Still no upset at this AFCON. Some folks thought Comoros could beat Gabon without Aubameyang and Lemina but it didn´t happen. On paper the only potential upset tomorrow would be if somehow Sierra Leone gets something against Algera which I highly doubt. Any result in Nigeria - Egypt and Sudan - Guinea-Bissau can´t be considered an upset.
I just saw some news on Benoun. He´s injured. Bencharki who is an attacking player was called up for him.
African Cup of Nations - Kick-off are British Time - All my own predictions and speculations - For entertainment purposes only! Tuesday, 11 January 13:00 Algeria 3 - 0 Sierra Leone 16:00 Nigeria ? - ? Egypt (could be interesting match!) (BBC Red Button) 19:00 Sudan ? - ? Guinea-Bissau Wednesday, 12 January 2022 13:00 Tunisia 1 - 1 Mali 16:00 Mauritania 0 - 2 Gambia 19:00 Equatorial Guinea 0 - 3 Côte d'Ivoire Thursday, 13 January 2022 16:00 Cameroon 4 - 0 Ethiopia 19:00 Cape Verde Islands 0 - 3 Burkina Faso Friday, 14 January 2022 13:00 Senegal 2 - 0 Guinea 16:00 Malawi ? - ? Zimbabwe 16:00 Morocco 4 - 0 Comoros 19:00 Gabon 1 - 1 Ghana Saturday, 15 January 2022 16:00 Nigeria ? - ? Sudan (could be interesting match!) 19:00 Guinea-Bissau 0 - 3 Egypt Sunday, 16 January 2022 13:00 Gambia 0 - 3 Mali 16:00 Côte d'Ivoire 3 - 0 Sierra Leone 16:00 Tunisia 3 - 0 Mauritania 19:00 Algeria 3 - 0 Equatorial Guinea Monday, 17 January 2022 16:00 Burkina Faso 3 - 0 Ethiopia 16:00 Cape Verde Islands 0 - 4 Cameroon Tuesday, 18 January 2022 16:00 Malawi 0 - 4 Senegal 16:00 Zimbabwe 0 - 2 Guinea 19:00 Gabon 0 - 2 Morocco 19:00 Ghana 2 - 0 Comoros Wednesday, 19 January 2022 19:00 Egypt vs Sudan (could be interesting match!) 19:00 Guinea-Bissau 0 - 3 Nigeria Thursday, 20 January 2022 16:00 Côte d'Ivoire 0 - 2 Algeria 16:00 Sierra Leone ? - ? Equatorial Guinea 19:00 Gambia 0 - 3 Tunisia 19:00 Mali 3 - 0 Mauritania Round of 16 - Four matches will be on BBC Red Button - (W) means my predicted winner Sunday, 23 January 16:00 Burkina Faso (W) v Ghana 19:00 Nigeria (W) v 3rd placer Monday, 24 January 16:00 Guinea v Mali (W) 19:00 Cameroon (W) v 3rd placer Tuesday, 25 January 16:00 Senegal (W) v 3rd placer 19:00 Morocco (W) v 3rd placer Wednesday, 26 January 16:00 Algeria (W) v Egypt 19:00 Tunisia (W) v Ivory Coast Quarters - Two of these matches will be on BBC Red Button Saturday 29 January 17:00 Cameroon v Mali 20:00 Burkina Faso v Nigeria Sunday 30 January 17:00 Algeria v Morocco 20:00 Senegal v Tunisia Semis - Both matches on BBC Red Button Wednesday 2 February 19:00 Cameroon/Mali v Senegal/Tunisia Thursday 3 February 19:00 Burkina Faso/Nigeria v Algeria/Morocco Final - On BBC Red Button Sunday 6 February 19:00 Cameroon/Mali/Senegal/Tunisia v Burkina Faso/Nigeria/Algeria/Morocco Senegal? v Algeria? (Repeat of 2019?) Couldn't call that battle. Anyone of the quarter finalists I have down could win the cup. It's a great tournament, maybe the second most exciting tournament after the World Cup, for me. I haven't factored-in upsets like there always is, like Benin and Madagascar in 2019. I don't know enough to see into those football fogs! I think Ghana might be the team to shit the bed. Group D with Sudan might also be wacky, what with them dumping out South Africa in the qualifiers, they'll be buzzing! Cape Verde might do something strange. There you go, my hat is in the ring/on the pitch! Anyway, how's it going, folks? I'm from Aberdeen, Scotland. I love international football!
I agree this Morocco team is not as exciting as Renard's and Halihodzic has dropped lots of good players. But give it time, they haven't even played one friendly before this match.
You seem dissappointed from Morocco. They missed several players in the attack. I think it was a bit premature to rank them among the 15 top nations in the world. See, that's why I was hesitant to make a Top 50 list the other day. We don't get to see a team's true level by dominating the likes of Guinea, Sudan and Guinea-Bissau at home. It is games with teams on a similar level that give us an idea where a team stands. In April we will be able to make lists that reflect the reality better.
So, Ivory Coast - Morocco is your pick for the final with Ivory Coast winning it. I don't see another comment after this where you pointed towards a winner. I write it down.
Half-time with Algeria 0 - 0 Sierra Leone. Algeria don't look too deadly today, oh man. Sierra Leone could have scored early on, they don't look weak. We'll see what happens...
Algeria is not going to win AFCON 2021. That´s pretty much sealed after this shockingly poor performance.
I give you two stats guys. All AFCON winners since the 16 team format (since 1996) scored in their opening game. Teams that defended successfully their title (Cameroon 2002, Egypt 2008+2010) started always with a win.
I'm going to disagree with you on this. It was not a poor performance at all, in fact it was quite good, the only thing lacking was their finishing. Could have been like 3-0 on another day. Also credit needs to be given to Sierra Leone for playing a very compact game which frustrated Algeria. The small teams in Africa no longer play open games against the big guys which they used to do in the past, and thats partially why we have had low scoring games so far. The small guys in Africa are now playing smart, defensive games, it doesn't make for the typical "African game" but it makes teams with limited talent more able to pull of results like today. Algeria is still easily the best team I have seen so far. Their attack was actually quite good at times, very creative moments, good off ball running. Should have been more clinical. I still think they are favorites to win it all.
Egypt v Nigeria Have no idea what to expect with a new coach and new formation. We only played a scrimage match against a Cameroon clubside which we won 2-0. Egypt has been dissapointing but efficient in Africa since Quireoz took over. This could be the best game of the opening set of games.
Egypt with very strong lineup today , it's gonna be interesting game . But I will support Nigeria , let's go!
everyone is talking about Salah, but Trezeguet and Marmoush are very good. We need to make a statement and take Egypt out.
Worried about my blackstars. Will there be around the 16 hour or we going straight to quarterfinals? Because it's so they better get their act together. Work week makes it hard for me to watch the matches, I haven't even set up my streaming feed yet but from what I heard Gonna was less than impressive yesterday in their loss.
Nigeria leading Egypt 1:0 at HT. My view on Algeria v Sierra Leone: in the first half, SL was pressing Algeria and went toe-to-toe with them. In the 2nd half, they dropped back and mostly defended and it was mainly one way traffic. Algeria did well creating chance, but their finishing was poor and failed to convert chances they should have converted. Still, I was less disappointed with Algeria than I was impressed with SL. I especially was impressed with their goalie, who did very well sweeping behind their defense and acting as a last defender in the 1st half when SL was actually pressing high at times.
Conpletely neglected the fact that Cameroon and Nigeria share a border. Nigeria is having basically a home game here.
Nigeria beat Egypt 1-0. Nigeria played for me the best football of this tournament so far. Good pressing, quick transition, finess. They dictated this match. Egypt was never really in it. The supply line to Salah was cut off. He was no factor. He had only one moment when he was one on one with the Nigerian goalkeeper but he got denied.
Congrats to Nigeria for holding on to win 1:0. Nigeria deserved this win as Egypt didn't show much, while Nigeria had several chances to add to their lead. To be sure, the last 10-15 minutes must have been tense for Nigeria fans, but other than that bump just outside/inside Nigeria's box which was reviewed for a possible pk (which would have been a gifted penalty by that Nigerian defender) and Salah's awkward 1-on-1 with Nigeria's keeper, the rest of the game saw Egypt unable to create anything while dodging at least 3-4 great chances that Nigeria waw unable to convert.
It's the first loss for Egypt in an AFCON group stage game after 16 games. The last defeat was in 2004 to Algeria (1-2)