Group C: Algeria, Ghana, Senegal, South Africa
All eyes will be keenly fixed on the fixtures involving the teams in Group C when the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off in Equaorial Guinea in January.
Widely regarded as the toughest group in the 16-team competition, Group C is comprised of several African powerhouses in the shape of Algeria, Ghana, Senegal and South Africa.
And with two places up for grabs in the first knockout stage, every one of the group games promises to be an exciting and enthralling battle.
Attempting to predict who will progress from this group would be pure folly, although Algeria are surely favourites to mount a serious title challenge following their impressive showing at the World Cup in Brazil.
There were also flashes of brilliance from Ghana, most notably in a nerve-wracking 2-2 draw with eventual winners Germany, although they have a new coach at the helm following the departure of Kwesi Appiah.
All eyes will be keenly fixed on the fixtures involving the teams in Group C when the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off in Equaorial Guinea in January.
Widely regarded as the toughest group in the 16-team competition, Group C is comprised of several African powerhouses in the shape of Algeria, Ghana, Senegal and South Africa.
And with two places up for grabs in the first knockout stage, every one of the group games promises to be an exciting and enthralling battle.
Attempting to predict who will progress from this group would be pure folly, although Algeria are surely favourites to mount a serious title challenge following their impressive showing at the World Cup in Brazil.
There were also flashes of brilliance from Ghana, most notably in a nerve-wracking 2-2 draw with eventual winners Germany, although they have a new coach at the helm following the departure of Kwesi Appiah.
As such, Senegal and South Africa must be considered the 'dark horses' of the group.
Algeria:
Having performed so admirably at the World Cup in Brazil, The Desert Warriors are now regarded as Africa's top side - thanks in no small part to Nigeria's capitulation at the 2014 showpiece.
However, there is a new man at the helm, with former Lorient manager Christian Gourcuff taking up the Algeria reins in August following the departure of Vahid Halilhodzic.
Gourcuff picked up where his predecessor left off, comfortably steering the Fennecses to the top of their AFCON qualifying group with a record of five wins from five. What makes their qualifiyng run all the more impressive is the fact that they scored 11 goals while conceding just two.
Ghana:
The Black Stars are another team who will have a new manager at the helm for the tournament in Equatorial Guinea. In fact, they announced their new head coach, Avram Grant, just six weeks before the start of competition. Grant, who managed Chelsea, Portsmouth and West Ham united in England, took over from caretaker boss Maxwell Konadu, with the country's qualification already assured.
Ultimately, former head coach Kwesi Appiah paid for Ghana's poor showing at the 2014 World Cup and it remains to be seen wether the 59-year-old will be able to improve their fortunes. He's barely had enough time to get his feet under the table, so to speak, but with decades of experience under his belt, Grant appears to be a shrewd appointment.
Senegal:
Having missed out on the 2013 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, Senegal will surely be as determined as ever to end their long wait for the coveted trophy.
Their best finish in the African showpiece came in 2002 when they were defeated by Cameroon on penalties in a tense final in the capital of Mali, Bamako. Having stumbled at the final hurdle, with one hand on the trophy, the Lions of Teranga have a score to settle in Equatorial Guinea this year.
Alain Giresse's men finished runners up in Group G, just one point behind table-topping Tunisia, having recorded four wins, one draw and one defeat. While their goal difference was better than that of the Tunisians, their 1-0 loss to the group leaders in mid-October ultimately cost them a place at the top of their group. They will certainly be a team to watch in Equatorial Guinea, but face a tough task as they look to progress from what has been dubbed the 'group fo death'.
South Africa:
Shakes Mashaba's Bafana Bafana head into the 2015 AFCON with a new-found sense of optimism after going undefeated in the qualifying campaign.
Many were expecting the hosts of the 2013 edition to struggle to qualify, but they defied all expectations and silenced their critics with a series of solid performances, including back-to-back draws against Stephen Keshi's Nigeria.
However, question marks remain over the side's ability to score goals consistently and it is this area which could prove pivotal in their quest to repeat the feats of their 1996 title success. Such is the quality of opposition in Group C, though, that a good defensive showing in the Group fixtures could be enough to see the South Africans book a place in the knockout stages of the competition.
Algeria:
Having performed so admirably at the World Cup in Brazil, The Desert Warriors are now regarded as Africa's top side - thanks in no small part to Nigeria's capitulation at the 2014 showpiece.
However, there is a new man at the helm, with former Lorient manager Christian Gourcuff taking up the Algeria reins in August following the departure of Vahid Halilhodzic.
Gourcuff picked up where his predecessor left off, comfortably steering the Fennecses to the top of their AFCON qualifying group with a record of five wins from five. What makes their qualifiyng run all the more impressive is the fact that they scored 11 goals while conceding just two.
Ghana:
The Black Stars are another team who will have a new manager at the helm for the tournament in Equatorial Guinea. In fact, they announced their new head coach, Avram Grant, just six weeks before the start of competition. Grant, who managed Chelsea, Portsmouth and West Ham united in England, took over from caretaker boss Maxwell Konadu, with the country's qualification already assured.
Ultimately, former head coach Kwesi Appiah paid for Ghana's poor showing at the 2014 World Cup and it remains to be seen wether the 59-year-old will be able to improve their fortunes. He's barely had enough time to get his feet under the table, so to speak, but with decades of experience under his belt, Grant appears to be a shrewd appointment.
Senegal:
Having missed out on the 2013 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, Senegal will surely be as determined as ever to end their long wait for the coveted trophy.
Their best finish in the African showpiece came in 2002 when they were defeated by Cameroon on penalties in a tense final in the capital of Mali, Bamako. Having stumbled at the final hurdle, with one hand on the trophy, the Lions of Teranga have a score to settle in Equatorial Guinea this year.
Alain Giresse's men finished runners up in Group G, just one point behind table-topping Tunisia, having recorded four wins, one draw and one defeat. While their goal difference was better than that of the Tunisians, their 1-0 loss to the group leaders in mid-October ultimately cost them a place at the top of their group. They will certainly be a team to watch in Equatorial Guinea, but face a tough task as they look to progress from what has been dubbed the 'group fo death'.
South Africa:
Shakes Mashaba's Bafana Bafana head into the 2015 AFCON with a new-found sense of optimism after going undefeated in the qualifying campaign.
Many were expecting the hosts of the 2013 edition to struggle to qualify, but they defied all expectations and silenced their critics with a series of solid performances, including back-to-back draws against Stephen Keshi's Nigeria.
However, question marks remain over the side's ability to score goals consistently and it is this area which could prove pivotal in their quest to repeat the feats of their 1996 title success. Such is the quality of opposition in Group C, though, that a good defensive showing in the Group fixtures could be enough to see the South Africans book a place in the knockout stages of the competition.
By: Farai Diza
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