Group D of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations comprises of Algeria, Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Angola.
It is a rich mixture of teams with AFCON titles, solid experience and inexperience, making it evenly balanced.
Afrosport runs through all four teams and their history at the tournament.
ALGERIA
AFCON History
The Algerians are one of the top African sides and as such are among favourites for the AFCON title.
After making their debut in 1968 which ended with a group stage exit, their next outing in 1980 was a massive one as they reached the final but lost to hosts Nigeria before tasting ultimate success in 1990 by getting revenge against the Super Eagles.
The Foxes tasted success again in 2019 and will be heading to the Ivory Coast with a contingent of stars such as Riyad Mahrez, Islam Slimani, Ismael Bennacer, Houssem Aouar, Rayan Ait-Nouri among others.
AFCON Record
Algeria have won AFCON twice and have finished runners-up once while claiming third place in 1984 and 1988.
They have appeared in AFCON 19 times previously, playing a total of 77 games, winning 28 of them, drawing 22 and losing 27.
Star Player: Riyad Mahrez
Full Algeria AFCON squad
Goalkeepers: Anthony Mandrea (Caen, France), Rais Mbolhi (CR Belouizdad, Algeria), Oussama Benbot (USM Alger, Algeria), Moustapha Zeghba (Damac, Saudi Arabia).
Defenders: Youcef Atal (Nice, France), Kevin van den Kerkhof (Metz, France), Rayan Ait Nouri (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England), Yasser Larouci (Sheffield United, England), Aissa Mandi (Villarreal, Spain), Mohamed Amine Tougai (Esperance Tunis, Tunisia), Ramy Bensebaini (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Ahmed Touba (Lecce, Italy), Zineddine Belaid (USM Alger, Algeria).
Midfielders: Nabil Bentaleb (Lille, France), Sofiane Feghouli (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey), Houssem Aouar (Roma, Italy), Fares Chaibi (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany), Ramiz Zerrouki (Feyenoord, Netherlands), Hicham Boudaoui (Nice, France), Ismael Bennacer (AC Milan, Italy).
Forwards: Riyad Mahrez (Al Ahli, Saudi Arabia), Adam Ounas (Lille, France), Mohamed Amoura (Union Saint-Gilloise, Belgium), Youcef Belaili (MC Alger, Algeria), Baghdad Bounedjah (Al Sadd, Qatar), Islam Slimani (Coritiba, Brazil).
Coach: Djamel Belmadi
MAURITANIA
AFCON History
The Mauritanians are among the least experienced sides at AFCON 2023 having made their debut in 2019 and also featured at the 2021 edition in Cameroon.
They, however failed to go beyond the group stage.
AFCON Record
Mauritania have played a total of six games at AFCON so far but are yet to taste victory in any of them, recording two draws and four defeats while scoring just one goal and conceding a mammoth 11 goals.
Star Player: Mohamed Dellahi Yali
Full Mauritania AFCON squad
Goalkeepers: Babacar Niasse (Guingamp, France), Namori Diaw (ASC Tevragh-Zeine, Mauritania), Mbacke N’Diaye (Nouakchott Kings, Mauritania).
Defenders: Lamine Ba (Varazdin, Croatia), Dellah Yali (Al Hedod, Iraq), El Hassen Houeibib (Al Zawraa, Iraq), Nouh Mohamed El Abd (FC Nouadhibou, Mauritania), Bakary N’Diaye (Al Quwa Al Jawiya, Iraq), Khadim Diaw (Al Hilal, Sudan), Aly Abeid (UTA Arad, Romania), Ibrahima Keita (TP Mazembe, DR Congo).
Midfielders: Guessouma Fofana (Daxo Katokopias FC, Cyprus), Bodda Mouhsine (FC Nouadhibou, Mauritania), Oumar Ngom (Pau, France), Omare Gassama (Chateauroux, France), Bakari Camara (Villefranche, France), Sidi Ahmed Mohamed El Abd (FC Nouadhibou, Mauritania), El Hadji Ba (FC Nouadhibou, Mauritania), Abdallahi Mahmoud (AC Bellinzona, Switzerland).
Forwards: Hemeya Tanjy (Al Ittihad, Libya), Aboubakar Kamara (Al Jazira, UAE), Souleymane Anne (Deinze, Belgium), Aboubakary Koita (Sint-Truiden, Belgium), Pape Ibnou Ba (Concarneau, France), Souleymane Doukara (Magusa Turk Gucu, Cyprus), Idrissa Thiam (Mesaimeer, Qatar), Sidi Bouna Amar (FC Nouadhibou, Mauritania).
Coach: Amir Abdou
BURKINA FASO
AFCON History
The Burkinabe made their AFCON debut in 1978 known as Upper Volta but it ended with a group stage exit. They would have to wait another 18 years for their next outing under the Burkina Faso name but it was another group stage exit.
Their fortunes improved massively in the 1998 edition which they hosted and finished fourth, losing to DR Congo in the bronze medal match.
Burkina Faso’s finest moment came at the 2013 AFCON in South Africa where they reached the final but lost to Nigeria. They have built a reputation as AFCON dark horses and the 2023 edition will not be any different.
AFCON Record
Star Player: Bertrand Traore
Full Burkina Faso AFCON squad
Goalkeepers: Herve Koffi (Charleroi, Belgium), Hillel Konate (Chateauroux, France), Kilian Nikiema (ADO Den Haag, Netherlands), Sebastien Tou (Sabadell, Spain).
Defenders: Issa Kabore (Luton Town, England), Steeve Yago (Aris Limassol, Cyprus), Issoufou Dayo (RS Berkane, Morocco), Nasser Djiga (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia), Edmond Tapsoba (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Adamo Nagalo (Nordsjaelland, Denmark), Abdoul Guiebre (Modena, Italy), Valentin Nouma (Saint Eloi Lupopo, DR Congo).
Midfielders: Blati Toure (Pyramids, Egypt), Adama Guira (Racing Rioja, Spain), Dramane Salou (Urartu, Armenia), Ismahila Ouedraogo (Panserraikos, Greece), Sacha Banse (Valenciennes, France), Gustavo Sangare (Quevilly-Rouen, France), Stephane Aziz Ki (Young Africans, Tanzania).
Forwards: Bertrand Traore (Aston Villa, England), Dango Ouattara (Bournemouth, England), Mamady Alex Bangre (Toulouse, France), Djibril Ouattara (RS Berkane, Morocco), Hassane Bande (HJK Helsinki, Finland), Mohamed Konate (Akhmat Grozny, Russia), Abdoul Tapsoba (Amiens, France), Cedric Badolo (Sheriff Tiraspol, Moldova).
Coach: Hubert Velud
ANGOLA
AFCON History
The Angolans are no strangers at AFCON since making their debut in 1996. They are however not one of the strongest sides evidenced by multiple group stage exits in most of their outings including their last one in 2019. This makes them the weakest side in this group.
AFCON Record
Angola have been at AFCON eight times previously and only twice have they reached the knockout stage, getting to the quarter-finals in 2008 and 2010 (as hosts). All other outings ended in the group stage.
The Southern African nation have played a total of 26 games at AFCON but have only won four of them, drawing 12 and losing 10.
Star Player: Gelson Dala
Full Angola AFCON squad
Goalkeepers: Antonio Dominique (Etoile Carouge, Switzerland), Kadu (Oliveira Hospital, Portugal), Neblu (Premeiro Agosto, Angola)
Defenders: Eddie Afonso, To Carneiro, Kinito (all Petro Atletico, Angola), Loide Augusto (Alanyaspor, Turkey), Jonathan Buatu (Valenciennes, France), Nurio Fortuna (Gent, Belgium), Kialonda Gaspar (Estrela Amadora, Portugal).
Midfielders: Beni (Casa Pia, Portugal), Estrela (Erzurumspor, Turkey), Fredy (Eyupspor, Turkey), Keliano Manuel (Estrela Amadora, Portugal), Bruno Paz (Konyaspor, Turkey) Show (Maccabi Haifa, Israel).
Forwards: Jeremie Bela (Clermont, France), Gelson Dala (Al Wakrah, Qatar), Zito Luvumbo (Cagliari, Italy), Mabululu (Al Ittihad, Egypt), Felicio Milson (Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel), Zine (AEK Athens, Greece).
Coach: Pedro Goncalves
