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Egypt, Sudan, And Guinea-Bissau: How Tough Is Nigeria’s AFCON Group?

The Super Eagles will be gunning for their fourth continental trophy when the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) begins on January 9th. 


Super eagles
The Super Eagles last won the AFCON in 2013. Photo: Instagram@ng_supereagles

 

The Super Eagles will be gunning for their fourth continental trophy when the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) begins on January 9th. 

Nigeria, slated for their 19th appearance in the competition, will play in Group D of the tournament billed for Cameroon this month 

The team last won the AFCON in 2013 in South Africa after beating fellow West Africans, Burkina Faso. 

Nigeria were the winners of Group L AFCON qualifier as Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen struck five times.

In spite of the shakeup that involved the sack of long-time manager, Gernot Rohr, and the appointment of Austine Eguavoen in his stead [on an interim basis] for the tournament, and a surprising naming of Portuguese tactician, Jose Peseiro as a replacement- pundits and fans alike, see the 1994 champions as one of the favourites for the trophy.


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group D Afcon 2021
Credit: CAF Online

 

Ahead of the competition, Channels Television takes a look at Nigeria’s Group D opponents, providing an overview of their history in the tournament (and major successes), their strengths, and key men among others.


Sudan


Sudan’s best performance at the AFCON in recent times was a quarter-final finish in 2012. Photo@Cafonline

 

Sudan hosted the first-ever AFCON in 1957  – which was won by Egypt – and finished third. They went a step better as they came second both at the 1959 and 1963 editions

Seven years later in 1970, the Falcons of Jediane emerged champions of the continent on home soil.

But a lull saw them miss the competition for 32 years, only to qualify in 2008 as Ghana hosted Africa.

In 2012, they reached the quarter-finals of the AFCON, signalling one of the best performances in the competition in recent times.

Nigeria and Sudan met at the 1963 AFCON, a game the latter won 4-0.

Hubert Velud’s men, who qualified for the competition after earning 12 points from their qualifying group, also beat South African en route making it to the finals. The Desert Hawks were second in Group C and scored nine goals.

In Ramadan Agab, Nasr Eldin El Shigail, and Mohamed Abdel Rahman  – who scored thrice during qualification – the Falcons of Jediane will be looking to cause a major upset in Cameroon.


Guinea-Bissau


Guinea Bissau afcon
Guinea-Bissau made their AFCON debut in 2017. Photo: CAF Online

 

Guinea-Bissau secured qualification after beating Congo 3-2 in March 2021, ensuring they finished second behind Group I winners, Senegal.

The Djurtus and Nigeria have never met at the international level. In Cameroon, the Super Eagles will play them at Roumde Adjia Stadium on January 19. It is the last group game for the West African teams.

Despite a winless run in Africa’s premier competition, Guinea-Bissau coach, Baciro Candé, is confident his team will pull up a surprise against continental heavyweights, Nigeria and Egypt.

“I think that, by the time of the competition, Guin­ea-Bissau will be prepared to face its opponents,” he told local media after the draws in late August.

“As al­ways in football, there are accessible teams, there are also surprises and we will work to make a good CAN for us by being a surprising team.”

Jorginho and Piqueti Silva, top scorers during the qualification race with two goals each, are expected to carry the West Africans past the group stage of the competition for the first time.


Egypt


egypt-2021-afcon
Egypt are the record AFCON winners. Photo: CAF Online.

 

When they hosted the 2019 AFCON, critics had tipped The Pharaohs to win the prize. But a round of 16 defeat to South Africa, left the home fans dejected.

Egypt had topped Group C of the 2021 AFCON qualifiers as Salah, Mohamed Sherif and Mohamed Magdy Afsha scored twice each to emerge the 2006 AFCON winners’ top scorers.

With seven titles –  1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, and 2010 – they are the most successful team in the competition, a feat Carlos Queiroz’s men will want to extend.

Having beaten Nigeria eight times in 18 meetings, Salah, and his teammates will be aiming to stretch their dominance over the 2013 African champions.

In their most recent clash in the competition, the North Africans swept to a 3-1 win in Angola as they sealed their seventh AFCON.

But the Super Eagles billed to clash with Egypt in the Group D opener on January 11, won the last meeting between both sides in 2019.


Nigeria


Super eagles
Super Eagles after their game against Liberia in Tangier, Morocco. Photo: Instagram@ng_supereagles

 

Despite changing guards few just a little over one month to the competition, the Nigerian side are no pushovers.

The Super Eagles will be going for their fourth continental title having last won it in South Africa in 2013.

Austine Eguavoen, a former international, is not new to the AFCON. He was in charge when the team clinched a bronze medal in 2006 in Egypt. Although he is leading the side on an interim basis, the former defender is expected to lead a young squad to victory in Cameroon.

While the Super Eagles are without star striker, Victor Osimhen, as well as 2019 AFCON top scorer, Odion Ighalo, the football-crazy nation are one of the powerhouses of football on the continent.

Currently, they are number five on the FIFA African ranking; they were champions in 1980, 1994, and 2013.

Pundits have tipped the team as well as Egypt to make it to the next round and it won’t be a surprise to see them go all the way.

Nigeria’s Fixtures For 2021 AFCON

A Nigerian supporter dances during the 2022 Qatar World Cup African qualifiers group 3 football match between Nigeria and Central Africa Republic at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, in Surulere in Lagos State, on October 7, 2021. PIUS UTOMI EKPEI / AFP

 

Having looked at Nigeria’s opponents for the 2021 AFCON, here is a list of the team’s fixtures, the date and time they will be played: