Group C of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations is considered to be the ‘Group of Death’.
It houses Cameroon and Senegal who have six titles between them while the Gambia and Guinea are not lacking in quality and confidence either.
Afrosport takes a look at each team’s history and record at AFCON along with the list of players going to the tournament.
SENEGAL
AFCON History
The Senegalese head to Ivory Coast as defending champions after defeating Egypt on penalties in the previous edition in Cameroon.
It marked the first time the Teranga Lions won Africa’s most prestigious football competition after multiple attempts previously without success.
It’s going to be another star-studded contingent this time around and they will be looking to retain the title.
AFCON Record
Senegal will be appearing at AFCON for the 17th time in the history and the 11th time since the turn of of the millennium two decades ago.
Aside from winning the title just once, they have been runners-up twice and finished fourth on three occasions. The West African giants have played a total of 67 games at AFCON, winning 27 of them, drawing 17 and losing 23.
Star Player: Sadio Mane
Full Senegal AFCON squad
Goalkeepers: Edouard Mendy (Al Ahli, Saudi Arabia), Mory Diaw (Clermont, France), Seny Dieng (Middlesbrough, England).
Defenders: Youssouf Sabaly (Real Betis, Spain), Kalidou Koulibaly (Al Hilal, Saudi Arabia), Moussa Niakhate (Nottingham Forest, England), Abdou Diallo (Al Arabi, Qatar), Formose Mendy (Lorient, France), Abdoulaye Ndiaye (Troyes, France), Abdoulaye Seck (Maccabi Haifa, Israel), Fode Ballo-Toure (Fulham, England), Ismail Jakobs (Monaco, France).
Midfielders: Lamine Camara (Metz, France), Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham, England), Krepin Diatta (Monaco, France), Cheikhou Kouyate (Nottingham Forest, England), Pape Gueye (Marseille, France), Nampalys Mendy (Lens, France), Pathe Ciss (Rayo Vallecano, Spain) Idrissa Gana Gueye (Everton, England).
Forwards: Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea, England), Abdallah Sima (Rangers, Scotland), Boulaye Dia (Salernitana, Italy), Sadio Mane (Al Nassr, Saudi Arabia), Habib Diallo (Al Shabab, Saudi Arabia), Iliman Ndiaye, Ismaila Sarr (both Marseille, France).
Coach: Aliou Cisee
CAMEROON
AFCON History
Cameroon are one of the household names at the Africa Cup of Nations, first participating in 1970 before going on win the bronze medal two years later.
They got their first taste of ultimate glory in 1984 when they defeated fierce rivals and neighbours Nigeria 3-1 in Abidjan. More success has followed since then with Cameroon producing players of global acclaim such as Roger Milla, Samuel Eto’o Fils, Marc-Vivien Foe, Geremi Njitap, Lauren, Rigobert Song (who is the current manager), among others.
AFCON Record
Cameroon have the second-highest number of AFCON titles with five, two behind Egypt. They have been runners-up twice, the same number for third-place finishes.
With the Indomitable Lions having way more gold medals than the others is credence to how strong they are and why they are strong favourites.
Cameroon have featured at AFCON 20 times, playing a combined 91 games of which 45 are wins, 30 are draws and 16 are losses. With 137 goals scored, they are the joint-third highest for most goals at AFCON along with Nigeria, conceding 82 goals.
Star Player: Andre Onana
Full Cameroon AFCON squad
Goalkeepers: Andre Onana (Manchester United, England), Fabrice Ondoa (Nimes, France), Devis Epassy (Abha, Saudi Arabia) Simon Ngapandouetnbu (Marseille, France).
Defenders: Christopher Wooh (Rennes, France), Junior Tchamadeu (Stoke, England), Nouhou Tolo (Seattle Sounders, USA), Darlin Yongwa (Lorient, France), Oumar Gonzalez (Al Raed, Saudi Arabia), Harold Moukoudi (AEK Athens, Greece), Jean Charles Castelletto (Nantes, France), Malcom Bokele (Bordeaux, France), Enzo Tchato (Montpellier, France).
Midfielders: Olivier Ntcham (Samsunspor, Turkey), Yvan Neyou (Leganes, Spain), Doualla Wilfried Nathan (Victoria United, Cameroon), Ben Njongoue Elliott (Reading, England), Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Napoli, Italy), Olivier Kemen (Kayserispor, Turkey), Leonel Ateba (Dynamo Douala, Cameroon).
Forwards: Vincent Aboubakar (Besiktas, Turkey), Georges-Kevin Nkoudou (Damac, Saudi Arabia), Clinton Njie (Sivasspor, Turkey), Karl Toko Ekambi (Abha, Saudi Arabia), Faris Moumbagna (Bodo/Glimt, Norway), Frank Magri (Toulouse, France), Moumi Ngamaleu (Dynamo Moscow, Russia).
Coach: Rigobert Song
THE GAMBIA
AFCON History
The Scorpions of Gambia are one of the teams with little AFCON experience, having made their debut at the 2021 edition in Cameroon.
They, however, gave account for themselves by reaching the quarter-finals and will be looking to put in another strong performance with a reputation that has seen them emerge as a dark horse.
AFCON Record
In the Gambia’s maiden AFCON outing, they defied the odds by finishing second in Group F behind Mali and ahead of 2004 champions Tunisia and pointless Mauritania. They went on to defeat Guinea in the Round of 16 before losing to Cameron in the last eight.
Star Player: Assan Ceesay
Coach: Tom Saintfiet
GUINEA
AFCON History
The Guineans made their AFCON debut in 1970 and would go on to have their finest moment six years later when they reached the final in Ethiopia but lost to Morocco.
There was a period of decline in the 1980s and 1990s with group stage exits but things got better with multiple knockout phase appearances in the 2000s.
AFCON Record
Guinea’s second-place finish at the 1976 AFCON remains their best performance till date. They have not reached the semi-finals since then but have had four quarter-final finishes including three in a row in 2004, 2006 and 2008.
They made the quarter-finals again in 2015 but could not go past the Round of 16 in 2019 and 2021.
The Syli National have featured at AFCON on 13 occasions, playing a total of 47 games, winning 13, drawing 17 and losing another 17 of them.
Star Player: Sehrou Guirassy
Full Guinea AFCON squad
Goalkeepers: Aly Keita (Ostersunds, Sweden), Moussa Camara (Horoya, Guinea), Ibrahim Kone (Hibernians, Malta).
Defenders: Antoine Conte (Botev Plovdiv, Bulgaria), Ibrahima Diakite (Reims, France), Issiaga Sylla (Montpellier, France), Sekou Sylla (SC Cambuur, Netherlands), Mouctar Diakhaby (Valencia, Spain), Julien Janvier (Kayserispor, Turkey), Saidou Sow (Strasbourg, France), Mohamed Ali Camara (Young Boys, Switzerland).
Midfielders: Amadou Diawara (Anderlecht, Belgium), Seydouba Cisse (Leganes, Spain), Aguibou Camara (Atromitos, Greece), Naby Keita (Werder Bremen, Germany), Abdoulaye Toure (Le Havre, France), Mory Konate (Mechelen, Belgium), Ilaix Moriba (RB Leipzig, Germany), Karim Cisse (Saint Etienne, France).
Forwards: Francois Kamano (Abha, Saudi Arabia), Morgan Guilavogui (Lens, France), Serhou Guirassy (Stuttgart, Germany), Mohamed Bayo (Le Havre, France), Jose Kante (Urawa Red Diamonds, Japan), Facinet Conte (Bastia, France).
Coach: Kaba Diawara
