After months of anticipation, the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations is set to kick-off on Saturday, January 13 with hosts the Ivory Coast set to take on Guinea-Bissau in Group A.
Afrosport previews all four teams that make up the group, including Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea, with an in-depth look at their AFCON history, record while also revealing the full squad list of each side.
NIGERIA
Nickname: Super Eagles
AFCON History
The Super Eagles featured in their first AFCON tournament in 1963 in Ghana but had to wait until 1976 in Ethiopia for their next appearance where they took home the bronze medal, followed by another in 1978 and gold for the first time in 1980 on home soil when they defeated Algeria 3-0 in Lagos.
This ushered in a period of success for Nigeria with another title coming in 1994 and again in 2013.
AFCON Record
Nigeria have featured 19 times at the Africa Cup of Nations, the sixth most of any team. They have played 97 games, winning 53, drawing 22, and losing 22.
The Super Eagles are also three-time champions of the tournament which is the fourth most by any team. They have been runners-up four times behind only Ghana, while they have claimed bronze eight times, the most by any team in the history of the tournament.
Star player: Victor Osimhen (Napoli).
Nigeria full squad
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabili (Chippa United, South Africa), Francis Uzoho (Omonia, Cyprus), Leke Ojo (Enyimba, Nigeria).
Defenders: William Troost-Ekong (PAOK, Greece), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce, Turkey), Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest, England), Zaidu Sanusi (Porto, Portugal), Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista, Portugal), Semi Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England), Calvin Bassey (Fulham, England), Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista, Portugal), Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa, Turkey).
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England), Raphael Onyedika (Club Bruges, Belgium), Joe Aribo (Southampton, England), Frank Onyeka (Brentford, England), Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England).
Forwards: Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England), Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy), Moses Simon (Nantes, France), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta, Italy), Victor Osimhen (Napoli, Italy), Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Ahmed Musa (Sivasspor, Turkey), Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain).
Coach: Jose Peseiro
IVORY COAST
Nickname: The Elephants
AFCON History
The Elephants have produced one of the star-studed squads in the past two decades, featuring the likes of Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure, Kolo Toure, Salomon Kalou, Didier Zokora among others
Their first AFCON success came in 1992 whey they defeated Ghana on penalties but it was in the 2000s the Ivory Coast gained more attention thanks to their array of stars. They reached the final in 2006 but lost to Egypt. They did so again in 2012 but lost to Zambia. The golden generation finally tasted success by defeating Ghana again on penalties.
AFCON Record
The Elephants have made 24 appearances at the AFCON, the second most by any team and have played a total of 99 games, winning 44, drawing 30 and losing 25.
In addition to their two AFCON titles, they finished as runners-up twice and they have also claimed bronze twice in 1986 and 1994.
Meanwhile, home advantage could play heavily in their favour for the Elephants for a third AFCON title.
Star player: Seko Fofana (Al Nassr).
Ivory Coast full squad
Goalkeepers: Yahia Fofana (Angers, France), Charles Folly (ASEC Mimosas, Ivory Coast), Badra Ali Sangare (Sekhukhune United, South Africa).
Defenders: Serge Aurier, Willy Boly (both Nottingham Forest, England), Ismael Diallo (Hajduk Split, Croatia), Ousmane Diomande (Sporting Lisbon, Portugal), Ghislain Konan (Al Fayha, Saudi Arabia), Evans Ndicka (Roma, Italy), Odilon Kossounou (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Wilfried Singo (Monaco, France).
Midfielders: Jean-Thierry Lazare Amani (Union Saint-Gilloise, Belgium), Idrissa Doumbia (Alanyaspor, Turkey), Seko Fofana (Al Nassr, Saudi Arabia), Ibrahim Sangare (Nottingham Forest, England), Franck Kessie (Al-Ahli, Saudi Arabia), Jean-Michael Seri (Hull City, England).
Forwards: Simon Adingra (Brighton & Hove Albion, England), Jonathan Bamba (Celta Vigo, Spain), Jeremie Boga (Nice, France), Sebastien Haller (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Karim Konate (RB Salzburg, Austria), Christian Kouame (Fiorentina, Italy), Jean-Philippe Krasso (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia), Max-Alain Gradel (Gaziantep, Turkey), Oumar Diakite (Reims, France), Nicolas Pepe (Trabzonspor, Turkey).
Coach: Jean-Louis Gasset
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
Nickname: National Thunder
AFCON History
The National Thunder will be making their fourth AFCON appearance and will be looking to make it work once again by going far in the competition.
They debuted as joint hosts in 2012 along with Gabon before solely hosting in 2015 while their last appearance was the 2021 edition in Cameroon.
AFCON Record
Equatorial Guinea have a record of reaching at least the quarter-finals in each of their three previous AFCON outings.
They did so in 2012 as co-hosts before going all the way to the semi-finals in 2015 and ultimately finished fourth after losing on penalties to Democratic Republic of Congo in the third-place play-off.
They reached the quarter-finals again at the 2021 edition but lost 3-1 to eventual champions Senegal.
Star player: Emilio Nsue (Intercity CF)
Equatorial Guinea full squad
Goalkeepers: Jesus Owono (Deportivo Alaves, Spain), Manuel Sapunga (Polokwane City, South Africa), Aitor Embela (Soneja, Spain).
Defenders: Basilio Ndong (Universitatea Craiova, Romania), Carlos Akapo (San Jose Earthquakes, USA), Hugo Buyla (Sampdoria, Italy), Charles Ondo (Huddersfield Town, England), Saul Coco (Las Palmas, Spain), Marvin Anieboh (Illescas, Spain), Nestor Senra (Real Aviles, Spain), Jose Elo (Merida, Spain), Esteban Orozco (Arges Pitesti, Romania).
Midfielders: Yannick Buyla (Logrones, Spain), Luis Nlavo (Brava B, Portugal), Alex Balboa (Deportivo Alaves, Spain), Federico Bikoro (Club Africain, Tunisia), Iban Salvador (Ceuta, Spain), Jose Machin (Monza, Italy), Santiago Eneme (MFK Vyskov, Czech Republic), Josete Miranda (Niki Volos, Greece), Pablo Ganet (Alcoyano, Spain), Federico Nguema (Balti, Moldova).
Forwards: Noe Ela (Numancia, Spain), Jose Nabil (Cano Sport, Equatorial Guinea), Emilio Nsue (Intercity, Spain), Salomon Obama (Santa Coloma, Andorra), Oscar Siafa (Alessandria, Italy).
Coach: Juan Micha
GUINEA-BISSAU
Nickname: Djurtus
AFCON History
The Djurtus have previously played in three editions of the Africa Cup of Nations, starting in 2017 in Gabon and followed by the next editions in Egypt (2019) and Cameroon (2021) respectively.
AFCON Record
Guinea-Bissau have failed to go beyond the group stage in their AFCON history and they are yet to get a win on board, recording a draw and two losses in each tournament.
The West Africans have scored only two goals across the three competitions and conceded 12 goals.
Star player: Mama Balde (Olympique Lyon)
Guinea-Bissau full squad
Goalkeepers: Ouparine Djoco (Francs Borains, Belgium), Fernando Embadje (Alcanenense, Portugal), Jonas Mendes (Kalamata, Greece).
Defenders: Fali Cande (Metz, France), Marcelo Djalo (Palencia, Spain), Jefferson Encada (Pharco, Egput), Edgar Ie (Istanbul Basaksehir, Turkey), Houboulang Mendes (Almeria, Portugal), Nanu (Samsunspor, Turkey), Nito (Maritimo, Portugal), Opa Sangante (Dunkerque, France).
Midfielders: Janio Bikel (Gaziantep, Turkey), Moreto Cassama (Omonia, Cyprus), Dalcio (APOEL, Cyprus), Carlos Mane (Kayserispor, Turkey), Sori Mane (Academico Viseu, Portugal), Carlos Mendes (Bolton Wanderers, England), Mauro Rodrigues (Yverdon, Switzerland), Alfa Semedo (Al Tai, Saudi Arabia).
Forwards: Mama Balde (Lyon, France), Franculino (Midtjylland, Denmark), Zinho Gano (Zulte Waregem, Belgium), Famana Quizera (Academico Viseu, Portugal), Marciano Sanca (Almeria, Spain), Ze Turbo (Nizhny Novgorod, Russia).
Coach: Baciro Cande
