By Fredrick Nadulli aka Razor,
Starting tomorrow,for the next three weeks,Africa and the rest of the football world will be glued to television screens to follow through as events unfold in the Africa cup of nations,the continent’s biggest prize.All flights lead to Equatorial Guinea,eleventh-hour step-in hosts after Morocco forfeited that right,citing fears of the dreaded Ebola epidemic.There may be murmurs flying around about sub-standard facilities and shoddy infrastructure from various quarters,but African organisation in general has never been known for complete perfection.Be that as it may,the cities of Bata and Malabo in the tiny West African nation are just about ready to host Africa’s creme de la creme,all eyeing the coveted diadem.
NIGERIA,MAGHREB GIANTS MISSING
With all due respect to the twelve nations taking part,the showpiece will miss the presence and spark of some of Africa’s big boys.Former champions Egypt and Nigeria are paying the heavy price of complacency.
While Morocco belatedly withdrew as hosts fearing the Ebola factor that has ravaged a better part of West Africa,Egypt are rebuilding their side after years of civil unrest that took toll on governance and national systems.
Nigeria were architects of their own downfall,as poor preparations and administrative wrangles put paid to their chances.
GROUP A:
Hosts Equatorial Guinea will be up against neighbours Gabon,Congo and Burkina Faso in a pool that all four stand an almost equal chance of progressing.President Theodore Nguemma Mbassogo has spared no cost to ensure the hosts are adequately prepared.Congo upset Nigeria in Calabar in the qualifiers and head to the tourney as an unpredictable bunch.Burkina Faso are dark horses and have their usually reliable pair of Jonathan Pitroipa and Aristide Bance to call upon,but whether they can pull off a class act on their own remains to be seen.
GROUP B:
2013 champions Zambia will seek to emerge against opposition from Tunisia,Cape Verde and DR Congo.Tunisia look a strong bet to join them,but the Carthage Eagles have never been good away from their home crowd.
GROUP C:
It is in this group that the cat will be among the pigeons.Algeria,Ghana,Senegal and South Africa form a pool that has virtually no room for error.Here it is winner takes all and loose and leave,literally.A new Bafana Bafana squad under Shakes Mashaba swept all before them enroute to qualification,the Super Eagles included.The tournament proper is a different ball game.They will be up against a rejuvenated Senegal and two African representatives at the last World cup in Brazil.
GROUP D:
This pool looks pretty predictable.Ivory Coast and Cameroon should sail easily through at the expense of Mali and Giunea.The Ivorians have for years had the players any coach would die for,but not the team to grind results when it mattered most.This term is no exception,with the likes of Gervinho,Kalou,Boka and the Toure brothers.Cameroon is finally free of larger than life figures like Samuel Eto’o and Alexandre Song.The Indomitable Lions have oft times faltered due to overbloated egos and personality clashes.The new look Stephane Mbia-led side should provide a welcome relief for their long agonising fans.
Let the games begin…
