2nd January, 2013
As this year’s African Cup of Nations slated to begin on 19 January draws nearer, P.M.NEWS begins the group-by-group preview of the tourney starting with Group A today.
Group A features hosts of 2013 AFCON, the Bafana Bafana of South Africa against Morocco, Angola and Cape Verde, but football pundits are of the view that it would be a two horse race between South Africa and Morocco.
The Bafana Bafana may want to make use of the home advantage tactics, with the view to clinch the title, which they won as hosts in 1996. But, can they survive their group?
For the Atlas Lions of Morocco they would want to ride on the crest of Cape Verde to restate their dominance on the African continent, having played a second fiddle to lesser nations in recent times.
On paper, Bafana Bafana who will be parading an entirely new team, say they want to replicate their 1996 feat, but they must scale the hurdle of Group A underdogs, Cape Verde.
On paper, Morocco have the chance to proceed to the next round. As winners of the African Cup of Nations in 1976, Morocco were also the first African and Arab team to lead a group at the World Cup, which they did in 1986, finishing ahead of Portugal, Poland, and England. They were also the first African team to make it to the second round at the World Cup but lost 1-0 to eventual runner-ups, West Germany in 1986. They also came within two minutes of moving out of the group stage of the 1998 World Cup, but Kjetil Rekdal’s late winning goal for Norway against Brazil eliminated them. Glory came back to Morocco in 2012, when they emerged victorious in the 2012 Arab Nations Cup, defeating Libya in the final.
At South Africa 2010 World Cup, the hosts, Bafana thrilled thousands of spectators at different stadia with their vuvuzela, the horn played at soccer games. That will be one of the jokers they would want to use to their advantage during this year’s AFCON.
The sound of vuvuzela at the last World Cup was so disturbing that pleas went to FIFA to ban the instrument “because it disturbs the main actors, the players”. However, the South Africans are hungry for success and would want to achieve a milestone by playing the competition of their lives as hosts.
With players such as Queens Park Rangers of England forward, Adel Taraabt and Arsenal striker, Marouane Chamakh out of Morocco squad, South Africa may have ‘an easy’ ride against the North Africans. But, the availability of Dutch-born striker Mounir El Hamdaoui, who returned to the squad for the first time since September after reviving his career on loan at Fiorentina from Ajax Amsterdam, means the South African backline would be busy during their game.
The heart of the Moroccan team is from Europe, which gives them an edge over the South African team; drawn majorly from the South African Premier League, SPL.
Having asked to be left out of the tourney, South Africa will miss the experience of Everton of England striker, Steven Piennar
The pedigree of South Africa and Morocco put them in pole positions to advance from Group A, but the other opponents may be dangerous as well. The battle for who tops the group to avoid winners of Group B, which parades Ghana will be keen when the tournament gets underway.
Cape Verde and Angola are not going to the tourney to see how beautiful South Africa is, but they would want to make some statements and work hard to qualify from the group.
For Cape Verde, regarded as underdogs in the group, their qualification may be in doubt, but their opponents must watch out for the youngsters in the squad. They created an upset before booking their place for the finals in the Land of the Mandiba.
Cape Verde denied the Indominitable Lions of Cameroon a place in the 16-team AFCON, and they can do it against South Africa and Morocco this month.
Cameroon will never forget 14 October 2012, when they lost 3-2 on aggregate score to Cape Verde, and missed out in the Nations Cup. It followed a 2-1 defeat to Cameroon at the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaounde, but qualified for South Africa 2013, having won the first leg at home 2-0 in Praia just weeks prior to their qualification.
They would play the opening match of the tournament at Soccer City in Johannesburg, Gauteng against South Africa on 19 January. All eyes would be on them.
If the FIFA ranking is to be considered a yardstick, then Cape Verde have all to play for to prove the bookmakers wrong.
Siyabonga Sangweni Sangweni of South Africa is one of the players to watch out for during 2013 AFCON. He was born on 29 September, 1981 in Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal. He is a defender for South Africa Premier Soccer League Club, Orlando Pirates.
His younger brother, Thamsanqa Sangweni who used to play for the AmaZulu, now plays for Mamelodi Sundowns.
Sangweni signed for Orlando Pirates at the beginning of the 2011/12 season. Hailed as one of the best signings of the season due to his defensive abilities. He was a regular starter for Bafana Bafana, while playing for Golden Arrows. He became a regular at Orlando Pirates and went on to play 28 league games in his first season at Pirates. Due to him being very instrumental in the Pirates treble winning squad of the season, he was nominated as a Footballer of the Season, which eventually went to the League’s leading goalscorer, Siyabonga Nomvethe of Moroka Swallows.
Oussama Assaidi
Assaidi is one of the stars to watch out for in the Moroccan squad. He was born on 15 August, 1988. He is a Dutch-Moroccan footballer, who plays for Liverpool as a winger. He previously spent three years playing in the Eredivise for SC Heerenveen, with spells at Almere City and De Graafschap.
Assaidi was eligible to play for both The Netherlands and Morocco. His first invitation for a senior team came in February 2011, when the national team coach of Morocco, Erik Gerets, called him up for Morocco’s friendly match against Niger Republic. Assaidi made his debut in Morocco’s 4–0 win over Niger, coming on as a substitute in the 77th minute for Adel Taarabt. Since it was a friendly, Assaidi was still eligible to play for the Netherlands, but he announced on 14 February 2011, that his choice for Morocco was definite. He was then called up for Morocco’s qualification match for the 2012 African Cup of Nations against Algeria on 27 March 2011. Assaidi also came on as a substitute in the 89th minute of the match, meaning that his services on international level became exclusive to Morocco. However, his nation lost the tie 1–0 to the Algeria. Assaidi received another call-up for the 4th group match on 4 June, again facing Algeria, but this time in Marrakech. In a 4–3–3 formation, Assaidi was given a place in the starting line-up on the right wing. Morocco cruised to a 4–0 win, with Assaidi scoring his first international goal in the encounter.
Manucho
Mateus Alberto Contreiras Gonçalves, better known as Manucho, will play for Angola at AFCON. He was born on 7 March, 1983 in Luanda and plays for Spanish club, Real Valladolid.
He moved from Petro Atletico to Manchester United in January 2008. Before playing a game for United, he was loaned out to Greek side Panathinaikos for the remainder of the 2007–08 season, due to issues with obtaining a UK work permit. Manucho received a work permit soon after returning to Manchester United for pre-season training in July 2008, and made his debut for the club in the League Cup against Middlesbrough on 23 September 2008.
Short of first team opportunities at Old Trafford, on 16 January 2009, he joined Hull City on loan until the end of the 2008–09 season. Having failed to break into the Manchester United first team, Manucho joined Real Valladolid in July 2009.
Tavares
Julio Tavares is one of the strikers that would lead the strike force for Cape Verde at this year’s African Cup of Nations. The 24 years old player currently plays for Dijon F C of France. He is also one of the new players in the team and had one appearance for the team so far, but he is yet to find the back of the net for his country. Tavares may be one of the revelations at South Africa 2013.
—Adebobola Alawode