Group D: Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Mali
While all groups at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations will be tightly contested, Group D has the potential for some blockbuster clashes, with two former champions and two previous finalists battling it out.
Cameroon and Ivory Coast come into the tournaments as favourites to progress to the first knockout round, having won the tournament five times between them, while Mali and Guinea, both one-time finalists, have the potential to cause some upsets.
Cameroon:
The Indomitable Lions endured a dismal World Cup in Brazil last year as they dropped out at the group stages having failed to win a single game.
While all groups at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations will be tightly contested, Group D has the potential for some blockbuster clashes, with two former champions and two previous finalists battling it out.
Cameroon and Ivory Coast come into the tournaments as favourites to progress to the first knockout round, having won the tournament five times between them, while Mali and Guinea, both one-time finalists, have the potential to cause some upsets.
Cameroon:
The Indomitable Lions endured a dismal World Cup in Brazil last year as they dropped out at the group stages having failed to win a single game.
However, they have since been in exceptional form and went through their AFCON qualifying campaign unbeaten, with four wins and two draws.
There will be extreme pressure on the likes of Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Vincent Aboubakar and Benjamin Moukandjo to lead the line as Cameroon prepare for their first major tournament without Samuel Eto'o.
Ivory Coast:
Ivory Coast, similarly, also had a poor tournament in Brazil, but finished third in group C with one win and two defeats.
The Elephants were in the same AFCON qualifying group as Cameroon, and finished four points behind the Indomitable Lions with three wins, a draw and two defeats.
The 2015 AFCON is widely regarded as Cote d'Ivoire's golden generation's last chance to win international honours, with Yaya and Kolo Toure, as well as Boubacar Barry, likely playing in their last major tournament for their country, with Didier Zokora and Didier Drogba already having recently hung up their boots.
Guinea:
Guinea upset the odds in the AFCON qualifiers by beating both Uganda and Togo to second place in group E, finishing a single point behind Ghana after three wins, a draw and two losses.
Head coach Michel Dussuyer has already faced his share of problems selecting his squad, with France-based duo Ismael Bangoura and Bouna Sarr rejecting call-ups to focus on their club football.
Dussuyer, though, will be able to rely on the likes of AC Milan midfielder Kevin Constant, Borussia Monchengladbach striker Ibrahima Traore and Lyon forward Mohamed Lamine Yattara.
Mali:
Mali come into AFCON 2015 having finished third in the last two editions and will be keen to, at the very least, make the final this time around.
Seydou Keita is also likely to call time on his international career after the tournament, so will want to go out on a high.
The Eagles finished runners-up in Group B in qualification, behind powerhouses Algeria, after winning three and losing three of their games.
Head coach Henryk Kasperczak surprised many by bringing forward Modibo Maiga and midfielder Abdou Traore back into the fold, with neither having featured for their country in the last 12 months, while goalkeeper Oumar Sissoko has been left out in favour of local-based stopper N'Tji Michel Samake.
There will be extreme pressure on the likes of Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Vincent Aboubakar and Benjamin Moukandjo to lead the line as Cameroon prepare for their first major tournament without Samuel Eto'o.
Ivory Coast:
Ivory Coast, similarly, also had a poor tournament in Brazil, but finished third in group C with one win and two defeats.
The Elephants were in the same AFCON qualifying group as Cameroon, and finished four points behind the Indomitable Lions with three wins, a draw and two defeats.
The 2015 AFCON is widely regarded as Cote d'Ivoire's golden generation's last chance to win international honours, with Yaya and Kolo Toure, as well as Boubacar Barry, likely playing in their last major tournament for their country, with Didier Zokora and Didier Drogba already having recently hung up their boots.
Guinea:
Guinea upset the odds in the AFCON qualifiers by beating both Uganda and Togo to second place in group E, finishing a single point behind Ghana after three wins, a draw and two losses.
Head coach Michel Dussuyer has already faced his share of problems selecting his squad, with France-based duo Ismael Bangoura and Bouna Sarr rejecting call-ups to focus on their club football.
Dussuyer, though, will be able to rely on the likes of AC Milan midfielder Kevin Constant, Borussia Monchengladbach striker Ibrahima Traore and Lyon forward Mohamed Lamine Yattara.
Mali:
Mali come into AFCON 2015 having finished third in the last two editions and will be keen to, at the very least, make the final this time around.
Seydou Keita is also likely to call time on his international career after the tournament, so will want to go out on a high.
The Eagles finished runners-up in Group B in qualification, behind powerhouses Algeria, after winning three and losing three of their games.
Head coach Henryk Kasperczak surprised many by bringing forward Modibo Maiga and midfielder Abdou Traore back into the fold, with neither having featured for their country in the last 12 months, while goalkeeper Oumar Sissoko has been left out in favour of local-based stopper N'Tji Michel Samake.
By: Farai Diza
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