Senegal vs Benin
Édouard Mendy waves a Senegalese flag as he celebrates after winning the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2021 final football match between Senegal and Egypt at Stade d’Olembe in Yaounde on February 6, 2022. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
Senegal kick off the defence of their Africa Cup of Nations title.
Back in February, the lions of Teranga were crowned AFCON champions for the very first time, beating Egypt on penalties in Yaoundé.
The following month, there was a sense of déjà vu with Aliou Cissé’s side securing World Cup qualifying, ousting the Egyptians via a shootout.
So, all in all, it’s been a very successful 2022 for Senegal who will head to Qatar in November looking to make an impact.
Before then, they face four Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, looking to easily qualify for next summer’s tournament in Côte d’Ivoire.
Benin are their first opponents, a side who reached the quarter-finals of this competition in 2019 before eventually falling to Senegal themselves.
However, the Squirrels then failed to qualify for the most recent edition, eliminated by minnows Sierra Leone on head-to-head.
So, Michel Dussuyer’s side will take nothing for granted, but Benin should have enough to finish above Rwanda and Mozambique.
Here, Senegal should cruise to victory at Diamniadio Olympic Stadium.
Algeria vs Uganda
Ramy Bensebaïni celebrates after scoring during the penalty shootout of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) quarter final football match between Ivory Coast and Algeria at the Suez stadium in Suez on July 11, 2019. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP) (Photo credit should read FADEL SENNA/AFP via Getty Images)
Recently dethroned African Champions Algeria kick off a qualification campaign they ultimately hope will end in glory.
Back in January, the Dessert Foxes travelled to Cameroon looking to retain the trophy they’d lifted 18 months earlier.
However, they accumulated just one point and crashed out in the group stages following a 3-1 drubbing by Côte d’Ivoire.
Then, in March, Djamel Belmadi’s side heartbreakingly missed out on World Cup qualification, conceding in the 124th minute against Cameroon.
Despite this double disappointment, the Head Coach that masterminded AFCON and Arab Cup success remains in charge.
So, with one of the most talented squads in African football, Algeria should cruise to qualification from Group F.
Uganda meanwhile will be aiming to take the other top two spot.
The Cranes appeared at back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations in 2017 and 2019, before being eliminated by Malawi last time round.
This year, Milutin Sredojević’s side just have to finish above Tanzania and Niger if they’re to return at the next edition.
Here though, anything other than a routine Algeria win at Oran Olympic Stadium will be a major surprise.
DR Congo vs Gabon
07 July 2019, Egypt, Alexandria: Congo players pose for a team picture before the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 soccer match between Madagascar and DR Congo at the Alexandria Stadium. Photo: Omar Zoheiry/dpa (Photo by Omar Zoheiry/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Group I’s two top-ranked sides meet in Kinsásá.
Bizarrely, despite being the 12th highest-ranked African nations, DR Congo failed to qualify for the most recent AFCON, last missing out in 2012.
The Leopards did manage to show their quality during World Cup qualifying, reaching the final round before falling to Morocco in the play-offs.
But, having catastrophically missed out last time round, Héctor Cúper’s men will take nothing for granted in this campaign.
Gabon meantime have appeared at five of the last seven Africa Cup of Nations, twice as hosts or co-hosts.
Les Panthères reached the round of 16 in Cameroon earlier this year, bowing out to Burkina Faso after an incredibly long penalty shootout.
With Sudan and Mauritania also in Group I, these two are favourites to qualify, but cannot rest on their larells.
Will DR Congo be too strong at Stade des Martyrs de la Pentecôte?
Mali vs Congo
24 June 2019, Egypt, Suez: Mali’s Adama Traoré celebrates scoring his side’s fourth with teammate Moussa Doumbia during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Group E soccer match between Mali and Mauritania at the Suez Sports Stadium. Photo: Oliver Weiken/dpa (Photo by Oliver Weiken/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Will Mali kick off 2023 AFCON qualifying with a victory?
The Eagles have now qualified for eight successive Africa Cup of Nations, last failing to do so in 2006.
Their best runs came in 2012 and 2013, finishing third both times, going out in the round of 16 at each of the last two editions.
Having so nearly qualified for the World Cup in March, losing 1-0 to Tunisia in the play-offs, Éric Chelle’s side will be looking for a victory here.
Congo meantime actually won this trophy back in 1972 but, in more recent times, they’ve only qualified once in the last 11 attempts.
The Red Devils’ only appearance since 2000 came in 2015, winning just five of 18 AFCON qualifiers since then.
So, everything is pointing towards a Mali victory at Stade du 26 Mars.
The Gambia vs South Sudan
Gambia’s players celebrate after winning the Group F Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2021 football match between Gambia and Tunisia at Limbe Omnisport Stadium in Limbe on January 20, 2022. (Photo by Issouf SANOGO / AFP) (Photo by ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP via Getty Images)
The Gambia were the surprise package this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, so are now looking to make it back to the continent’s biggest stage.
The Scorpions made their tournament debut back in January but, remarkably, got to the quarter-finals, defeating Mauritania, Tunisia and Guinea.
The fairytale finally came to an end in the last eight as they were ousted by hosts Cameroon.
Just 53 days later, The Gambia began their qualification campaign for this tournament, facing Chad over two legs back in March.
They certainly didn’t find it easy, needing stoppage time penalty from Assan Ceesay to sneak through 3-2 on aggregate.
Now though, can The Gambia spring another surprise of two?
They begin against the minnows of this group who are South Sudan, a side who’ve never previously qualified for a major tournament.
The Bright Stars also came through the preliminary round earlier this year, swatting aside Djibouti 5-2 over two legs.
Here, if The Gambia are to finish above either Mali or Congo and qualify, they really need to start with a win in Thiès.
Niger vs Tanzania
The winner’s trophy is put on display during the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations final football match between Egypt and Cameroon at the Stade de l’Amitie Sino-Gabonaise in Libreville on February 5, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images)
Will this be the start of a memorable qualification campaign for Tanzania?
The Taifa Stars have only ever qualified for two AFCONs in their history, making their debut in 1980 before their long-awaited return came in 2019.
If Kim Poulsen’s team are to repeat that feat, they really need to start with a victory at Stade de l’Amitié in Benin.
Niger too have appeared at just two Africa Cup of Nations, qualifying back-to-back in 2012 and 2013.
However, since those glory days, the Ménas have only won nine of 38 World Cup or AFCON qualifiers.
Thus, if Tanzania are to threaten the top two of Algeria or, more likely, Uganda, this is must win.
Namibia vs Burundi
A crucial matchday one fixture taking place at Orlando Stadium in South Africa.
Namibia have qualified for three Africa Cup of Nations in their history, 1998, 2008 and 2019, failing to win a game each time.
The Brave Warriors come into this campaign having only won two of their last ten competitive games, but optimistic of a top two finish.
As are Burundi who’s one and only AFCON appearance, to date, came in 2019 when they too bowed out in the group stages.
More recently, they’ve only won one of their last eight matches, losing in the first round of World Cup qualifying to Tanzania on penalties.
In this particular group, Cameroon are overwhelming favourites to finish first while Kenya have been disqualified from competing by FIFA.
Thus, second spot is very much up for grabs, making the head-to-head meetings between these two vitally important.
Who will claim three massive points in Johannesburg?
Mauritania vs Sudan
ACCRA, GHANA – FEBRUARY 10: The winners’ trophy is carried on to the pitch after the AFCON Final match between Cameroon and Egypt at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra, Ghana. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
Will either side kick off Africa Cup of Nations qualifying with a win?
Mauritania made their AFCON debut in 2019, qualifying at the 14th attempt, before also appearing at this year’s edition.
Both times they’ve gone out in the group stages without a victory but the Lions of Chinguetti are desperate to make it to three finals in a row.
If Amir Abdou’s team are to achieve this, their group opener feels like a must win.
That’s because Sudan are the minnows of Group I with the 2021 edition their first participation at an AFCON since 2012.
The Secretarybirds come into this campaign though winless in 12 competitive fixtures, dating back to a 1-0 win over Libya a year ago.
With Gabon and DR Congo completing this section, these two are underdogs but neither of the other pair are infallible.
Will Mauritania make home advantage count at Stade Olympique?
