Group B of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations houses two of the most decorated teams, Egypt and Ghana, with 11 titles between them, while Cape Verde and Mozambique make up the other two teams in the group.
Afrosport previews all four teams that make up Group B with an insight into their AFCON history, record, star player, and coach, while also revealing the full squad list.
EGYPT
AFCON History
The Pharaohs are one of the three teams that featured in the first-ever edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in 1957, and they won of the maiden edition of the tournament with a 4-0 win over Ethiopia in the final.
In 1959, they clinched their second title as part of the United Arab Republic, a political union with Syria. They won the silver and bronze medals, respectively, in the next two editions, but they were absent in back-to-back tournaments in 1965 and 1968.
They are the most decorated side in the competition, with 13 medals from their 25 previous appearances.
AFCON Record
Egypt have made a record 25 appearances in the Africa Cup of Nations, the most of any team, and they are primed to make a record-extending 26th outing when the ball gets rolling in Ivory Coast.
They have played 107 games, boasting 60 wins, 20 draws, and 27 losses, as well as a tournament-high of 168 goals scored.
The Pharaohs have won the most AFCON titles, with seven trophies in the cabinet and they have ended as runners-up three times, behind only Ghana (5) and Nigeria (4), while they have claimed the bronze medal three times.
Star player: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Head Coach: Rui Vitoria
Egypt Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Mohamed El Shenawy (Al Ahly), Ahmed El Shenawy (Pyramids), Gabaski (National Bank of Egypt), Mohamed Sobhi (Zamalek).
Defenders: Ahmed Hegazy (Al Ittihad), Mohamed Abdelmonem (Al Ahly), Mohamed Hany (Al Ahly), Ali Gabr (Pyramids), Yasser Ibrahim (Al Ahly), Ahmed Samy (Pyramids), Mohamed Hamdy (Pyramids), Omar Kamal (Future), Ahmed Fatouh (Zamalek).
Midfielders: Hamdi Fathi (Al Wakrah), Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal), Marwan Attia (Al Ahly), Emam Ashour (Al Ahly), Mohanad Lasheen (Pyramids), Zizo (Zamalek), Mahmoud Hamada (Al Masry).
Forwards: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Mostafa Fathi (Pyramids), Trezeguet (Trabzonspor), Omar Marmoush (Eintracht Frankfurt), Mostafa Mohamed (Nantes), Kahraba (Al Ahly), Ahmed Hassan (Pendikspor).
GHANA
AFCON History
Ghana made their first Africa Cup of Nations appearance in 1963 as host country and they ended up winning the six-team competition with a 3-0 win over Sudan.
They made it back-to-back triumphs when they defended their title two years later, in 1965, by beating hosts Tunisia 3-2 after extra time in the final.
In 1968 and 1970, Ghana finished as runners-up before failing to qualify for the next three tournaments. However, they made a return as hosts in 1978, clinching their third title and their second on home soil.
Ghana won their fourth AFCON title in 1982, beating hosts Libya on penalties but since then, they have failed to lift the AFCON trophy, finishing as runners-up three times, most recently in Equatorial Guinea in 2015.
AFCON Record
Ghana have played in 23 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, the second-highest in history, and they are set to make their 24th appearance in Ivory Coast.
They have played 102 AFCON matches, claiming 54 victories, 21 draws, and 27 losses, with a total of 133 goals scored.
The Black Stars have four AFCON titles in their ranks and they hold the record for the most runners-up (five) in AFCON history, claiming bronze just once, which brings their medals haul to 10.
Star player: Mohammed Kudus (West Ham United)
Head Coach: Chris Hughton
Ghana Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Lawrence Ati-Zigi (St Gallen), Richard Ofori (Orlando Pirates), Joe Wollacott (Hibernian).
Defenders: Daniel Amartey (Besiktas), Alexander Djiku (Fenerbahce), Abdul Fatawu Hamidu (Medeama), Gideon Mensah (Auxerre), Denis Odoi (Club Bruges), Nicholas Opoku (Amiens), Mohammed Salisu (Monaco), Kingsley Schindler (Samsunspor), Alidu Seidu (Clermont).
Midfielders: Majeed Ashimeru (Anderlecht), Osman Bukari (Red Star Belgrade), Baba Iddrisu (Mallorca), Ransford Konigsdorffer (Hamburg), Mohammed Kudus (West Ham), Richmond Lamptey (Asante Kotoko), Elisha Owusu (Auxerre), Joseph Paintsil (Genk), Salis Abdul Samed (Lens).
Forwards: Andre Ayew (Le Havre), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace), Ernest Nuamah (RWD Molenbeek), Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth), Jonathan Sowah (Medeama), Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao).
CAPE VERDE
AFCON History
Cape Verde made their first Africa Cup of Nations appearance as recently as 2013, in a fairytale run that came to an end in the quarter-final after they lost 2-0 to Ghana. Their second appearance in 2015 was not as successful, as they failed to make it out of the group stages.
Cape Verde failed to qualify for the next two tournaments, in 2017 and 2019. However, they made a return two years ago in Cameroon, finishing in the round of 16, where they lost to eventual winners Senegal.
AFCON Record
Cape Verde has previously played in three AFCON tournaments, and the 34th edition in Ivory Coast will be the fourth AFCON outing for the West African nation.
The Blue Sharks have played 11 matches at the AFCON, winning two games and settling for six draws, while losing three games, as well as finding the back of the net six times.
Cape Verde are yet to win an AFCON title, with their best-ever finish being the quarter-final stage in 2013.
Star player: Tiago Manuel Dias Correia [known as Bebe] (Rayo Vallecano)
Head Coach: Pedro “Bubista” Brito
Cape Verde Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Vozinha (AS Trencin), Marcio Rosa (Anadia), Dylan Silva (Sintrense).
Defenders: Stopira (Boavista da Praia), Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes (Shamrock Rovers), Diney (Al Bataeh), Dylan Tavares (Bastia), Logan Costa (Toulouse), Joao Correia (GD Chaves), Steven Moreira (Columbus Crew).
Midfielders: Jamiro Monteiro (San Jose Earthquakes), Kenny Rocha (AEZ Zakakiou), Patrick Andrade (Qarabag), Joao Paulo Fernandes (Sheriff Tiraspol), Deroy Duarte (Fortuna Sittard), Cuca (Uniao de Leiria), Kevin Pina (Krasnodar), Laros Duarte (Groningen).
Forwards: Ryan Mendes (Fatih Karagumruk), Garry Rodrigues (Anakaragucu), Djaniny (Al Fateh), Willy Semedo (Omonia), Bebe (Rayo Vallecano), Jovane Cabral (Salernitana), Helio Varela (Portimonense), Bryan Teixeira (Sturm Graz).
MOZAMBIQUE
AFCON History
Mozambique made their first Africa Cup of Nations appearance in 1986, but they failed to make it out of the group stage.
They failed to qualify for another edition of the continental showpiece until after a decade in 1996, following up with another appearance in 1998, with both outings ending in disappointment as they also crashed out of the group stages.
The Southern African nation did not enter the AFCON scene until 2010 in Angola, also failing to make it past the first stage. They went on a hiatus for the next six editions and will now suit up for their fifth appearance in Ivory Coast.
AFCON Record
Mozambique have previously played in four AFCON tournaments, and the upcoming edition in Ivory Coast will be the fifth outing for the Mambas.
They have played 12 matches at the AFCON and are yet to win a game. However, they have settled for two draws and conceded 10 losses in total.
Star player: Reinildo Mandava (Atletico Madrid)
Head Coach: Chiquinho Conde
Mozambique Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Ernan (UD Songo), Fazito (Ferroviario Nampula), Ivane Urrbal (Associacao Black Bulls).
Defenders: Domingos (Costa do Sol), Nanani (UD Songo), Edmilson Dove (Kaizer Chiefs), Bruno Langa (GD Chaves), Reinildo Mandava (Atletico Madrid), Mexer (Bandirmaspor), David Malembana (FC Noah), Nene (Associacao Black Bulls).
Midfielders: Amadu (UD Songo), Joao Bonde (Ferroviario Beira), Clesio (Honka), Guima (GD Chaves), Shaquille (Ferroviario Maputo), Alfons Amade (KV Oostende).
Forwards: Domingues (UD Songo), Geny Catamo (Sporting CP), Witi (CD Nacional), Gildo (Sporting Covilha), Stanley Ratifo (CfR Pforzheim), Lau King (Sagrada Esperanca).
