Group E of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations has past winners, perennial competitors, and one of the tournament’s “new bees.”.
The fifth group of this year’s tournament in Ivory Coast will see one-time winners Tunisia and South Africa withstand pressure and fight for qualification to the knockout phase from both 1972 finalists Mali and Namibia.
Afrosport previews all four teams that make up Group B with an insight into their AFCON history, record in the competition, star player, and coach, while also revealing the full squad list of each side.
TUNISIA
AFCON History
Tunisia made their Africa Cup of Nations debut in a four-team tournament in 1962 in Ethiopia, finishing in third place after losing 4-2 to the hosts in the semifinals and defeating Uganda 3-0 in the third-place match.
Tunisia won its first and only AFCON title in 2004, on home soil, beating their North African counterpart Morocco 2-1 in the final.
Since then, their best outing in the AFCON has been a fourth-place finish in 2019. T
he tournament in Ivory Coast will be their 21st appearance, the second-most from North Africa behind only Egypt.
AFCON Record
Tunisia has featured 20 times at the AFCON, and they are expected to make their 21st appearance in Ivory Coast. They have played 80 games, won 25, drawn 29 , and lost 26, as well as scoring 99 goals in the competition.
Although the Carthage Eagles have won just one AFCON title, they have been runners-up twice, and they have finished third just once.
Star player: Naim Sliti (Al Ahli, Qatar)
Head Coach: Jalel Kadri
Tunisia Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Mouez Hassen (Club Africain), Aymen Dahmen (Al Hazem), Bechir Ben Said (US Monastir).
Defenders: Hamza Jelassi (Etoile du Sahel), Yassine Meriah (Esperance), Alaa Ghram (Sfaxien), Ali Maaloul (Al Ahly), Yan Valery (Angers), Ali Abdi (Caen), Montassar Talbi (Lorient), Wajdi Kechrida (Atromitos), Oussama Haddadi (Greuther Furth).
Midfielders: Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane (Ferencvaros), Anis Ben Slimane (Sheffield United), Ellyes Skhiri (Eintracht Frankfurt), Aissa Laidouni (Union Berlin), Houssem Tka (Esperance), Hadj Mahmoud (Lugano), Hamza Rafia (Leece).
Forwards: Youssef Msakni (Al Arabi), Haythem Jouini (Stade Tunisien), Taha Yassine Khenissi (Kuwait SC), Sayfallah Ltaief (Winterthur), Bassem Srarfi (Club Africain), Naim Sliti (Al Ahli), Elias Achouri (FC Copenhagen), Seifeddine Jaziri (Zamalek).
SOUTH AFRICA
AFCON History
South Africa was initially one of the four teams expected to compete in the first AFCON in 1957, but they were ultimately disqualified.
They were banned from participating until 1992 because of apartheid and failed to qualify in 1994 but they finally made their AFCON debut in 1996 on home soil and they claimed their first title in a 15-team tournament after beating Tunisia 2-0 in the final.
They clinched the silver and bronze medals in their next two appearances, in 1998 and 2000 respectively.
In the last four AFCON editions, Bafana Bafana failed to qualify twice (2017 and 2021), and the upcoming tournament in Ivory Coast presents another opportunity for them to return to the top of African football.
AFCON Record
Bafana Bafana have previously featured 10 times at the AFCON, and they are expected to make their 11th appearance in Ivory Coast.
They have played 43 matches, with 17 wins, 11 draws, and 15 losses to their name, while scoring 48 goals in the competition.
South Africa has just three medals to their name: one AFCON title, a second-place finish, and a bronze medal.
Star player: Percy Tau (Al Ahly, Egypt)
Head Coach: Hugo Broos
South Africa Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns), Veli Mothwa (AmaZulu), Ricardo Goss (SuperSport United).
Defenders: Nyiko Mobbie (Sekhukhune United), Nkosinathi Sibisi (Orlando Pirates), Siyanda Xulu (SuperSport United), Grant Kekana, Terrence Mashego, Aubrey Modiba, Mothobi Mvala, Khuliso Mudau (all Mamelodi Sundowns)
Midfielders: Teboho Mokoena, Thapelo Maseko, Thapelo Morena (all Mamelodi Sundowns), Sphephelo Sithole (Tondela), Jayden Adams (Stellenbosch), Thabang Monare (Orlando Pirates).
Forwards: Zakhele Lepasa, Evidence Makgopa (both Orlando Pirates), Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns), Oswin Appollis (Polokwane City), Mihlali Mayambela (Aris Limassol), Percy Tau (Al Ahly).
AFCON History
Mali were not present in the first seven editions of the Africa Cup of Nations, but when they finally made their debut in 1972, which was in style as they finished second while losing just one game in the tournament, a 3-2 defeat to Congo in the final.
They failed to qualify for the next 10 editions and staged a return in 1994 where they settled for a fourth place.
Mali didn’t qualify for the AFCON again until 2002, when they finished fourth once more, but this time as hosts. They maintained the same position in 2004 before back-to-back third-place finishes in 2012 and 2013.
Since then, the Eagles have failed to pass the knockout round in the last four editions, including crashing out of the group stages twice in 2015 and 2017.
AFCON Record
With all the exceptional talents at their disposal over the years, the Eagles have failed to win the AFCON, with just three medals to their name: a silver medal and two bronze medals.
Mali have previously participated in 12 editions of the AFCON, and they are set to make their 13th appearance in Ivory Coast.
The West African nation has played 54 matches in total in the competition, and they have managed 19 wins, 19 draws, and 16 losses, having scored 65 goals in the tournament.
Star player: Yves Bissouma (Tottenham Hotspur, England)
Head Coach: Eric Chelle
Mali Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Aboubacar Doumbia (Afrique Football Elite), Djigui Diarra (Young Africans), Ismael Diawara (Malmo).
Defenders: Amadou Dante (Sturm Graz), Moussa Diarra (Toulouse), Mamadou Fofana (Amiens), Boubacar Kiki Kouyate, Falaye Sacko (both Montpellier), Sikou Niakate (Braga), Hamari Traore (Real Sociedad).
Midfielders: Yves Bissouma (Tottenham Hotspur), Mohamed Camara (Monaco), Lassana Coulibaly (Salernitana), Aliou Dieng (Al Ahly), Kamory Doumbia (Brest), Amadou Haidara (RB Leipzig), Diadie Samassekou (Hoffenheim), Adama ‘Noss’ Traore (Hull City), Boubacar Traore (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Forwards: Fousseni Diabate (Lausanne Sport), Nene Dorgeles, Sekou Koita (both RB Salzburg), Sirine Doucoure (Lorient), Moussa Doumbia (Al Adalah), Youssoufa Nikaite (Bani Yas), Lassine Sinayoko (Auxerre), Ibrahim Sissoko (Saint Etienne).
NAMIBIA
AFCON History
Namibia became eligible to compete in the Africa Cup of Nations in 1992, but they didn’t qualify for the tournament until 1998 in Burkina Faso, when they failed to make it out of the group stages.
They missed the next four editions and made it to the 2008 tournament, where they also failed to make it past the group stages. Their 2019 participation in the AFCON was their third appearance.
AFCON Record
The Brave Warriors will make their fourth appearance at the AFCON, and they are yet to register a win from their nine games in the tournament.
They boast two draws and seven losses and have scored ten goals in their history in the competition.
Namibia is one of the new sides making waves in African football, and the upcoming AFCON in Ivory Coast poses a great opportunity for them to stake a claim amongst the upper echelon of footballing nations on the continent.
Star player: Peter Shalulile (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa)
Head Coach: Collin Benjamin
Namibia Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Lloyd Kazapua (Chippa United), Edward Maova (Pretoria Callies), Kamaijanda Ndisiro (African Stars).
Defenders: Lubeni Haukongo (Cape Town Spurs), Ryan Nyambe (Derby County), Ivan Kamberipa (Orapa United), Kennedy Amutenya (Gaborone United), Ananias Gebhardt (Baroka), Riaan Hanamub (AmaZulu), Aprocius Petrus (Liria Prizren), Denzil Haoseb (Khomas Nampol), Charles Hambira (African Stars).
Midfielders: Marcel Papama (Jwaneng Galaxy), Ngero Katua (Unam), Prins Tjiueza (Liria Prizren), Petrus Shitembi (Kuching City), Uetuuru Kambato (African Stars).
Forwards: Peter Shalulile (Mamelodi Sundowns), Deon Hotto (Orlando Pirates), Wendell Rudath (Jwaneng Galaxy), Bethuel Muzeu (Black Leopards), Joslin Kamatuka (Maritzburg United), Absalom Iimbondi (Khomas Nampol).
