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The original was posted on /r/soccer by /u/mikears3349 on 2024-01-11 15:36:15.
Group E
Match Schedule:
16 January 17:00 GMT : Tunisia - Namibia (Stade Amadou Gon Coulibaly, Korhogo)
16 January 20:00 GMT : Mali - South Africa (Stade Amadou Gon Coulibaly, Korhogo)
20 January 20:00 GMT : Tunisia - Mali (Stade Amadou Gon Coulibaly, Korhogo)
21 January 20:00 GMT : South Africa - Namibia (Stade Amadou Gon Coulibaly, Korhogo)
24 January 17:00 GMT : South Africa - Tunisia (Stade Amadou Gon Coulibaly, Korhogo)
24 January 17:00 GMT : Namibia - Mali (Stade Laurent Pokou, San-Pédro)
Tunisia
Nickname: Aigles de Carthage (Eagles of Carthage)
Association: Fédération Tunisienne de Football, FTF
Best AFCON finish: Winners (2004)
Most caps: Radhi Jaïdi (104)
Most goals: Issam Jemâa (36)
Captain: Youssef Msakni
Coach: Jalel Kadri
FIFA rank: 28
In many ways Tunisia can be considered to be the Uruguay of African football. Smaller in size and population compared to their Maghrebi counterparts, Tunisia has historically been a top footballing nation of the continent, qualifying for 3 straight World Cups between 1998 to 2006, and more recently for the 2018 and 2022 editions. Tunisia have not missed a single AFCON since hosting in 1994, and have largely made it to the quarter final stage or better in their appearances, notably winning in 2004 and losing in the semifinal to Senegal in 2019. Tunisia may not have the flashiest names but have a talented, experienced mix of European and MENA-based players, and are an extremely difficult side to break down making them suited for tournament football.
Predicted starting 11 (4-3-3):
Aymen Dahmen - Wajdi Kechrida, Yassine Meriah, Montassar Talbi, Ali Abdi - Ellyes Skhiri, Aïssa Laïdouni, Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane - Elias Achouri, Haythem Jouini, Youssef Msakni
Players to watch
Youssef Msakni (33, winger)
One of the legends of modern African football, Msakni will be competing in his eighth African Cup of Nations, placing him alongside Egypt’s legendary striker Ahmed Hassan, and Cameroon’s former captain and now coach Rigobert Song. Breaking through with Tunisian giants Espérance, Msakni spurned interest from European clubs to follow riches in Qatar, where he has been for the last decade. While he perhaps could have done more in his club career, Msakni has been absolutely crucial to the Carthage Eagles. He is second behind Radhi Jaïdi in caps and has scored several pivotal goals over the years, with his dribbling and finishing ability tormenting defenses across the continent. With 5 goals in 7 matches for Tunisia in 2023, Msakni could have a successful last hurrah in Ivory Coast.
Aïssa Laïdouni (27, midfielder)
Aïssa Laïdouni is a strong, combative defensive midfielder, with his performances in the 2022 World Cup drawing parallels with the Moroccan star Sofyan Amrabat. Laidouni has taken the long way to prominence, never really breaking through with Angers and traveling through the lower French leagues on loan. He would then go to the Romanian league and subsequently Hungarian giants Ferencváros, where he was noticed by the Tunisian setup. Since his debut in 2021 the French-born midfielder has established himself as a crucial part of the team, and the now Union Berlin player will be crucial to his country’s hopes in Ivory Coast.
Montassar Talbi (25, defender)
Born in Paris, Talbi moved with his family back to Tunisia as a teenager, where he began his career with giants Espérance de Tunis. After playing in Turkey and Russia, Talbi is now with French side Lorient where he has established himself as one of the top centre backs in Ligue 1, playing every minute of their campaign in 2022-23 and the first half of 2023-24. Talbi has also emerged as a leader for Tunisia, only missing 2 matches since the beginning of the last AFCON and captaining the side in their June qualification matches. With a successful performance in Ivory Coast, Talbi could make an even bigger name for himself.
Predicted finish
A difficult side to play against, Tunisia will be a formidable opponent for any country in the tournament. However, the attack outside Msakni is a concern, and the Carthage Eagles will hope to score enough to avoid finishing second in the group, which could lead to a Round of 16 clash with the Atlas Lions of Morocco.
Mali
Nickname: Les Aigles (The Eagles)
Association: Fédération Malienne de Football, Femafoot
Best AFCON finish: Runners-up (1972)
Most caps: Seydou Keita (102)
Most goals: Seydou Keita (25)
Captain: Hamari Traoré
Coach: Éric Sékou Chelle
FIFA rank: 51
One of the great nations of African football, Mali have been extremely close over the years to ultimate glory but are yet to experience it. Dominant in the U17 and U20 competitions, the senior team have had several third and fourth place AFCON finishes in the 2000s and 2010s, and are still yet to qualify for the World Cup despite coming agonizingly close. However Mali’s time could be near, as after the disappointing 2021 AFCON and World Cup playoff loss to Tunisia, new coach and former international Éric Sékou Chelle has led the team into an excellent run of form. As stated by their coach Mali enjoy perhaps the best selection of midfielders in Africa, and their preparations have been aided by a newly renovated training centre in Bamako. The attack is a concern due to injuries, but Les Aigles have what it takes to finally break the glass ceiling, and like neighbors and fellow perennial dark horses Burkina Faso enjoy a millions-strong diaspora in Ivory Coast to provide support.
Predicted starting 11 (4-3-1-2):
Ismael Diawara - Hamari Traoré, Boubakar Kouyaté, Sikou Niakaté, Moussa Diarra - Mohamed Camara, Amadou Haidara, Yves Bissouma - Kamory Doumbia - Lassine Sinayoko, Ibrahim Sissoko
Players to watch
Kamory Doumbia (20, midfielder)
Product of the prolific Jean-Marc Guillou academy in Bamako, Kamory Doumbia made his European breakthrough with Reims, before being loaned out to Stade Brestois for the season. Since his debut in 2022 Doumbia has scored several important goals for Les Aigles, including in both of their opening World Cup qualifiers. The young midfielder is not a sure starter at club level, but this AFCON could be a chance for him to truly make a name for himself.
Yves Bissouma (27, midfielder)
Born in Ivory Coast but raised in Mali and another product of JMG Bamako, Bissouma has always been considered one of Mali’s brightest talents, and after a difficult start at Brighton after signing from Lille, he eventually announced this talent to the world before signing for Spurs. Bissouma spent some time out of the national setup due to several serious grievances with then coach Mohamed Magassouba and the federation, but put aside those issues to return ahead of the previous AFCON and has reestablished himself with the team. A true box to box midfielder with excellent technical ability, he forms an extremely talented midfield with the likes of Mohamed Camara, Amadou Haidara, Lassana Coulibaly, Aliou Dieng and the aforementioned Doumbia.
Hamari Traoré (31, defender)
Mali’s captain and leader, the well respected Hamari Traoré is enjoying the sun of Spain after signing for Real Sociedad over the summer, ending a 6 year spell with Rennes where he was club captain. Capable of getting up and down the right flank, this will be his fourth AFCON and he brings invaluable experience to a mostly young squad.
Predicted finish
Mali will benefit from an effective home advantage, and if they are able to top the group ahead of Tunisia I see them going on another deep run. A highly anticipated clash with Algeria or Burkina Faso would await in the Round of 16 and they are capable of defeating both, setting up a potential quarterfinal clash with defending champions Senegal.
South Africa
Nickname: Bafana Bafana (The Boys)
Association: South African Football Association (SAFA)
Best AFCON finish: Winners (1996)
Most caps: Aaron Mokoena (107)
Most goals: Benni McCarthy (31)
Captain: Rotational captain
Coach: Hugo Broos
FIFA rank: 67
Perhaps due to the prevalence of rugby and cricket in the country, as well as expulsion from CAF and FIFA for almost 20 years due to apartheid, South African football has quite not hit the sustained heights of their West and North African counterparts despite having one of the best domestic leagues. However, the generation that immediately followed the end of apartheid was greatly talented, winning a home AFCON in 1996 before finishing runners up in 1998 and third in 2000, and qualifying for the 1998 and 2002 World Cups. Subsequent generations have struggled to meet that peak but they have remained a competitive side in African football, and while coach Hugo Broos is under fire, he famously led an unfancied Cameroon squad to triumph in 2017.
Predicted starting 11 (4-2-3-1)
Ronwen Williams - Khuliso Mudau, Siyanda Xulu, Mothobi Mvala, Aubrey Modiba - Teboho Mokoena, Sphephelo Sithole - Percy Tau, Themba Zwane, Mihlali Mayambela - Zakhele Lepasa
Players to watch
Percy Tau (29, winger)
Percy Tau made his footballing breakthrough with local giants Mamelodi Sundowns, impressing several European clubs before signing for Brighton in 2018. Due to work permit issues, loans to Belgian clubs Union SG (Brigthon’s partner club), Club Brugge and Anderlecht followed, before finally being recalled by Brighton in 2021. Tau did not play much of a role in England however, and it was a disappointment to some…
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