2019 Africa Cup of Nations: Group B preview
By Liam Bekker
Nigeria, Guinea, Madagascar and Burundi will compete in Group B at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. Here’s what to expect from each side.
Group B is home to two Africa Cup of Nations debutants, with Burundi and Madagascar both making their first appearance at Africa’s showpiece tournament. The newcomers are joined in the group by three-time champions Nigeria and 1976 runners-up, Guinea.
The latter pair are favorites to progress from Group B but there’s an outside chance that one of Burundi or Madagascar could progress to the knockout rounds as one of the best third-placed teams at the competition.
Nigeria
Nigeria are making their 13th appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations and first since 2013 when they were crowned champions. The Super Eagles arrive in Egypt as one of the tournament’s most successful teams, boasting three titles to their name and having ended at least third in all but three of their previous appearances.
Qualification
Gernot Rohr’s side were one of the highest scoring teams in qualifying after netting 14 times across their six matches. Shanghai Shenhua striker, Odion Ighalo scored seven of those goals – the most by any player in the qualification stages – as Nigeria bounced back from an opening day defeat against South Africa to win four of their remaining five matches.
They were held to a draw in the return leg against South Africa but four wins from four against Libya and Seychelles were enough to ensure that Nigeria topped the group and secured qualification to the AFCON tournament.
The squad
Goalkeepers Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Daniel Akpeyi are the only African-based players named in Nigeria’s 23-man squad list. The remainder of the squad hail from various leagues across Europe and Asia, with no fewer than five players plying their trade in England.
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Rohr has opted for an attack-heavy side with Ighalo supported by the likes of Samuel Chukwueze, Alex Iwobi, Ahmed Musa and Victor Osimhen. Kelechi Iheanacho has been snubbed from the team, however, with his exclusion the latest setback in what has been a difficult period for the young Leicester striker.
Nigeria will also be without star man Victor Moses, who retired from international soccer after last year’s World Cup, while midfielder Ogenyi Onazi misses out with a knee injury he sustained back in December.
Key player: John Obi Mikel
Nigeria’s collective strength lies in the quality of their attacking options but it is John Obi Mikel who will be the nation’s central figure player. Mikel will captain his side at the same venue where he made his international breakthrough in 2006 and his ability to dictate play from midfield will be key to the Super Eagles’ success.
The 32-year old is one of only three players remaining from the 2013 triumph (alongside Musa and Kenneth Omeruo) and his experience will be invaluable in a squad that holds 11 players under the age of 23.