Metz (Fra) Atalanta (Ita) Stoke City (Eng)

Giovanni Sio

St Sébastien (Fra)

27

Rennes (Fra)

Wilfried Zaha Max Gradel Sylvain Gbohouo Serge Aurier

Abidjan Abidjan Bonoua Ouragahio

24 29 28 24

Crystal Palace (Eng) Bournemouth (Eng) TP Mazembe (DRC) PSG (Fra)

Adama Traoré

Bondoukou

26

Basel (Swi)

Simon Deli Geoffrey Serey Dié

Abidjan Facobly

25 32

Slávia Prague (Cze) Basel (Swi)

Nicolas Pepe Jonathan Kodjia

Mantes (Fra) St. Denis (Fra)

21 27

Angers (Fra) Aston Villa (Eng)

Badra Ali Sangaré

Bingerville

30

AS Tanda

Michel Dussuyer

Cannes (Fra)

25.82 57

0-1 2-0 1-0 1-0 2-2 1-1 1-0 0-0

CAN CAN Friendly CAN FIFA WC FIFA WC CHAN FIFA WC

Qual Qual Gr Stage Qual Qual Gr Stage Qual

Trajectory

Africa Sports, Slovan Bratislava, Artmedia Petrzalka AFAD Djékanou Châteauroux, Lorient CC Domoraud, Empoli, G. Bistrita, Corona Brasov Africa Sports, ASEC Mimosas, FC Porto B, P. Ferreira Stade d’Abidjan, Chelsea, STVV ASEC, Feyenoord, Excelsior, Chelsea, Lille Espanyol, Villarreal Lorient, Epinal Stella Club, Cesena Maracana Bingerville, CC Domoraud, Issia Wazi, Sparta Prague, Vitesse, Swansea, Man. City Nantes, Real Sociedad, Sion, Wolfsburg, Augsburg, Sochaux, Basel, Bastia Man. United, Cardiff, Leicester, Leeds Utd, Saint-Étienne Séwé Sports Stade d’Abidjan, Villepinte, R. Lens, Toulouse EFYM, Gold Coast Utd, Melbourne Victory, V. Guimarães Sparta Prague, C. Budejovice, Pribram Ivoire Academie, Volcan Jr, Stade d’Abidjan, EOG Kram, ES Sètif, Sion, Stuttgart Orléans Stade Reims, Cherbourg, Amiens, Caen, Bristol City ES Bingerville, Chonburi, BEC Tero Sasana, Ol. Charleroi, Séwé Sports, ASEC Mimosas

The former goalie Dussuyer maintains the prevalence of French managers in this event. He debuted as a manager in the AFCON in 2004 at the helm of Guinea. In 2010 he led Benin to the finals and in 2012 and 2015 he again qualified and managed Guinea, now going to his 5th finals.

Pos GK RB/RM CM CB/RB CB/LB CM DM LF/RF/CF CB DM DM CF CF/RF/LF RW/LW RW/LW GK RB/LM LB/LM CB/DM DM RF/CF ST GK 1.81

The work of Guillou at ASEC Mimosas paved way to the Ivorian golden generation, ending the generation in the 2015 success. The several managers that oriented the national team extended the ‘expiration date’ of some footballers and, like it happened in several European nations – Belgium, Poland, etc. – it was thought that it would create a void. However, this next generation is proving high quality and it’s ambitious enough to achieve great things.

Star Player: Kalou keeps on being the name with the biggest history but Aurier and Bailly, due to their high paying rolls and transfers are the new big stars to catch the eye.

Kessié and Seri are performing strongly in both Atalanta and the amazing OGC Nice season, which put them with confidence levels at top. Gradel is losing his historical edge for he isn’t playing much with the ‘Cherries’, contrary to Sio, who is performing well at Rennes. Zaha and Bony have been struggling to confirm themselves, to live up to the potential seen before, nevertheless they’re two arrows pointed into the ‘Elephants’ opponents.

Nicolas Pepe, Angban, Kanon or even Adama Traoré, who Vitória Guimarães scouted ‘lost’ in Australia and is making a name for himself at Swiss champions Basel, add to the above mentioned as the new faces of this Ivory Coast.

The average age of the predicted starters is of 26.74.

Foundation – 1960 CAF Affiliation – 1963 FIFA Affiliation – 1962 Nickname – Eperviers Repúblique Togolaise Gentilics – Togolese Capital – Lomé Larges city – Lomé Area – 56785 km2 Language – French Population – 7552318 Religion – African Indigenous (51%) Ethnic Groups – Ewe (32%), Kabye (22%), Ouatchis (14%), Tchamba Motto – Tavrail, Liberté, Patrie (Work, Freedom, Homeland) Currency – CFA Franc Borders – Ghana, Benin, Burkina Faso World Cup finals – 2006

CAN – 2013 (quarters)

Togo had the first international match still as French Togoland and against the, at the time, Gold Coast (now Ghana), drawing 1-1 in 1956.

The country’s biggest achievement was the surprise qualification for the World Cup finals in 2006, remembering that Togo never passed the group stage in the CAN in the 6 final stages entries until 2013, when they went into quarters.

Unfortunately, the 2010 withdraw after the attack in the Cabinda Enclave is the biggest association to the Togolese side, an ambush that killed three members of the Togo mission to the CAN finals.

The two most successful clubs in Togo are Semassi, from the town of Sokodé, already with 10 leagues, the last in 2014, and 3 cups, and Étoile Filante de Lomé, with 7 leagues – the last in 1992 – and 4 cups, with a CAF Champions Club Cup final and a French West African Cup. Dynamo Togolais won 6 leagues and is regaining power in a league that has a number of years without a winner or without even a competition.

Togo Opponent Matches Wins Draws Losses Algeria 4 2 1 1 Burkina Faso 21 9 6 6 Cameroon 21 3 4 14 DR Congo 14 1 3 10 Egypt 7 1 1 5 Gabon 11 2 3 6 Ghana 27 6 8 13 Guinea-Bissau 5 2 3 0 Ivory Coast 21 5 5 11 Mali 14 6 2 6 Morocco 10 3 3 4 Senegal 21 11 5 5 Tunisia 10 0 3 7 Uganda 8 5 1 2 Zimbabwe 4 1 0 3

Togo CAN Finals Matches Wins Draws Losses Goals for – Goals against First Participation Biggest Win

Date 31-07-66 28-02-67 31-03-67 23-03-75 27-04-75 27-01-79 21-10-79 28-10-79 21-02-82 28-09-83 20-12-83

City Lomé Abidjan Lomé Abidjan Dakar Bissau Abidjan Abidjan Porto-Novo Abidjan Abidjan

Country Togo Ivory Coast Togo Ivory Coast Senegal Guinea-Bissau Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Benin Ivory Coast Ivory Coast

7 (withdraw 2010) 22 3 7 12 17-36 1972 2-0 (Algeria, 2013)

Opponent Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast

Result 1-2 0-3 0-2 0-2 3-0 1-0 0-3 1-0 1-1 0-3 0-1

Competition Friendly CAN CAN Friendly Friendly Unknown Friendly Friendly WAFU Cup WAFU Cup CEDEAO Cup

Stage Qual Qual

Semis Gr Stage Final

04-03-84 23-11-84 02-02-87 22-11-87 13-12-87 15-01-95 04-01-99 24-01-00 21-01-02 22-01-13 03-06-79 17-06-79 26-11-97 28-02-99 10-04-99 17-08-05 20-06-09 06-09-09 14-11-12 15-11-16 09-01-65 23-07-65 31-01-67 06-06-72 20-06-72 08-07-79 23-02-97 27-07-97 09-02-98 26-01-02 21-01-06 20-08-08 10-06-12 08-09-13

Abidjan Ouagadougou Monrovia Abidjan Lomé Bouaké Abidjan Accra Sikasso Rustenburg Lomé Mohammedia Rabat Lomé Casablanca Rouen Rabat Lomé Casablanca Marrakech

Ivory Coast Burkina Faso Liberia Ivory Coast Togo Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ghana Mali South Africa Togo Morocco Morocco Togo Morocco France Morocco Togo Morocco Morocco

Brazzaville Lomé Lomé Kinshasa

Rep. Congo Togo Togo DR Congo DR Congo Togo DR Congo Burkina Faso Mali Egypt France DR Congo Togo

Lomé Kinshasa Ouagadougou Sikasso Cairo Dreux Kinshasa Lomé

Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Morocco Morocco Morocco Morocco Morocco Morocco Morocco Morocco Morocco Morocco DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo

0-3 1-1 1-0 0-3 1-0 0-0 1-3 1-1 0-0 1-2 2-1 0-7 0-3 2-3 1-1 1-0 0-0 1-1 1-0 1-2 0-3 1-5 2-4 0-0 0-4 1-4 1-1 0-1 1-2 0-0 0-2 1-2 0-2 2-1

CAN WAFU Cup WAFU Cup CEDEAO Cup CEDEAO Cup Friendly Friendly CAN CAN CAN CAN CAN Friendly CAN CAN Friendly FIFA WC FIFA WC Friendly Friendly Friendly African Games Friendly FIFA WC FIFA WC Friendly CAN CAN CAN CAN CAN Friendly FIFA WC FIFA WC

Gr Stage Gr Stage Gr Stage Prel Prel

Gr Stage Gr Stage Gr Stage Qual Qual Qual Qual Qual Qual

Semis Qual Qual Qual Qual Gr Stage Gr Stage Gr Stage Qual Qual

Togo Baba Tchagouni Franco Atchou Maklibé Kouloun Emmanuel Adebayor

Lomé

Age 26 21 29 32

Club Marmande (Fra) DYTO DYTO No club

Serge Akakpo

Lomé

29

Trabzonspor (Tur)

Abdoul Gafar Mamah

Lomé

31

Dacia (Mda)

Mathieu Dossevi

Chambray (Fra)

28

Standard Liège (Bel)

Prince Segbefia

Lomé

25

Goztepe Izmir (Tur)

Lalawélé Atakora

Lomé

26

Helsingborgs (Swe)

Laba Kodjo Fo Doh Ihlas Bebou Floyd Ayité

Aledjo Kadara Bordeaux (Fra)

24 22 28

RS Berkane (Mar) F. Dusseldorf (Ger) Fulham (Eng)

Sadat Ouro-Akoriko

Sokodé

28

Al Khaleej (KSA)

Henri Eninful Alayxis Romao

Notsé L’Hay l/ Roses (Fra)

24 32

Doxa (Cyp) Olympiacos (Gre)

Kossi Agassa

Lomé

38

No club

Serge Gakpé

Bondy (Fra)

29

Genoa (Ita)

Komlan Agbegniadan Hakim Ouro-Sama Razak Boukari Dakonam Djené Vincent Bossou

Lomé Lome Dapaong Kara

25 19 29 25 30

WAFA (Gha) Togo-Port Châteauroux (Fra) STVV (Bel) Young Africans (Tnz)

Cédric Mensah

Marseille (Fra)

27

Le Mans (Fra)

Bois-Normand (Fra)

27,82 68

Claude Le Roy

P.O.B. Lomé

Trajectory Planète Foot, Martigues, Dijon, Lille

Merlan, Metz, Monaco, Arsenal, Man. City, Real Madrid, Tottenham, C. Palace Auxerre, Vaslui, Celje, Zilina, H. Uzhgorod, 1461 Trabzon Bristol City, Gomido, FC105, Sheriff Tiraspol, Alania Tours, Le Mans, Valenciennes, Olympiacos SC Lomé, Al Ain, Auxerre, Zorya, Elazigspor Delta Academy, Fredrikstad, IFK Varnamo, AIK Solna, Balikesirspor US Bitam Garather, Hilden G. Bordeaux, Angers, Nancy, Stade Reims, Bastia Etoile Filante, Free State Stars, AmaZulu, Faisaly Standard Liège, Ujpest, Kecskemeti Toulouse, Louhans-Cuiseaux, Grenoble, Lorient Africa Sports, Étoile Filante, Merlan, Metz, Hércules, Stade Reims, Istres Pontault, Monaco, Tours, Nantes, Standard Liège, Atalanta

Lens, Rennes, Wolves, Sochaux Coton Sport, Alcorcón Maranatha, ES Sahel, Navibank FC, Bec. Binh Duong, Goyang Zaicro JSA St. Antoine, Callolais, Marseille Endoume, G. Bordeaux, Lille, Paris FC, O. Marseille

Togo hired in early 2016 the ‘White Wizard’ original, the veteran Claude Le Roy who started his magic in Africa managing Cameroon in the 80’s, finalist of the AFCON 1986 and winner in 88, he also led Senegal to the quarters in 92. In 2006 Le Roy qualified and led DR Congo into the finals, which he repeated in the 2013 edition, he also took Ghana to 3rd place in the 2008. He’s the veteran of the African Cup of Nations.

Star Player: Despite having no club, Emmanuel Adebayor is still the biggest name in the ‘Eperviers’. Although he loves his country, the contradictory behavior of the forward, not accepting to be benched, demanding the ball all the time can jeopardise the side’s success.

Pos GK MF LB ST CB/RB RB/LB RM/LM/CM CM RM/LM/CM FW RF/LF/CF LF/RF/CF CB/DM DM DM/CB GK RF/LF/CF CF/RF/LF CB/LB RW/LW/OM RB/CB/LB CB GK 1.81

Bebou is shining high with Fortuna Dusseldorf and despite the Mlapa denial; he can be the German-boost for the Togolese to strike hard on their opponents. Used more often in the front wings, Bebou can easily get inside, score and assist; both able to play in the 3-men attack or being free behind a more positional striker.

Another player performing well is Floyd Ayité and it would be interesting to watch a very mobile front with Bebou and the younger Ayité not giving a marking reference to the opposition defenders, but with Adebayor on the mix the more likely is that he’ll be a starter.

Le Roy will certainly need wizardry to overcome the ‘Group of Death’.

Foundation – 1919 CAF Affiliation – 1963 FIFA Affiliation – 1962 Nickname – Leopards Democratic Republic of Congo Gentílics – Congolese Capital – Kinshasa Biggest city - Kinshasa Area – 2345409 km2 Population – 81680000 Language – French; Lingala, Kikongo, Swahili, Tshiluba Ethnic Groups – Bantu (80%) Motto – Justice, Paix, Travail (Justice, Peace Work) Religion – Christians (95%) Currency – Congolese franc Borders – Angola, Congo, Zambia, Burundi, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan, Central African Republic CAN – 1968, 1974 (winners) Central African Games – 1981 (winners) World Cup finals – 1974 With several names throughout history, Congo-Kinshasa, Belgian Congo, Zaire, among others, it has one of the olders national federations, founded while still under European domination (1919).

The first international match was played in 1948, as Belgian Congo, against Northern Rodesia, now called Zambia, with a home win of 3-2.

Officially, after the FIFA and CAF entries, the first match was against Mauritania, in a friendly tournament in Senegal, with a 6-0 result.

DR Congo had the football glory days in the 70’s, winning the CAF in 1968 and 1974 and entering the World Cup finals in 1974, the first Sub-Saharan African country to achieve that.

The civil wars destroyed most of the country and football suffered like all other areas, with a huge number of refugees and the appearance of the ‘sons’ of the nation in sides like Belgium, France, the Netherlands, England, Switzerland or Portugal.

Nowadays the Leopards are reviving themselves, mixing local and European raised talents, trying to imitate the features of the local clubs.

The biggest club is probably Tout Puissant (TP) Mazembe, founded by monks, like the other main club of the country’s second largest city, Lubumbashi. Mazembe won the Linafoot (local league) 15 times, has 5 cups, 5 CAF Champions League, 1 CAF Cup Winners’ Cup, 2 CAF Super Cup and a FIFA World Club Cup final.

The two big rivals are from the capital Kinshasa and play one of the oldest and fiercest African derbies. They are AS Vita Club and Motema Pembe and their encounters usually gather around 80 thousand in the stadium!

AS Vita Club, les dauphins noirs (black dolphins), won 13 Linafoot, 9 cups, 1 CAF Champions Cup, while Daring Club Motema Pembe, les Immaculés (the immaculates) won 12 Linafoot, 13 cups, 1 CAF Cup Winners’ Cup.

Congo DR Opponent Matches Wins Draws Losses Algeria 5 0 3 2 Burkina Faso 6 3 1 2 Cameroon 34 10 8 16 Egypt 9 1 3 5 Gabon 13 3 7 3 Ghana 19 4 5 10 Guinea-Bissau 0 0 0 0 Ivory Coast 17 5 4 8 Mali 6 2 1 3 Morocco 12 2 6 4 Senegal 11 2 4 5 Togo 14 10 3 1 Tunisia 11 3 3 5 Uganda 11 6 1 4 Zimbabwe 4 2 0 2

DR Congo CAN Finals Matches Wins Draws Losses Goals for – Goals against First Participation Biggest Win

Date 15-04-60 16-04-63 17-07-65 14-11-65 05-03-85 24-11-85 18-03-87 22-03-87 16-03-88 01-06-89 05-01-92 10-03-01 29-07-01 08-02-05

City Antananarivo Dakar Brazzaville Sfax Abidjan Kinshasa Abidjan Abidjan Casablanca Abidjan Kinshasa Kinshasa Abidjan Rouen

Country Madagascar Senegal Rep. Congo Tunisia Ivory Coast DR Congo Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Morocco Ivory Coast DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo France

17 (win 1968, 1974) 65 17 22 26 75-91 1965 4-1 (Mauritius 1974)

Opponent Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast

Result 3-2 0-1 1-1 0-3 1-2 1-2 1-2 3-1 1-1 1-1 2-0 1-2 2-1 2-2

Competition Tournament Tournament African Games CAN Friendly Friendly Friendly Friendly CAN Friendly Friendly FIFA WC FIFA WC Friendly

Stage

Gr Stage Gr Stage

Gr Stage

Qual Qual

11-10-14 15-10-14 04-02-15 09-01-65 23-07-65 31-01-67 06-06-72 20-06-72 08-07-79 23-02-97 27-07-97 09-02-98 26-01-02 21-01-06 20-08-08 10-06-12 08-09-13 29-02-72 09-12-73 23-12-73 04-03-76 25-08-85 08-09-85 13-03-88 11-06-89 27-08-89 14-01-92 29-08-96 09-01-06

Kinshasa Abidjan Bata

DR Congo DR Congo Eq. Guinea

Brazzaville Lomé Lomé Kinshasa

Rep. Congo Togo Togo DR Congo DR Congo Togo DR Congo Burkina Faso Mali Egypt France DR Congo Togo Cameroon DR Congo Morocco Ethiopia DR Congo Morocco Morocco DR Congo Morocco Senegal Morocco Morocco

Lomé Kinshasa Ouagadougou Sikasso Cairo Dreux Kinshasa Lomé Douala Kinshasa Rabat Dire Dawa

Casablanca Kinshasa Kenitra Dakar

Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Togo Togo Togo Togo Togo Togo Togo Togo Togo Togo Togo Togo Togo Togo Morocco Morocco Morocco Morocco Morocco Morocco Morocco Morocco Morocco Morocco Morocco Morocco

1-2 4-3 1-3 3-0 5-1 4-2 0-0 4-0 4-1 1-1 1-2 2-1 0-0 2-0 2-1 2-0 1-2 1-1 3-0 2-0 0-1 0-0 0-1 1-1 0-0 1-1 1-1 0-7 0-3

CAN CAN CAN Friendly African Games Friendly FIFA WC FIFA WC Friendly CAN CAN CAN CAN CAN Friendly FIFA WC FIFA WC CAN FIFA WC FIFA WC CAN CAN CAN CAN FIFA WC FIFA WC CAN Friendly Friendly

Qual Qual Semis Semis Qual Qual Qual Qual Gr Stage Gr Stage Gr Stage Qual Qual Gr Stage Qual Qual Gr Stage Qual Qual Gr Stage Qual Qual Gr Stage

In a country where football and footballers are like the marvelous Congo rainforest, amazing and immense, it’s hard to see it suffer from the instability of the country, a land that hosts a heavy number of different nations. However this doesn’t prevent the stadia from being full to watch local football.

After a drought that succeeded the great 70’s, 80’s and 90’s in the Zaire/DR Congo football, the country seems to be pulling back. TP Mazembe imposes its power in the continental football, arguably the best team in the Sub-Saharan Africa and DR Congo is claiming a lot of ‘sons of the country’, born and raised in Europe, to defend its football colours.

Ibengue took over after Le Roy and it wasn’t very promising, the team wasn’t playing that well, winning narrowly, far from the captivating displays of the past, but the outperformed themselves in the 2015 AFCON, ending it on the podium. Exotic keeper Kidiaba is no more and the renovation was a must but despite several European refusals to join the group, names like Jordan Lukaku, there are high hopes and expectations to the 2017 event. However Ibengue has names to be bolder on the pitch and place a side to rule, to boss the matches.

DR Congo Ley Matampi Issama Mpeko

P.O.B. Kinshasa Mbandaka

Age 27 30

Club TP Mazembe TP Mazembe

Fabrice N’Sakala Jordan Ikoko Marcel Tisserand Jordan Botaka

Mesnil (Fra) Montereau (Fra) Meaux (Fra) Kinshasa

26 22 23 23

Alanyaspor (Tur) Guingamp (Fra) Ingolstadt (Ger) Charlton (Eng)

Youssouf Mulumbu Paul-José Mpoku

Kinshasa Kinshasa

29 24

Norwich (Eng) Panathinaikos (Gre)

Dieumerci Mbokani

Kinshasa

31

Hull City (Eng)

Neeskens Kebano Hervé Kage

Montereau (Fra) Kinshasa

24 27

Fulham (Eng) KV Kortrijk (Bel)

Jonathan Bolingi Lomalisa Mutambala Gabriel Zakuani

Kinshasa Kinshasa

22 23 30

TP Mazembe AS Vita Club Northampton (Eng)

Rémi Mulumba Nicaise Kudimbana

Abbeville (Fra) Boma

24 29

G. Ajaccio (Fra) Antwerp (Bel)

Cédric Bakambu Merveille Bokadi Elia Meshack Jacques Maghoma Ndombe Mubele Chancel Mbemba

Ivry (Fra) Kinshasa Kinshasa Lubumbashi

25 24 20 29 24 22

Villarreal (Spa) TP Mazembe TP Mazembe Birmingham (Eng) Al-Ahli (Qat) Newcastle (Eng)

Joel Kiassumbua

Luzern (Swi)

Florent Ibenge

Kinshasa

Kinshasa

24 Wohlen (Swi) 25.96 55

Trajectory Motema Pembe, Kabuscorp Motema Pembe, AS Vita Club, Kabuscorp Troyes, Anderlecht PSG, Créteil, Le Havre, Lens Monaco, Lens, Toulouse Westlandia, Den Haag, Anderlecht, Beveren, Lokeren, Club Brugge, Belenenses, Excelsior, Leeds Utd PSG, Amiens, WBA Standard Liège, Tottenham, Leyton Orient, Cagliari, Chievo Bel’Or, TP Mazembe, Anderlecht, Standard Liège, Monaco, Wolfsburg, D. Kiev, Norwich Montereau, PSG, Caen, Charleroi, Genk Asse-Zelik, Anderlecht, RKC, St. Gilloise, Charleroi, B. Jerusalem, Gent, Genk

Leyton Orient, Fulham, Stoke, Peterborough, Kalloni Amiens, Lorient, Dijon, Auxerre St. Gilloise, Anderlecht, Cercle Brugge, Oostende Sochaux, Bursaspor Don Bosco Tottenham, Burton Albion, Sheff. Wed AS Vita Club La Grace, Mputu, MK Etanchéité, Anderlecht Sudstern, Luzern, Kriens, R-Jona

Apart from the refusals, like Afobe, part of the provisional list but again opting to stay in England and still to be a full international with the ‘Leopards’ jersey, the biggest casualty is Bolasie, recovering from a knee injury and an expected starter.

Star Player: Mbokani keeps on being the biggest name, as well as Bakambu, but both of them lacking form on the pitch to live up to the name. On-form Kage may not be a starter at the beginning of the competition, but Ibenge will surely look at him and Mpoku as solutions to the offense.

Pos GK RB/LB LB/LM RB/LB CB/RB RW/LW/OM DM LF/RF/CF ST OM/LW/RW RW/LW/OM ST LB CB CM GK CF/RF/LF DM/CB CF/LF/RF LM/RM/CM RF/LF CB/DM/RB GK 1.82

Mubele has been proving himself as a big gun in the Qatar Stars League. In 9 matches this season he scored 5 times and added 3 decisive passes. Ibengue has insisted in putting two very defensive midfielders, both more centre backs, Mbemba and Botuli, in the qualifying matches, however – as with Bolasie – the ‘Leopards’ manager lost the Vita Club defender to injury and he’ll likely start either Mulumba or Mulumbu next to Mbemba, with the offensive creativity at the charge of former PSG youth starlet Kebano.

Joyce Lomalisa Mutambala can be a nice surprise to several European scouts; he’s already followed by several South African and Middle Eastern teams. Let’s see if the young pair Meshack and Tulengi makes the final cut and also add notes to the professional watchers’ eyes.

Foundation – 1955 CAF Affiliation – 1960 FIFA Affiliation – 1960 Nickname – Atlas Lions Kingdom of Morocco Gentilics – Moroccan Capital – Rabat Biggest city - Casablanca Area – 446550 km2 Language – Arab, Berbere Population – 33848242 Ethnic Groups – Arab-Berbere (99%) Motto – Allah, al-Watan, al-Malik (God, Homeland, King) Religion – Islamic (90%) Currency – Dirham Borders – Mauritania, Spain, Algeria, Western Sahara CAN – 1976 (winners) CEDEAO Cup – 1985 (winners) Arab Nations Cup – 2012 (winners) World Cup finals – 1970, 1986, 1994, 1998 Olympic Games finals – 1964, 1972, 1984, 1992, 2000, 2004 Most capped – Nourreddine Naybet (115) Top goalscorer – Ahmed Faras (42) Morocco opened national football against Iraq in 1957; a match that ended tied at 3.

Meanwhile it is one of the most regular presences in final stages, although only winning the CAN once; Morocco entered the finals for 14 times already.

Botola is the Moroccan league, one of the strongest African championships, with the national clubs already having several continental titles.

The presence of Moroccan footballers in European teams is also common, especially in France but also in other leagues, nowadays reinforced with the Moroccan descent. Morocco is strongly betting on the Diaspora to try and get back at top.

Wydad Casablanca, also known as WAC, has an impressive trophy room, 18 leagues (5 before independence), 9 cups, 1 CAF Champions League, 1 CAF Cup Winners’ Cup, 1 Afro-Asian Cup, 1 Arab Champions League, 1 Arab Supercup, 3 North-African Champions Cup, 1 North-African Cup. The other big club is also from Casablanca, Raja, which means hope, founded by nationalists fighting against the French domination. It’s known as the people’s club and was named by CAN as the third African club of the 20th century. With 3 CAF Champions League, 11 Moroccan leagues, 7 Cups, 1 CAF Cup, 1 CAF Super Cup, 1 Afro-Asian Cup, 1 Arab Champions League, 1 FIFA World Club Cup final, it competes with the city rivals in the trophy rooms’ contents.

With 12 leagues, FAR Rabat is the third force in the country, also achieved 11 cups, 1 CAF Champions League and 1 CAF Confederation Cup.

Morocco Opponent Matches Wins Draws Losses Algeria 29 11 10 8 Burkina Faso 9 5 2 2 Cameroon 10 0 5 5 DR Congo 12 4 6 2 Egypt 26 13 11 2 Gabon 14 6 3 5 Ghana 10 4 3 3 Guinea-Bissau 0 0 0 0 Ivory Coast 17 4 7 6 Mali 17 7 5 5 Senegal 27 15 6 6 Togo 10 4 3 3 Tunisia 40 10 24 6 Uganda 3 1 0 2 Zimbabwe 5 3 2 0

Morocco CAN Finals Matches Wins Draws Losses Goals for – Goals against First Participation Biggest Win

Date 03-06-79 17-06-79 26-11-97 28-02-99 10-04-99 17-08-05 20-06-09 06-09-09 14-11-12 15-11-16

City Lomé Mohammedia Rabat Lomé Casablanca Rouen Rabat Lomé Casablanca Marrakech

Country Togo Morocco Morocco Togo Morocco France Morocco Togo Morocco Morocco

15 (win 1976) 57 19 22 16 66-54 1972 4-0 (Benin and Mali, 2004)

Opponent Togo Togo Togo Togo Togo Togo Togo Togo Togo Togo

Result 1-2 7-0 3-0 3-2 1-1 0-1 0-0 1-1 0-1 2-1

Competition CAN CAN Friendly CAN CAN Friendly FIFA WC FIFA WC Friendly Friendly

Stage Qual Qual Qual Qual Qual Qual

20-05-73 03-06-73 12-02-80 15-01-84 20-03-86 19-03-88 21-02-90 13-01-91 28-07-91 13-11-94 05-06-95 30-04-03 21-01-06 09-06-12 07-09-13 20-01-16 12-11-16 29-02-72 09-12-73 23-12-73 04-03-76 25-08-85 08-09-85 13-03-88 11-06-89 27-08-89 14-01-92 29-08-96 09-01-06

Abidjan Tétouan Abidjan Abidjan Cairo Casablanca Casablanca Rabat Abidjan Casablanca Abidjan Rabat Cairo Marrakech Abidjan Kigali Marrakech Douala Kinshasa Rabat Dire Dawa

Casablanca Kinshasa Kenitra Dakar

Ivory Coast Morocco Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Egypt Morocco Morocco Morocco Ivory Coast Morocco Ivory Coast Morocco Egypt Morocco Ivory Coast Rwanda Morocco Cameroon DR Congo Morocco Ethiopia DR Congo Morocco Morocco DR Congo Morocco Senegal Morocco Morocco

Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Ivory Coast DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo DR Congo

1-1 4-1 4-4 3-3 2-3 0-0 2-1 3-1 0-2 1-0 0-2 0-1 0-1 2-2 1-1 0-1 0-0 1-1 0-3 0-2 1-0 0-0 1-0 1-1 0-0 1-1 1-1 7-0 3-0

FIFA WC FIFA WC Friendly Friendly CAN CAN Friendly CAN CAN CAN CAN Friendly CAN FIFA WC FIFA WC CHAN FIFA WC CAN FIFA WC FIFA WC CAN CAN CAN CAN FIFA WC FIFA WC CAN Friendly Friendly

Qual Qual

3rd/4th Gr Stage Qual Qual Qual Qual Gr Stage Qual Qual Gr Stage Qual Gr Stage Qual Qual Gr Stage Qual Qual Gr Stage Qual Qual Gr Stage

After his short spell in France, managing Lille, Hervé Renard accepted the Moroccan court and took over the Atlas Lions earlier in 2016, arriving to the 2017 AFCON has the holder of the trophy, winning in 2013 at the helm of Zambia, surprising everyone with that tremendous feat, and in 2015 finally giving Ivory Coast the long searched continental title.

If he’s having trouble settling at the club level, although putting his sides playing very good football, as a national manager, Hervé Renard can claim the ‘white wizard’ status with his accomplishments.

With the French as manager, Morocco was the first side to achieve the qualification to Gabon’2017. So, a lot of expectations involving the Northern Africans, with the curiosity of being placed in the holders, Ivory Coast, group – they’re both playing the same FIFA 2018 World Cup qualifying group – and also having tough competition from DR Congo, with Togo fighting to do the unexpected. It’ll be a very entertaining group.

Morocco Yassine Bounou ‘Bono’ Hamza Mendyl Amine Attouchi Manuel da Costa

P.O.B. Montreal (Can) Casablanca Saint-Max (Fra)

Age 25 19 24 30

Club Girona (Spa) Lille B (Fra) Wydad Casablanca Olympiacos (Gre)

Medhi Benatia

Courcouronnes (Fra)

29

Juventus (Ita)

Romain Saiss Nabil Dirar

Bourg- Péage (Fra) Casablanca

26 30

Wolves (Eng) Monaco (Fra)

Karim El Ahmadi Youssef En-Nesyri Youssef El Arabi

Enschede (Ned) Caen (Fra)

31 19 29

Feyenoord (Ned) Malaga (Spa) Lekhwiya (Qat)

Fayçal Fajr

Rouen (Fra)

28

Deportivo (Spa)

Munir Mohamed Khalid Boutaib

Melilla (Spa) Bagnols (Fra)

27 29

Numancia (Spa) R. Strasbourg (Fra)

M’Bark Boussoufa

Amsterdam (Ned)

32

Al Jazira (UAE)

Youssef Ait Bennasser Nordin Amrabat

Toul (Fra) Naarden (Ned)

20 29

Nancy (Fra) Watford (Eng)

Fouad Chafik Mounir Obbadi

Pierrelatte (Fra) Meulan (Fra)

30 33

Dijon (Fra) Lille (Fra)

Rachid Alioui Aziz Bouhaddouz

La Rochelle (Fra) Berkane

24 29

Nimes (Fra) St. Pauli (Ger)

Mehdi Carcela-Gonzalez

Liège (Bel)

27

Granada (Spa)

Yassine El Kharroubi

Dreux (Fra)

26

Lok. Plovdiv (Bul)

Sofiane Boufal

Paris (Fra)

Hervé Renard

Aix-les-Bains (Fra)

23 Southampton (Eng) 27.56 48

Trajectory WAC, At. Madrid, Zaragoza Académie Mohamed VI, Raja Jarville, Nancy, PSV, Fiorentina, Sampdoria, West Ham, Lok. Moscow, Nacional Madeira, Sivasspor INF Clairefontaine, Guingamp, O. Marseille, Tours, Lorient, Udinese, AS Roma, Bayern Valence, Clermont, Le Havre, Angers St. Gilloise, Diegem Sport, Westerlo, Club Brugge Twente, Al Ahli, Aston Villa Académie Mohamed VI Hérouville, Mondeville, Caen, Al Hilal, Granada Sotteville, Le Havre, Rouen, Fréjus, Caen, Elche Ceuta, Melilla Bagnols, Uzes, Istres, Luzenac, G. Ajaccio ASV, Fortius, Ajax, Chelsea, Gent, Anderlecht, Anzhi, Lok. Moscow Monaco Ajax, De Zuidvogels, Huizen, Omniworld, VV Venlo, PSV, Kayserispor, Galatasaray, Malaga Montélimar, Istres, Laval Chanteloup, PSG, Angers, Troyes, Monaco, Hellas Verona Guingamp, Laval Dietzenbach, Neu Isenburg, FSV Frankfurt, E. Aue, Wehen, V. Koln, Bayer Leverkusen, Sandhausen DC Cointe, Standard Liège, Anzhi, Benfica Guingamp, Quevilly, Bourg-Péronnas, MAS Fes, Rapid Bucharest, Vereya Angers, Lille

One of the profound changes Renard promoted is the adjustment of wingers as side backs, namely Nabil Dirar and Amrabat, taking advantage of their offensive proneness, turning the team, the squad, much more ambitious on the pitch, seeking goals, attacking.

Noted for his ability to develop, promote and shape new talents, Renard isn’t changing his ways and left back Mendyl and centre forward En-Nesyri are the current examples of that, two youngsters with loads of talents that the Frenchman is placing his faith and hard work on in order to achieve success.

Pos GK LB CB CB/DM CB DM/CB RW/LW/RB CM CF/LF/RF ST OM/RW/LW GK ST OM/RW/LW CM LF/RF/CF RB/LB CM ST CF/LF/RF RW/LW/OM GK OM/RW/LW 1.84

Star Player: Benatia is the name with highest profile in this squad, now playing for Italian giants Juventus.

Renard faced two late and heavy casualties, predicted starters Belhanda and Tannane with injuries preventing them from taking part in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. This can put 20 year old Ait-Bennasser, another French-born recently added to the Moroccan side, in the spotlight, balancing the midfield alongside El Ahmadi and allowing more wing freedom to the back side defenders. Carcela-Gonzalez will likely be the ‘lucky’ one with Tannane’s injury and grab the right wing starting spot.

If he opts for experience Saiss, Fajr and Obbadi are the natural alternatives to the midfield.

Alioui could be thought as a starter; however Renard usually puts him on from the bench, also because the team hasn’t been scoring in the last official matches, giving more power to the frontline.

Foundation – 1921 CAF Affiliation – 1957 FIFA Affiliation – 1923 Nickname – The Pharaohs Arab Republic of Egypt Capital – Cairo Area – 1010407 km2 Population – 92352000 Motto – Religion – Islamic (90%) Currency – Egyptian pound Borders – Israel, Sudan, Libya

Gentilics – Egyptian Biggest city - Cairo Language –Arabic Ethnic Groups – Egyptians (91%)

CAN – 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010 (winners) All African Games – 1987, 1995 (winners) Arab Nations Cup – 1992 (winners) Pan-Arabic Games – 1953, 1965, 1992, 2007 (winners) World Cup finals – 1934, 1990 Olympic Games finals – 1920, 1924, 1928, 1336, 1948, 1952, 1960, 1964, 1984 Most capped – Ahmed Hassan (184) Top goalscorer – Hossam Hassan (68) Egypt’s first international match happened in 1920, facing Italy in Belgium during the Antwerp Olympics. They were also the first African nation to appear in a World Cup (1934), although the FIFA World Cup finals is the bitter part of the Egyptian football, the most awarded nation in African football but only qualifying to the World Cup twice.

They won the AFCON 7 times and the two Cairo giants, Al Ahly and Zamalek, are probably the two most condecorated clubs in African football, Al Ahly being the club of the 20th century.

Al Ahly is rightfully the club of the century. They hold the trophies’ world record (131), 38 leagues, 35 cups, 9 supercups, 16 Cairo leagues, 8 African Champions Leagues/Cups, 4 African Cup Winners’ Cups, 1 CAF Confederation Cup, 6 CAF Supercups, 1 Afro-Asian Club Championship, 1 Arab Champions League, 1 Arab Cup Winners’ Cup, 2 Arab Supercups and several other minor competitions!

The ‘White Knight’, Zamalek, is algo a huge club but has the toughest competitive neighbor in the world. Zamalek has 12 leagues, 25 cups, 2 supercups, 14 Cairo leagues, 5 African Champion Leagues/Cups, 1 African Cup Winners’ Cup, 3 CAF Supercups, 1 Arab Champions Cup, 2 AfroAsian Cups.

Two African giants that happen to be sharing spoils in the same country and metropole, making that derby one of the world’s fiercest ones.

Egypt Opponent Matches Wins Draws Losses Algeria 24 7 9 8 Burkina Faso 6 4 2 0 Cameroon 24 12 7 5 DR Congo 9 5 3 1 Gabon 3 3 0 0 Ghana 24 12 5 7 Guinea-Bissau 0 0 0 0 Ivory Coast 23 10 6 7 Mali 9 4 1 4 Morocco 26 2 11 13 Senegal 12 6 2 4 Togo 7 5 1 1 Tunisia 30 9 8 13 Uganda 20 17 2 1 Zimbabwe 12 7 4 1

Egypt CAN Finals Matches Wins Draws Losses Goals for – Goals against First Participation Biggest Win

Date 13-05-59 06-12-59 03-07-60 18-10-64 09-02-70 16-01-73 17-01-92 29-12-93 02-01-94 23-08-94

City Cairo Accra Saitama Wad Medani Lagos Ziguinchor Accra Accra Cairo

Country Egypt Ghana Egypt Japan Sudan Nigeria Senegal Ghana Ghana Egypt

22 (7 titles) 90 51 15 24 154-84 1957 4-0 (Zambia, 1998, Algeria, 2010)

Opponent Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana

Result 2-1 0-2 2-2 5-1 1-1 2-1 0-1 0-0 1-2 2-0

Competition Olympics Olympics Friendly Olympics CAN African Games CAN Friendly Friendly Tournament

Stage Qual Qual Quarters Gr Stage Gr Stage

29-12-95 26-05-96 16-06-97 03-12-97 12-11-99 17-06-00 04-01-02 22-12-02 11-02-09 31-01-10 10-01-13 15-10-13 19-11-13 13-11-16 10-04-93 25-07-93 02-04-94 19-08-94 21-08-94 01-11-96 06-01-02 10-01-08 04-01-10 18-01-62 09-10-63 15-01-64 27-03-65 04-06-67 27-11-72 01-03-74 03-03-76 18-11-77 21-01-95 30-07-95 20-08-02 08-01-05 27-12-05 08-01-11 17-01-11 29-03-12 14-08-13 30-09-13 02-10-13

Cairo Accra Seoul Cairo Cairo Cairo Cairo Cairo Luanda Abu Dhabi Kumasi Cairo Borg el-Arab

Tunis

Ismailia Abu Dhabi Dubai Addis Ababa

Cairo Addis Ababa Kampala Alexandria Alexandria Cairo Cairo Cairo Ismailia Omdurman El Gouna

Egypt Ghana South Korea Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Angola UAE Ghana Ghana Egypt Egypt Mali Tunisia Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt UAE UAE Ethiopia Uganda Egypt Uganda Uganda Egypt Egypt Ethiopia Egypt Uganda Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Sudan Egypt Egypt Egypt

Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana Mali Mali Mali Mali Mali Mali Mali Mali Mali Uganda Uganda Uganda Uganda Uganda Uganda Uganda Uganda Uganda Uganda Uganda Uganda Uganda Uganda Uganda Uganda Uganda Uganda Uganda Uganda

1-2 2-0 2-0 3-2 1-2 2-0 2-0 0-0 2-2 1-0 0-3 1-6 2-1 2-0 2-1 1-2 0-1 2-1 0-1 0-0 1-2 1-0 1-0 2-1 4-1 3-1 1-5 1-0 2-2 2-1 2-1 1-0 0-0 6-0 2-0 3-0 2-0 1-0 3-1 2-1 3-0 2-0 3-0

Friendly Friendly Korea Cup Friendly Friendly Friendly Friendly Friendly Friendly CAN Friendly FIFA WC FIFA WC FIFA WC CAN CAN CAN Friendly Friendly Friendly Friendly Friendly Friendly CAN Olympics Olympics African Games African Games African Games CAN CAN African Games CAN CAN Friendly Friendly Tournament Tournament Tournament Friendly Friendly Friendly Friendly

Final Qual Qual Qual Qual Qual Quarters

Semis Qual Qual Qual Qual Qual Gr Stage Gr Stage Qual Qual Qual

Gr Stage Final

Egypt Essam El Hadary

P.O.B. Damietta

Age 43

Club Wadi Degla

Ali Gabr Ahmed Elmohamady Omar Gaber Ibrahim Salah Ahmed Hegazy Ahmed Fathi

Alexandria Basyoun Cairo Mansoura Ismailia Banha

27 29 24 29 25 32

Zamalek Hull City (Eng) Basel (Swi) Zamalek Al Ahly Al Ahly

Tarek Hamed Ahmed Hassan ‘Koka’ Mohamed Salah

Cairo Cairo Basyoun

28 23 24

Zamalek Sp. Braga (Por) AS Roma (Ita)

Mahmoud ‘Kahraba’

Cairo

22

Al Ittihad (KSA)

Amr Warda Mohamed Abdelshafi Ramadan Sobhi Ahmed Dowidar Sherif Ekramy Mohamed Elneny Marwan Mohsen Abdallah Said Saad Samir

Alexandria El Marg Cairo Giza Cairo Mahalla Cairo Ismailia Banha

23 31 19 29 33 24 27 31 27

Panetolikos (Gre) Al Ahli (KSA) Stoke City (Eng) Zamalek Al Ahly Arsenal (Eng) Al Ahly Al Ahly Al Ahly

M. Hassan ‘Trezeguet’ Karim Hafez

Beheira

22 20

Mouscron (Bel) R. Lens (Fra)

Ahmed El Shenawy

Port-Said

Hector Cúper

Chabás (Arg)

25 Zamalek 27.45 61

Trajectory Damietta, Al Ahly, Sion, Ismaily, Zamalek, Al Merreikh, Ittehad Ismaily, Ittehad Mahalla, ENPPI, Sunderland Zamalek Mansoura, Orubah, Smouha Ismaily, Fiorentina, Perugia Ismaily, Sheff Utd, Kazma, Hull City, Umm Salal Gaish, Smouha Al Ahly, Rio Ave Arab Contractors, Basel, Chelsea, Fiorentina ENPPI, Luzern, Grasshoppers, Zamalek Al Ahly, Ittehad Zamalek, Mahalla Al Ahly El Shorta, Kazma Feyenoord, Ankaragucu, El Gouna Al Ahly, Arab Contractors, Basel Petrojet, Gil Vicente, Ismaily Ismaily El Shorta, Al-Nasr, Arab Contractors, Masry Al Ahly, Anderlecht JMG Cairo, Wadi Degla, Lierse, O. Nicósia Masry

The Argentine Cúper’s provisional squad left out striker Basem Morsi of Zamalek, the one expected to start upfront, which led to several comments, from the attacker’s surprise not to be in the 27 to the assistant manager of the Pharaohs saying it’s no punishment, but it was truly surprising for he showed very good finishing skills in each call up. Braga’s Ahmed Hassan ‘Koka’ has advantage but on-form Ahmed Gomaa, from Masry of Port-Said, can be the side’s ‘dark horse’.

Cúper can even imagine a versatile front and place Salah-Said-Trezeguet-Kahraba to break the opponent’s, however this may prove difficult for each one of these players like to do a game of their one, each one can win a match but also lose it and forget about the defensive duties and the importance of team, collective, the reason why Trezeguet and Kahraba, particularly, rarely play together, at the same time. Nevertheless, if Cúper is able to teach them how to ‘get along’ on the pitch, how to link-up, beware of this Egypt!

Pos GK CB RB/RM RB/RM DM CB RB/RM DM ST RW/LW/OM LW/RW/OM LW/RW/OM LB/LM LW/RW CB GK DM ST OM/RW/LW CB/RB LW/RW/OM LB/LM GK 1.82

The eternal El Hadary, now saving Wadi Degla nets, keeps on being the goalie first choice… at 43 years old!

The expected starting defenders are much experimented; even Hegazy at 25 has already almost a decade of top football years, debuting with Ismaily aged 18 and with Fiorentina and Perugia in his resume.

The Arab Spring touched Egypt heavily and the sports – like all other areas – suffered a lot, with the richest league of Africa being stopped, annulled, rescheduled and again cancelled, now trying to get back at it but with the clubs and the national sides paying the price of an almost civil war and the unrest that still hasn’t settled.

Regardless of that, this side Cúper called up is aimed at the title; history demands it and the veteran Argentine isn’t refraining from that demand, saying Egypt travels to Gabon to win the title.

Amr Warda has been playing extremely well at Greek side Panetolikos and despite not being a predictable starter he’s a man to watch. Several Italian, Spanish, French and English sides are following him closely.

Foundation – 1960 CAF Affiliation – 1963 FIFA Affiliation – 1962 Nickname – Les Aigles Repúblique du Mali Gentilics – Malian Capital – Bamako Largest city - Bamako Area – 1240192 km2 Language – French, Bambara Population – 18392170 Ethnic Groups – Mande (50%), Fula (17%), Voltaic (12%), Tuareg (10%) Motto – Un peuple, un but, une foi (One People, one goal, one faith) Religion – Islamic (90%) Currency – CFA Franc Borders – Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire, Níger, Burkina Faso, Algeria Amílcar Cabral Cup – 1989, 1997, 2007 (winners) CAN – 1972 (runners-up) Olympic Games Finals – 2004 Most capped – Seydou Keita (102) Top goalscorer – Seydou Keita (25) Mali won the first international match, 4-3 against Central African Republic in 1960.

Very affected by the Sahara desert growth, it is facing a long drought and all the problems that come from there, being football one of the little reasons for joy to the Malian people.

This will be the 11th CAN finals for Mali, with the final in 1972 and 5 semis, including the 3rd spot in 2012 and 2013.

The CAN 2010 match against host Angola entered in history as one of the most spectacular comebacks, from 0-4 down to 4-4 in the last 15 minutes of the match.

Like the most part of the African countries, football is Mali’s national sport; you can see the children still playing in the streets, in the fields, in the sand, wherever there’s a place available.

The club dominance is based in the capital, Bamako, also not a surprise as this also happens in the majority of Africa, where populations gather/amount in the capital’s suburbs and the league systems and finances, alongside the countrys’ resources, can’t afford and logistically handle a truly national league system and even a scouting method.

Djoliba AC is the most prominent club, with 22 championships, 19 cups, a CAF Champions Club Cup semis (1967) and a CAF Confederation Cup final (2012), holding the Bamana name for the Niger river.

The main rivals are Stade Malien de Bamako with 21 leagues, 18 cups, 1 UFOA Cup and 1 CAF Confederations Cup, the current powerhouse of the local league.

Mali Opponent Matches Wins Draws Losses Algeria 18 8 1 9 Burkina Faso 21 13 3 5 Cameroon 6 0 4 2 DR Congo 6 3 1 2 Egypt 9 4 1 4 Gabon 10 1 4 5 Ghana 16 3 6 7 Guinea-Bissau 12 9 2 1 Ivory Coast 25 2 7 16 Morocco 17 5 5 7 Senegal 32 8 12 12 Togo 14 6 2 6 Tunisia 8 4 0 4 Uganda 2 1 1 0 Zimbabwe 6 2 1 3

Mali CAN Finals Matches Wins Draws Losses Goals for – Goals against First Participation Biggest Win

Date 02-10-60 05-03-61 02-62 17-03-62 03-03-63 30-03-75 13-04-75 17-07-78 01-01-93 23-02-94 03-12-98 25-12-01 07-06-09 15-11-09

City

Algiers Ouagadougou Bamako Bamako Mopti Bamako Kumasi

Country Ghana Ghana Mali Ghana Ghana Ghana Mali Algeria Burkina Faso Mali Mali Mali Mali Ghana

10 43 15 14 14 53-60 1972 3-1 (4 times)

Opponent Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana

Result 1-4 0-3 0-1 0-0 0-4 0-4 3-1 1-1 1-1 0-0 0-2 1-1 0-2 2-2

Competition Tournament Friendly Friendly Friendly Tournament CAN CAN African Games Tournament Friendly Friendly Friendly FIFA WC FIFA WC

Stage Semis

Final Qual Qual Gr Stage Semis

Qual Qual

28-01-12 31-03-15 21-07-65 19-01-16 10-04-93 25-07-93 02-04-94 19-08-94 21-08-94 01-11-96 06-01-02 10-01-08 04-01-10

Franceville Paris Brazzaville Gisenyi

Tunis

Ismailia Abu Dhabi Dubai

Mali Oumar Sissoko Hamari Traoré Youssouf Koné Salif Coulibaly Mahamadou N’Diaye Charles Traoré Mustapha Yatabaré

P.O.B. Montreuil (Fra) Bamako Bamako

Gabon France Rep. Congo Rwanda Egypt Mali Tunisia Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt UAE UAE

Ghana Ghana Uganda Uganda Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt

Dakar (Sen) Aulnay (Fra) Beauvais (Fra)

Age 29 24 21 28 26 25 30

Club Orléans (Fra) Stade Reims (Fra) Lille (Fra) TP Mazembe (DRC) Troyes (Fra) Troyes (Fra) Karabukspor (Tur)

Yacouba Sylla

Étampes (Fra)

26

Montpellier (Fra)

Moussa Marega

Les Ulis (Fra)

25

V. Guimarães (Por)

Moussa Doumbia Lassana Coulibaly Kalifa Coulibaly Molla Wague Sambou Yatabaré

Bamako Bamako Bamako Vernon (Fra) Beauvais (Fra)

22 20 25 25 27

Rostov (Rus) Bastia (Fra) Gent (Bel) Udinese (Ita) W. Bremen (Ger)

Bamako Bamako Bamako Bamako

24 32 26 27 21

RS Berkane (Mar) Stade Malien Antwerp (Bel) Kayserispor (Tur) Monaco (Fra)

20 28 21 27 25.76 64

Lille B (Fra) C. Palace (Eng) Stade Malien Panathinaikos (Gre)

Mohamed Konaté Soumbeyla Diakité Mamoutou N’Diaye Samba Sow Adama Traoré Yves Bissouma Bakary Sako Djigui Diarra Ousmane Coulibaly

Issia (CiV) Ivry (Fra)

Alain Giresse

Langoiran (Fra)

Paris (Fra)

0-2 1-1 5-1 2-2 1-2 2-1 1-0 1-2 1-0 0-0 2-1 0-1 0-1

CAN Friendly African Games CHAN CAN CAN CAN Friendly Friendly Friendly Friendly Friendly Friendly

Gr Stage Gr Stage Gr Stage Qual Qual Quarters

Trajectory INF Clairefontaine, Metz, Ajaccio JMG Bamako, Paris FC; Lierse JMG Bamako, AS Bakaridjan Djoliba Jeunesse Bamako, WAC, V. Guimarães Azzurri LS, Nantes Beauvais, Amiens, Villemomble, Clermont, Boulogne, Guingamp, Trabzonspor, Montpellier Malesherbers, Caen, Aston Villa, Clermont, K. Erciyesspor, Rennes Evry, Poiré-sur-Vie, Amiens, Espérance Tunis, Marítimo, FC Porto AS Real Bamako PSG, Charleroi Caen, Granada Beauvais, Caen, Monaco, Bastia, Olympiacos, Guingamp, Standard Liège Djoliba, Al-Ahly Tripoli Esteghlal Khuzestan Jeanne D’Arc, Gent, Mons, ZW Torcy, R. Lens, Karabukspor JMG Bamako, AS Bakaridjan, Lille, Mouscron JMG Bamako Vitry, Ivry, Châteauroux, ASSE, Wolves Guingamp, Brest, Platanias

Pos GK RB/RM LB CB/DM CB LB CF/RF/LF DM/CB CF/RF/LF LM/RM/CM CM ST CB/RB CM/RM CB GK DM/RB DM/CB CM/LW CM LF/RF/CF GK RB/RM 1.83

Forward Maiga is the big absence from Giresse’s choices. Much contested locally, the striker loses ground despite being elected captain in previous encounters of the ‘Eagles’. Another absentee is Cheick Diabaté, with little minutes at Bordeaux therefore losing ground in the national team.

Star Player: Both Yatabaré brothers are still names to take into account but what Marega has been doing in Portugal puts him on the spotlight in the ‘Eagles’ team.

The next generation of Malian talents is already blossoming in the European football and the national side, taking advantage of the work Jean-Marc Guillou keeps on developing throughout Africa. After the Ivorian success, the former French international, part of the French side that competed in the Argentine World Cup of 1978, started to open academies in Africa and Asia, namely in Madagascar, Algeria, Vietnam, Morocco, Thailand, Ghana and Mali. The JMG at Bamako already puts a quarter or so of the provisional squad named by Giresse, this credits the fabulous work he continuous to develop and an example European clubs are still to understand and ‘copy’, even those with historical ties to Africa.

Giresse surprised the local media with several newcomers – the provisional squad average age is of 25.30 – including uncapped footballers, turning again from the Diaspora back to homegrown, using the knowledge of the JMG Bamako and taking full advantage of that, something the French sides are also doing.

Foundation – 1957 CAF Affiliation – 1958 FIFA Affiliation – 1958 Nickname – Black Stars Republic of Ghana Gentilics – Ghanaian Capital – Acra Largest city - Acra Area – 238535 km2 Language – English, Akan Population – 28350630 Ethnic Groups – Akan (49%), Mole-Dagbon (15%) Motto – Freedom and Justice Religion – Christian (69%) Currency – Ghanaian Cedi Borders – Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Togo CAN Cup – 1963, 1965, 1978, 1982 (winners) World Cup finals – 2006, 2010, 2014 Olympic Games finals – 1964, 1968, 1972, 1992, 1996, 2004 CHAN – 2009, 2014 (runners-up) West African Nations/WAFU Cup – 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 2013 (winners) All-Africa Games – 2011 (winners) Most capped – Asamoah Gyan (97) Biggest scorer – Asamoah Gyan (48) 1950 debuted against Nigéria, winning by 1-0. In 1960 they faced Real Madrid drawing at three.

4 Continental titles make Ghana one of the strongest African national teams, worldly known for their football talents.

Like other Sub-Saharian sides, internal divisions are common, like the one that happened between Abedi Pelé and Tony Yeboah in the 90’s, which often prevents biggest achievements.

On a youth level Ghana also rivals with the worlds’ best sides, winning the FIFA U20 World Cup in 2009, having reached two finals before (1993, 2001), and 3 African Youth Championships. In U17 Ghana won 2 FIFA World Cup (1991, 1995), 2 African Championships and reaching 2 more FIFA finals.

This will be the 21st CAN finals entry.

Strange as it may seems, the biggest Ghanaian club is not from the capital, it is Asante Kotoko, from Kumasi, ‘the Garden City’, inland and place of birth of Kofi Annan, the former United Nations Secretary-General.

Asante Kotoko won 24 leagues, 8 cups, 2 CAF Champions League, having reached 5 other Champions League finals, 1 CAF Confederations and 1 CAF Cup Winners’ Cup. The club also has a number of local cups.

Accra Hearts of Oak is the country’s other main club, with 20 leagues, 10 cups, 1 CAF Champions League, 1 CAF Confederation Cup, being the only side to ever win the CAF Champions League unbeaten.

Ghana Opponent Matches Wins Draws Losses Algeria 11 5 2 4 Burkina Faso 16 10 2 4 Cameroon 7 3 3 1 DR Congo 19 10 5 4 Egypt 24 7 5 12 Gabon 11 7 2 2 Guinea-Bissau 0 0 0 0 Ivory Coast 34 13 8 13 Mali 16 7 6 3 Morocco 10 3 3 4 Senegal 12 4 5 3 Togo 27 13 8 6 Tunisia 15 8 4 3 Uganda 11 4 4 3 Zimbabwe 6 3 2 1

Ghana

Date 02-10-60 05-03-61 02-62 17-03-62 03-03-63 30-03-75 13-04-75 17-07-78

City

Algiers

CAN Finals Matches Wins Draws Losses Goals for – Goals against First Participation Biggest Win

20 (winners 4x) 89 50 17 19 121-70 1963 5-2 (CongoLĂŠopoldville, 1965)

Country Ghana Ghana Mali Ghana Ghana Ghana Mali Algeria

Result 4-1 3-0 1-0 0-0 4-0 4-0 1-3 1-1

Opponent Mali Mali Mali Mali Mali Mali Mali Mali

Competition Tournament Friendly Friendly Friendly Tournament CAN CAN African Games

Stage Semis

Final Qual Qual Gr Stage

01-01-93 23-02-94 03-12-98 25-12-01 07-06-09 15-11-09 28-01-12 31-03-15 13-05-59 06-12-59 03-07-60 18-10-64 09-02-70 16-01-73 17-01-92 29-12-93 02-01-94 23-08-94 29-12-95 26-05-96 16-06-97 03-12-97 12-11-99 17-06-00 04-01-02 22-12-02 11-02-09 31-01-10 10-01-13 15-10-13 19-11-13 13-11-16 10-10-62 16-03-78 25-10-00 07-09-02 22-06-03 03-07-04 04-09-05 31-05-09 06-09-14 15-11-14 07-10-16

Ouagadougou Bamako Bamako Mopti Bamako Kumasi Franceville Paris Cairo Accra Saitama Wad Medani Lagos Ziguinchor Accra Accra Cairo Cairo Accra Seoul Cairo Cairo Cairo Cairo Cairo Luanda Abu Dhabi Kumasi Cairo Borg el-Arab Accra Nairobi Kampala Kumasi Kampala Kumasi Tamale Kumasi Kampala Tamale

Burkina Faso Mali Mali Mali Mali Ghana Gabon France Egypt Ghana Egypt Japan Sudan Nigeria Senegal Ghana Ghana Egypt Egypt Ghana South Korea Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Angola UAE Ghana Ghana Egypt Ghana Ghana Kenya Uganda Ghana Uganda Ghana Ghana Ghana Uganda Ghana

Mali Mali Mali Mali Mali Mali Mali Mali Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Uganda Uganda Uganda Uganda Uganda Uganda Uganda Uganda Uganda Uganda Uganda

1-1 0-0 2-0 1-1 2-0 2-2 2-0 1-1 1-2 2-0 2-2 1-5 1-1 1-2 1-0 0-0 2-1 0-2 2-1 0-2 0-2 2-3 2-1 0-2 0-2 0-0 2-2 0-1 3-0 6-1 1-2 0-2 4-1 2-0 1-2 0-1 1-1 1-1 2-0 2-1 1-1 0-1 0-0

Tournament Friendly Friendly Friendly FIFA WC FIFA WC CAN Friendly Olympics Olympics Friendly Olympics CAN African Games CAN Friendly Friendly Tournament Friendly Friendly Korea Cup Friendly Friendly Friendly Friendly Friendly Friendly CAN Friendly FIFA WC FIFA WC FIFA WC Tournament CAN Tournament CAN CAN FIFA WC FIFA WC Friendly CAN CAN FIFA WC

Semis

Qual Qual Gr Stage Qual Qual Quarters Gr Stage Gr Stage

Final Qual Qual Qual Final Semis Qual Qual Qual Qual Qual Qual Qual

Ghana Brimah Razak

P.O.B. Accra

Age 29

Club Córdoba (Esp)

Bernard Tekpetey Asamoah Gyan

Accra Accra

19 31

Schalke 04 (Ger) Al Ahli (UAE)

Jonathan Mensah

Accra

26

Anzhi (Rus)

Thomas Partey Afriyie Acquah

Odumase Krobo Sunyani

23 24

At. Madrid (Spa) Torino (Ita)

Christian Atsu

Ada Foah

24

Newcastle (Eng)

Emmanuel Badu

Berekum

26

Udinese (Ita)

Jordan Ayew André Ayew

Marseille (Fra) Seclin (Fra)

25 27

Aston Villa (Eng) Wes Ham (Eng)

Mubarak Wakaso

Tamale

26

Panathinaikos (Gre)

Fatau Dauda

Obuasi

31

Enyimba (Nga)

Tamale

20 25 23 23 22

FC Liefering (Aut) Barnsley (Eng) Sion (Swi) Wa All Stars Schalke 04 (Ger)

Accra Sekondi-Takoradi

22 25

Leicester (Eng) Orlando Pirates (RSA)

21 29 23 30 25.43 61

AIK Solna (Swe) Sivasspor (Tur) Anderlecht (Bel) Columbus Crew (USA)

Samuel Tetteh Andy Yiadom Ebenezer Assifuah Richard Ofori Abdul Rahman Baba Daniel Amartey Edwin Gyimah

London (Eng) Accra

Ebenezer Ofori John Boye Frank Acheampong Harrison Afful

Accra Accra Kumasi

Avram Grant

Petah Tikva (Isr)

Trajectory Wolfsburg, Las Norias, Chaves, U. Madeira, Poli Ejido, Bétis, Tenerife, Guadalajara, Mirandés UniStar Academy Liberty Professionals, Udinese, Modena, Rennes, Sunderland, Al Ain, Shanghai SIPG Ashanti Gold, Free State Stars, Udinese, Granada, Évian TG Mallorca, Almería Adelaide, Ashanti Gold, Glentorian, Prestea Mine Stars, Bechem Utd, DC Utd Agogo, Palermo, Parma, Hoffenheim 1899, Sampdoria Cheetah, Fetteh Feyenoord, FC Porto, Rio Ave, Chelsea, Vitesse, Everton, Bournemouth, Málaga Berlin FC, Berekum Arsenals, Asante Kotoko, R. Huelva O. Marseille, Sochaux, Lorient 1860 Munich, Nania, O. Marseille, Lorient, Arles-Avignon, Swansea Adelaide, Ashanti Gold, Elche, Villarreal, Espanyol, Rubin Kazan, Celtic, Las Palmas Ashanti Gold, Okwahu Stores Utd, Orlando Pirates, Chippa Utd WAFA SC Watford, Hayes &Yeading, Braintree, Barnet Liberty Professionals Young Meteors, Dreams FC, Asante Kotoko, Greuther Furth, Augsburg, Chelsea Inter Allies, Djurgardens, FC Copenhagen Sekondi Hasaacas, Wa All Stars, SuperSport Utd, Black Aces Glory, The New Edubiase Heart of Lions, Rennes, K. Erciyesspor King Faisal, Bechem Utd, Buriram Utd Feyenoord Fetteh, Asante Kotoko, ES Tunis

Conservative Grant managed to lead Ghana to the final in the 2015 edition and keeps on managing the side, surviving the critics, the on-off of some of the ‘Black Stars’ top players, already with 27 matches at the helm of the Gold Coast team, only six less than his stint with his home nation Israel.

Star Player: With the Ayew brothers underperforming in England, captain Asamoah Gyan keeps the tabs as prime figure, he keeps on scoring in the Middle East and it’s expected he does the same with the ‘Black Stars’, where he holds both caps and goals alltime records.

Pos GK RW/LW ST CB/RB/LB DM CM/RM

RW/LW CM CF/RF/LF OM/LW/RW LM/RM/CM GK CF/LF/RF RB/RM/LB CF/RF/LF GK LB/LM DM/CB CB/DM DM CB/RB/LB LM/LB RB/RM/LB 1.79

Just two years on the final and with 4 continental titles and record number of finals (9), he needs to do well in a group that has returning ace Egypt, record winner of the competition, and Mali, 3rd in 2012 and 2013, with a renewed and ambitious side too, also having a disappointing null in the home World Cup qualifying against Uganda last October.

The surprises on the provisional squad come from the Austrian second tier, where both Tetteh (10 goals with RB Salzburg satellite FC Liefering) and the awesome Dwamena (another product of the Red Bull Ghana Academy, who left Liefering to play for Austria Lustenau) already having 18 goals and 5 assists, being courted by several Austrian and German sides. Adding to these two, there are a number of other novelties in the list and the surprise Ghanaian champion, Wa All Stars supplies the third goalie, Richard Ofori. Interestingly, Grant left Dwamena out of his final choices, as well as Waris Majeed.

The ‘Norwegian’ Kwarasey Larsen is expected to regain the first spot on the goal, he who returned to Norway halfway through 2016 after the 2015 MLS title with Portland Timbers, winning his second Norwegian title, now with Rosenborg after grabbing the Topserien with Stromsgodset in 2013, especially because Razak isn’t playing at second tier Córdoba. A late injury took Kwarasey Larsen from the team, with Dauda getting emergency call to enter the 3 goalies line-up.

Foundation – 1924 CAF Affiliation – 1961 FIFA Affiliation – 1960 Nickname – Cranes Republic of Uganda Gentilics – Ugandan Capital – Kampala Largest city - Kampala 2 Area – 241038 km Language – English, Swahili Population – 37873253 Ethnic Groups – Baganda (17%), Banyankole (10%), Basoga (8%), Bakiga (7%) Motto – For God and my Country Religion – Christian (85%) Currency – Ugandan shilling Borders – Kenya, South Sudan, DR Congo, Tanzania, Rwanda CAN Cup – 1978 (runners-up) CECAFA Cup – 14 times winners Despite some successes in the cricket, basketball, rugby, boxing or athletics, football is still the Ugandan national sport.

Their first international match happened in 1926, a draw 1-1 with Kenya in Nairobi.

They started well and participated in 5 out of 9 AFCON between 62 and 78, culminating with the final of 78, their last appearance in the tournament until now.

Regional powerhouse, already won the CECAFA tournament in 14 occasions, but like their Eastern African neighbors they struggle to oppose the Northern and Western African nations.

The former forward Sredojevic is in Africa since 2001, managing clubs from Ethiopia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan and taking over Rwanda in 2011, only to move to Uganda again, where his African adventure started, to lead the national team and take the ‘Cranes’ back to the headlines.

Like many other countries in the world, several Ugandan clubs are closely connected with the state and the national authorities. The main clubs are all from the capital Kampala, with Simba (former Army club) based in Lugazi and Vipers, from Wakiso, being the best sides outside Kampala, both with 2 leagues won in their histories.

Contradictory as it may seems, it’s the humble Villa SC, created at the image of Birmingham side Aston Villa, is the most laureate side, with 16 national leagues, 9 cups, 3 CECAFA Club cups, runner-up in the CAF Champions Cup of 1991 and the CAF Cup of 1992, but now with more than a decade without a league win.

Kampala Capital City Authority has 11 leagues, 8 cups, 1 CECAFA Club cup, former KCC FC, now KCCA FC.

Uganda

Opponent Matches Wins Draws Losses Algeria 9 2 4 3 Burkina Faso 6 1 3 2 Cameroon 4 1 1 2 DR Congo 11 4 1 6 Egypt 20 1 2 17 Gabon 2 0 1 1 Ghana 11 3 4 4 Guinea-Bissau 2 2 0 0 Ivory Coast 2 0 1 1 Mali 2 0 1 1 Morocco 3 2 0 1 Senegal 4 0 2 2 Togo 8 2 1 5 Tunisia 4 0 0 4 Zimbabwe 15 2 8 5

Uganda CAN Finals Matches Wins Draws Losses Goals for – Goals against First Participation Biggest Win

Date 18-01-62 09-10-63 15-01-64 27-03-65 04-06-67 27-11-72 01-03-74 03-03-76

City Addis Ababa

Cairo Addis Ababa

Country Ethiopia Uganda Egypt Uganda Uganda Egypt Egypt Ethiopia

5 16 3 1 12 17-31 1962 3.0 (Morocco, 1978)

Opponent Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt

Result 2-1 1-4 1-3 5-1 0-1 2-2 1-2 1-2

Competition CAN Olympics Olympics African Games African Games African Games CAN CAN

Stage Semis Qual Qual Qual Qual Qual Gr Stage Gr Stage

18-11-77 21-01-95 30-07-95 20-08-02 08-01-05 27-12-05 08-01-11 17-01-11 29-03-12 14-08-13 30-09-13 02-10-13 21-07-65 19-01-16 10-10-62 16-03-78 25-10-00 07-09-02 22-06-03 03-07-04 04-09-05 31-05-09 06-09-14 15-11-14 07-10-16

Kampala Alexandria Alexandria Cairo Cairo Cairo Ismailia Omdurman El Gouna

Brazzaville Gisenyi Accra Nairobi Kampala Kumasi Kampala Kumasi Tamale Kumasi Kampala Tamale

Egypt Uganda Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Sudan Egypt Egypt Egypt Rep. Congo Rwanda Ghana Ghana Kenya Uganda Ghana Uganda Ghana Ghana Ghana Uganda Ghana

Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt Mali Mali Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana Ghana

0-1 0-0 0-6 0-2 0-3 0-2 0.1 1-3 1-2 0-3 0-2 0-3 1-5 2-2 1-4 0-2 2-1 1.0 1-1 1-1 0-2 1-2 1-1 1-0 0-0

African Games CAN CAN Friendly Friendly Tournament Tournament Tournament Friendly Friendly Friendly Friendly African Games CHAN Tournament CAN Tournament CAN CAN FIFA WC FIFA WC Friendly CAN CAN FIFA WC

Qual Qual Qual

Gr Stage Final

Gr Stage Gr Stage Final Semis Qual Qual Qual Qual Qual Qual Qual

Uganda Robert Odongkara Joseph Ochaya Geoffrey Kizito

22 25 30 22 23 19 23 30

Club Saint George (Eth) KCCA Than Quang Ninh (Vie) Simba Saint George (Eth) Throttur (Ice) Ilves Tampere (Fin) Baroka (RSA) Onduparaka Rio Ave (Por) Baroka (RSA)

Lugazi Kampala Nsambya

22 24 22 27 28

Al Ahed (Leb) Kuban (Rus) Vipers Gor Mahia (Ken) Vipers

Kampala

19 31

Standard Liège (Bel) M. Sundowns (RSA)

Salim Jamal Geoffrey Sserunkuma

21 33

Al Merreikh (Sud) Lweza

Timothy Awany Shafik Batambuze

20 22

KCCA Tusker (Ken)

Kampala

29

Colorado Rapids (USA)

Prokuplje (Yug)

25.08 47

Murshid Jjuko Isaac Isinde Tonny Mawejje Yunus Sentamu Khalid Aucho Muhammad Shaban Luwagga Kizito Geoffrey Massa Denis Iguma Moses Oloya Nicholas Wadada Godfrey Walusimbi Hassan Wasswa Farouk Miya Denis Onyango

Mike Azira

Milutin Sredojevic

P.O.B. Kampala Kampala

Masaka Kasese Jinja Kisubi Jinja Kalangala

Age 27 23 23

Trajectory SC Villa, URA FC Navibank Saigon, Asante Kotoko Navibank Saigon, Gor Mahia Victoria Univ Victors FC URA FC, IBV, Golden Arrows, Haugesund, Valur Vipers, AmaZulu, Vita Club, Sfaxien Simba, Tusker, Gor Mahia Vipers, Leixões, Sp. Covilhã, Feirense Nile Acad. Jinja, Uganda Police, Masry, El Shams, Jomo Cosmos, Ettihad, Yenicami, U. Pretoria, Bloemfontein Celtic SC Villa, Victoria Univ KCCA, Xuan Thanh, Becamex Binh Duong SC Villa, Vipers, Don Bosco KCCA, St. George, Cape Town, Karabukspor, Altay Izmir, K. Erciyesspor, Dong Nai, SC Villa, Shorta Vipers Sharing, Nsambya, SC Villa, St. George, SuperSport Utd, Black Aces, Bidvest Wits KCCA Uganda Police, KCCA, St. George, Bloemfontein Celtc, Vasco Gama, Bidvest Wits, Victoria Univ Simba, Muhoroni, SC Villa, Western Stima, Sofapaka Univ Mobile, Charleston Battery, S. Sounders

Michu did a feat good enough to place him in the nominees for the Glo-CAF Awards 2016 in the coach of the year category. The return of Uganda to the big screens in the African football is already achieved, but natural the ‘Cranes’ want more and aim to surprise further.

Star Player: Goalie Onyango and forward Sserunkuma are still the most mediatic names in the Uganda side, with the Sundowns last wall grabbing the Africa Based Player of the Year 2016 at the Glo-Caf Awards, but pay close attention to teen sensation Miya, not having minutes at Standard but a local star with Vipers. Kizito from Rio Ave is another frontman but the 2016 year showed an outstanding Mike Azira, one of the builders to the unexpected and amazing regular season of Colorado Rapids in the Major League Soccer.

Pos GK LB/LM CM CB/DM CB DM/CM ST CM ST RF/LF/CF ST RB/DM CM RB LB DM OM/RW/LW GK GK CF/RF/LF CB MF DM 1.77

There are still doubts regarding the physical condition of Onyango and the own local press isn’t impressed with the solutions to the goal, but the defense is very young and they can all aim other pitches, having here the best place to show themselves.

On the other hand, the midfield is expected to have 3 men with lots of miles in their legs, bringing the needed experience while upfront captain Massa is likely to start instead of Sserunkuma, with Kizito and Miya making a mess of the opposition’s defenders.

The kid Edrisa Lubega was one of the final cuts, although a future star in the making, but the other teenagers Awany and Shaban, as well as names like Aucho and Sentamu are also to watch closely.

The amazing Guinea-Bissau qualification is proven with them being the only side out of the finalists eliminated in the inaugural round towards the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Togo fell to Uganda in the second round, which underlines the good moment of the ‘Cranes’ in African football.

In the final round, the group stage, Tunisia and DR Congo are paired in Group A, Cameroon and Algeria in B, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Gabon and Mali in C, with ‘Elephants’ and ‘Atlas Lions’ again grouped in this AFCON finals, Burkina Faso and Senegal are in D, Egypt, Uganda and Ghana in E, all 3 also drawn together in the 2017 African Cup of Nations.

Apart from the usual unattached footballers, a common feature in the last African Cup of Nations, particularly with more mature footballers, there are players from top leagues to fifth tiers across the World, ranging from North America to Vietnam, from 61 different countries, a number that defies even the World Cup in terms of diversity of leagues represented! A total of 250 sides – considering the ones represented in 2016 and not the 2017 changes already known – see footballers entering the AFCON 2017.

Even in terms of birthplaces it’s a global – or at least Euro-African – competition, players born in 25 different countries, at least the ones we know the birth location, with the remarkable France, continuing to dominate, with 71 footballers born there taking part in the 2017 event, spread across 13 of the nations present, only Egypt and East African Uganda and Zimbabwe appear without a French-born player. Senegal and Ivory Coast, alongside their own sides, have naturals playing for two other nations each.

African monsters Al Ahly and TP Mazembe share spoils in the highest number of players from their ranks in the finals, seve each.

290 play or played in 2016 at a top tier, 57 in a second tier, 7 in a third tier team, 2 in a fourth tier side and 5 in the fifth tier, 7 are unattached.

Obs. 1.Represented Clubs Club JS Kabylie MO Bejaia USM Alger Progresso Sambizanga FC Liefering AA Gent Anderlecht Antwerp KV Kortrijk KV Oostende Mouscron Standard Liège STVV Sint Truiden RC Bobo-Dioulasso RC Kadiogo Lokomotiv Plovdiv Montreal Impact Dalian Yifang MZ Hakka Tianjin Teda ASEC Mimosas AS Tanda Apejes Coton Sport Dinamo Zagreb Doxa Katokopias Omonia Nicosia Slavia Prague Sparta Prague AaB Aalborg TP Mazembe Vita Club Al Ahly Smouha Wadi Degla Zamalek Arsenal Aston Villa Barnsley Birmingham Bournemouth Charlton Crystal Palace Everton Fulham Hull Tigers Leicester Liverpool Manchester United Newcastle Northampton Town Norwich Stoke City

Gab Alg Alg Alg Ang Aut Bel Bel Bel Bel Bel Bel Bel Bel BuF BuF Bul Can/U Chn Chn Chn CiV CiV Cmr Cmr Cro Cyp Cyp Cze Cze Dnk DRC DRC Egy Egy Egy Egy Eng Eng Eng Eng Eng Eng Eng Eng Eng Eng Eng Eng Eng Eng Eng Eng Eng

1 1 2 1 1 1 3 2 1 3 1 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 7 2 7 2 1 5 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 2 3 1 1 3 1 1 3

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Southampton Sunderland Watford West Ham Wolves Saint George Ilves Tampere Ajaccio Angers Bastia Beauvais Caen Châteauroux Dijon Gazélec Ajaccio Guingamp Laval Le Mans Lille Lorient Marmande Metz Monaco Montpellier Nancy Nimes OGC NIce Ol. Lyon Ol. Marseille Orléans Paris-SG Quévilly Racing Lens Racing Strasbourg Red Star 93 Rennes Saint-Étienne Sedan Sochaux Stade Reims Toulouse Tours Troyes Valenciennes Akanda Mounana AC Horoya Bor. Dortmund F. Dusseldorf Hertha Berlin Ingolstadt Kaiserslautern Nurnberg St. Pauli Schalke 04 Werder Bremen Wa All Stars Wafa Levadiakos Olympiacos Panathinaikos

Eng Eng Eng Eng Eng Eth Fin Fra Fra Fra Fra Fra Fra Fra Fra Fra Fra Fra Fra Fra Fra Fra Fra Fra Fra Fra Fra Fra Fra Fra Fra Fra Fra Fra Fra Fra Fra Fra Fra Fra Fra Fra Fra Fra Gab Gab GC Ger Ger Ger Ger Ger Ger Ger Ger Ger Gha Gha Gre Gre Gre

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Panetolikos Throttur AS Roma Atalanta Avellino Bologna Crotone Genoa Juventus Lazio Napoli Torino Udinese Gor Mahia Tusker Ulsan Hyundai Al Ahl Al Ittihad Al Khaleej FC Riga Al Ahed Raja Casablanca RS Berkane Wydad Casablanca Dacia Chisinau Sheriff Tiraspol Stade Malien Mosta FC ADO Den Haag Ajax Feyenoord Vitesse Enyimba Stabaek Stromsgodset Ac. Viseu Belenenses Chaves Cova da Piedade FC Porto Felgueiras 1932 Freamunde Mafra Moreirense Olhanense Rio Ave Salgueiros Sp. Braga Sp. Covilh찾 Uni찾o Leiria Vit처ria SC (Guimar찾es) Al Ahli Al Sadd Lekhwiya Baroka FC Bidvest Wtis Golden Arrows Kaizer Chiefs Mamelodi Sundowns Maritzburg United Orlando Pirates

Gre Ice Ita Ita Ita Ita Ita Ita Ita Ita Ita Ita Ita Ken Ken Kor KSA KSA KSA Lat Leb Mar Mar Mar Mda Mda Mli Mlt Ned Ned Ned Ned Nga Nor Nor Por Por Por Por Por Por Por Por Por Por Por Por Por Por Por Por Qat Qat Qat RSA RSA RSA RSA RSA RSA RSA

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Santos FC SuperSport United Anzhi Makhachkala FC Krasnodar Kuban Krasnodar Rostov Hearts NIary Tally Aguadulce Almería Atletico Madrid Betis Sevilla Córdoba Deportivo Coruña Espanyol Girona Granada Málaga Nástic Tarragona Numancia Pulpileño Sevilla Valencia Villarreal Red Star Belgrade Al Merreikh Spartak Trnava Zilina AIK Solna Brommapojkarna Djurgardens Helsingborgs Basel Servette Sion Wohlen Azam FC Young Africans DYTO Togo-Port CA Bizertin Club Africain CS Sfaxien Espérance Tunis Étoile du Sahel Alanyaspor Antalyaspor Besiktas Fenerbahce Goztepe Izmir Karabukspor Kayserispor Osmanlispor Rizespor Sivasspor Trabzonspor Al Ahli Al Jazira Al Nasr KCCA Lweza FC

RSA RSA Rus Rus Rus Rus Sco Sen Spa Spa Spa Spa Spa Spa Spa Spa Spa Spa Spa Spa Spa Spa Spa Spa Srb Sud Svk Svk Swe Swe Swe Swe Swi Swi Swi Swi Tnz Tnz Tog Tog Tun Tun Tun Tun Tun Tur Tur Tur Tur Tur Tur Tur Tur Tur Tur Tur UAE UAE UAE Uga Uga

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Onduparaka Simba Vipers Colorado Rapids Columbus Crew Than Quang Ninh Cardiff City CAPS United Chicken Inn Dynamos How Mine ZPC Kariba No Affiliation

Uga Uga Uga USA USA Vie W/E Zim Zim Zim Zim Zim

1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 7

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4

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As above mentioned the 368 players that will attend the 2017 edition of the CAN – African Cup of Nations – arrive from 250 different teams in 61 distinct nations, counting Wales and Canada whose sides represented play in England and the MLS! France is the biggest ‘supplier’, having 57 players from 38 teams in its several championships going to play the biggest African football Nations event.

37 of the participants are playing throughout the English football pyramid, 19 in Spain, 17 in Portugal and Turkey, 16 in Belgium and Tunisia.

Naturalities Algeria Belgium Burkina Faso Cameroon Canada DR Congo Egypt England France Gabon Ghana Guinea-Bissau Ivory Coast Mali Morocco Netherlands Portugal Senegal Spain Sweden Switzerland Togo

Born Number Players Nations 10 1 1 1 18 1 22 1 1 1 16 1 23 1 1 1 71 13 16 1 20 1 16 1 24 3 12 1 5 1 3 1 3 1 19 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 18 1

Tunisia Uganda

19 23

1 1

Zimbabwe

23

1

The table on the left shows the birth places of the footballers present in the CAN 2017.

Although only 16 national sides will participate there were 25 different countries to give birth to the footballers that will be in Gabon, being the most represented one France, with 71 French-born players spread around 13 national squads.

Country Uganda Ghana Cameroon Mali Ivory Coast Burkina Faso DR Congo Guinea-Bissau Gabon Tunisia Zimbabwe Senegal Algeria Egypt Morocco Togo

Av Age 25,08 25,43 25,44 25,76 25,82 25,90 25,96 25,97 26,07 26,40 26,53 26,74 26,88 27,45 27,56 27,82

Age XI 26,12 26,54 25,24 25,85 26,74 25,95 26,16 26,17 26,17 26,71 27,16 26,04 26,98 28,79 27,28 29,37

Av Height 1,77 1,79 1,81 1,83 1,81 1,81 1,82 1,80 1,79 1,84 1,78 1,84 1,83 1,82 1,84 1,81

CAF African Player of the Year – Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City/Algeria) African Based Player of the Year – Denis Onyango (M. Sundowns/ Uganda) African Club of the Year – Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa National Team of the Year – Uganda CAF African Coach of the Year – Pitso Mosimane (M. Sundowns) Most Promising African Talent of the Year – Kelechi Iheanacho (M. City/Nigeria) Young Player of the Year – Alex Iwobi (Arsenal/Nigeria) African Female Footballer of the Year – Asisat Oshoala (Arsenal/Nigeria) Women National Team of the Year – Nigeria African Referee of the Year – Bakary Papa Gassama (Gambia) Football Leader of the Year – Manuel Lopes Nascimento (Guinea-Bissau Football Federation President) Legendary Awards 2016 – Laurent Pokou (Ivory Coast) and Emilienne Mbango (Cameroon) Platinum Price – Muhammadu Buhari (Federal Republic of Nigeria President) TEAM OF THE YEAR – Denis Onyango (M. Sundowns/Uganda); Serge Aurier (PSG/Ivory Coast), Aymen Abdennour (Valencia/Tunisia), Eric Bailly (Man. United/Ivory Coast), Joyce Lomalisa (Vita Club/DR Congo); Keegan Dolly (M. Sundowns/S. Africa), Khama Billiat (M. Sundowns/Zimbabwe), Rainford Kalaba (TP Mazembe/Zambia); Riyad Mahrez (Leicester/Algeria); Sadio Mane (Liverpool/Senegal), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (B. Dortmund/Gabon) SUBSTITUTES – Aymen Mathlouthi (ES Sahel/Tunisia); Kalidou Coulibaly (Napoli/Senegal), Salif Coulibaly (TP Mazembe/Mali); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal/Nigeria), Mohamed Salah (AS Roma/Egypt); Kelechi Iheanacho (Man. City/Nigeria), Islam Slimani (Leicester/Algeria)