There’s Always Room for Another Preview

As avid WCB readers know, Daryl has been doing a wonderful job previewing the teams competing in the African Cup of Nations. I recently received an article from reader Tahar Kechrid that was simply too good not to post. Consider it a supplement to all the reading you’ve been doing about these teams. Now that we’re all well versed, it’s a good time for this thing to finally get started! I can’t wait for kickoff. Special thanks to Tahar for putting this together and Allez Tunisie!

African Cup of Nations: Ghana 2008 Players to Watch

Group A

Ghana

Many believe Michael Essien should have been named African Player of the year and for this reason along with his heavy hitting displays for Chelsea this season he is one of the most influential African players and makes Ghana a major contender in this edition of the tournament. With his important role in the center of the pitch he allows for Sulley Muntari and Stephan Appiah to play more offensive and provide Asamoah Gyan with passes. Quincy Owusu-Abeyie too should be interesting to see up top for Ghana. Essien will be depended on by Coach Claude Le Roy to be very versatile and play many different roles, as he has done for Chelsea.

Guinea

Though everyone knows the technical strength and incredible vision of Saint Etienne’s Pascal Feinduno, Guinea’s biggest threat should come from up and coming striker Ismael Bangoura. Last season Bangoura lit up the French ligue 1 helping Le Mans reach heights they hadn’t seen in a long time. He received a lucrative deal from Dynamo Kiev, and since has been scoring goal after goal both in domestic play and in the Champions League. He is known for his speed with the ball and extremely strong shots. Check him out here.

Morocco

Tarik Sektioui has long been ignored by the Moroccan FA, but since moving to Porto it would be impossible for any coach to overlook such a talent. Though he is only putting his international career into full drive at the age of 30, Morocco has not seen such a classy winger since Mustapha Haji. Sektioui looks to take over the position of Jaouad Zairi who was strangely left out by Henri Michel, when they were expected to be the Ronaldo- Quaresma duo for Morocco. Sektioui has already proven himself against France and Senegal in recent match ups for Morocco. Expect him to pull out the best tricks of the tournament.

Namibia

Collin Benjamin is the leader for this surprise Namibia side that faces an uphill struggle in the group stages. Benjamin, as many of the Namibian internationals passed through a South African formation and is now plying his trade for Hamburg SV. He is a strong defensive midfielder but has been known as the main center back for the national squad. His leadership will be key for this ambitious side.

Group B

Benin

Benin will look to center midfielder Romuald Boco to keep the team organized and keep the passes flowing to the attack. This offense minded young midfielder went through the Niort formation center in France and has since been scouted by English league two side Accrington Stanley where he now plays. Though he is only in his early twenties he is considered a more experienced player as he participated in the 2004 African nations cup, where Benin finished at the bottom of their group respectively.

Cote D’Ivoire

Without a doubt in what is considered one of the hardest groups of the tournament Cote D’Ivoire will look to the leadership of captain and scoring ace Didier Drogba. His prowess up front is known around the world and he will look to affirm his position as African Player of the year in this tournament. He knows very well that his side is the favorite in this tournament but in recent years it has been proven that the best team on paper has not come out victorious. With that and a last minute coaching change, Didier Drogba will be looked to for leadership and must set the pace for his teammates and opponents from game one.

Mali

After the major disappointment of missing the 2006 edition, Mali look to show their strength in the African arena in this African Nations Cup. Mali’s main source of goals will be Frederick Kanoute who has been in form for club team FC Sevilla of late. Paired up front with joker Draman Traore and with a strong midfield including club teammate Seydou Keita and stars like Mahamadou Diarra and Momo Sissoko he will be seeing plenty of action in the offensive third of the field. Though Mali have seemed to be the up and coming African team in recent years, they have always run into difficulties be it a tough group or a lack of discipline down the long road of qualification. Some highlights.

Nigeria

Though since he has left Inter Milan his strike form has slowly been deteriorating in Europe, for the super eagles Obafemi Martins has never stopped soaring in goal form and also in dazzling skill. With such major competition for the forward position on the Nigerian squad, Martins has always held his starting spot with goal after goal. Nigeria will need his goals as their defense has been less than impressive recently. In what is the most attacking group of the tournament he will have to be a presence in each of the group stage games.

Group C

Cameroon

Since coming back from injury Samuel Eto’o has been back at bagging the goals for Barcelona, and looks to bring Cameroon back to their once top seat in Africa. Eto’o was heart broken at loosing to Cote D’Ivoire in the last Nations Cup and then failing to qualify for the world cup months later and has a lot to prove in this edition. What better way to consolidate himself, then by getting back at Egypt, the team that knocked them out of the World Cup. Etoo’s talent is no secret, and all eyes will be on him throughout the tournament.

Egypt

Mohamed Aboutrika or Mohamed Zidan? I certainly could not choose which to watch for this edition. Aboutrika looks to guide the Egyptian team back to the heights reached at the 2006 edition. He is known for his technical ability and his great vision. He has been the best performer for Egypt in recent years and will look to be the team leader this tournament. The young Mohamed Zidan has some of the most alluring skills in Africa today and will showcase them throughout group C. He has been attacked by Egyptians for reportedly refusing to play for Egypt in the last nations cup, but since being called back he has impressed, notably scoring his first goal within five minutes of playing.
Aboutrika Highlights.

Sudan

Sudanese legend Haitham Mustafa will be the man to watch from the Desert Hawks. He has had an eye opening season with Al Hilal, as they nearly defeated Etoile Sportif du Sahel of Tunisia, who went on to win the African Champions League. He is known for his great endurance and ability to control the midfield. He will captain Sudan in what could be his last Nations Cup.

Zambia

After Collins Mbesuma was dropped from the National team after the coach told him “[he] was carrying too much weight,” Chipolopolo will be counting on goals and distribution from Chris Katongo. He recently scored twice in a great performance against Tunisia. Outside of International football he also plays in Denmark for Brondby where he is a standout attacker. He has one of the strongest shots in Africa (Taiwo, Karkouri, etc…) and is known for his goal celebration, where he performs multiple acrobatic jumps and flips. He will partner up with Jacob Mulenga and aim to be this edition of the cup’s dark horse.

Group D

Tunisia

Tunisia is encountering a rebuilding phase now that most of the veterans have retired, and with the introduction of so many new faces it could be a blunder filled cup. The stand out for Tunisia has been Yassine Chikhaoui. Dubbed “the new Zidane” by kicker magazine after being highly sought after by Bayern Munich he will surely electrify the stadiums in Ghana. Chikhaoui has been in impressive form for Tunisia and FC Zurich where he has provided glimmering displays in domestic league and in UEFA Cup play. Partnering with Francieludo dos Santos and other young star Isaam Jomaa he looks to take the prominent role for Tunisia.

South Africa

Carlo Alberto Pereira appears to be building his new World Cup bound squad around Everton midfielder Stephen Pineaar. Having been formed in the renown Ajax Academy, he has an abundance of skills and since moving to the Premier League he has learned to play team football at its finest. Pineaar is currently the best performing South African and will look to use his passing expertise to provide for star forward Zuma.

Senegal

Mamadou Niang is lighting up French ligue 1, and l’enfant terrible El Hadji Diouf has finally decided to play the cup, but the eyes will be on new star Moustafa Bayal Sall, who has come out of nowhere for Saint Etienne this season. Sall is a smart holding midfielder who can complement Pape Bouba Diop and provide coverage for Ibrahima Sanoko and Diomansy Kamara in the center of the pitch. Look for him to be highly recruited by top European teams throughout the tournament, as he is already banned from playing with Saint Etienne for the first four months of the next season.

Angola

Mateus Alberto Goncalves is a name unfamiliar to most, but once he puts on the Manchester United kit he could become an instant household name. This tall forward has strength and agility which is rare amongst big forwards. Prior to his sudden move to Manchester United Goncalves was the top scorer in the Angolan league. Also known as Manucho, he looks to follow in the footsteps of Flavio Amado, who he also played club football with, and will look to fill in the shoes of famous Angola stiker and captain Montaras.

Tahar Kechrid