Cameroon
Manager
António Conceição
A fullback in his playing days who earned one appearance for the Portugal national team, Conceição has over twenty years of experience managing primarily in his native country and in Romanian football. Cameroon is his first opportunity to manage a national team and the 60-year-old has done well by guiding the Indomitable Lions to top spot in their AFCON qualifying group. His team followed up that achievement by obtaining a crucial victory in November over Ivory Coast to help Cameroon overtake the Elephants and move into the final round of 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying. The expectations will be high as the host nation and Group A may be tough to navigate, but the team has a clear identity under Conceição that gives Cameroonian supporters plenty of reason to be confident. The Indomitable Lions are expected to line up in a 4-3-3 with the fullbacks expected to cover plenty of ground in defense and attack.
Key Players
Vincent Aboubakar – Al-Nassr (SAU)
The 29-year-old Yaoundé native made his name with prestigious Cameroonian club Coton Sport and was the only domestic-based player on the Cameroon side that competed at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Aboubakar is a proven goal scorer with success in France’s Ligue 1 and Portugal’s Primeira Liga with FC Porto. Now playing his club football in Saudi Arabia, Aboubakar will now be looking to repeat his heroics from Cameroon’s 2017 AFCON conquest, this time in the role of experienced leader and captain of the Indomitable Lions. Look for him to crash into the opposition penalty area and be a handful for defenders as he attempts to get on the end of crosses from out wide.
André-Frank Zambo Anguissa – Napoli (ITA)
A box-to-box central midfielder, Anguissa was one of Fulham FC’s few highlights during their 2020-21 English Premier League campaign that ended with relegation. Currently on loan in Italy’s Serie A, the 26-year-old is a regular for top-3 side Napoli and continues to be a force when fulfilling his defensive duties in front of the back line. Anguissa has gradually developed more confidence when moving forward thanks to his time in European football, and as a result he looks to play more of a role in the attack when playing for Cameroon. Was one of the seven players who infamously declined a call-up to the 2017 AFCON squad along with Liverpool’s Joël Matip but has earned his way back into the good graces of the national team setup.
André Onana – AFC Ajax (NLD)
Onana was initially set to miss out on the AFCON due to a ban after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance, but after appeal his 12-month ban was reduced to nine months. The 25-year-old continues to maintain his innocence but either way, his return is a massive boost for Cameroon. Onana has the full package between the sticks with excellent reflexes, good distribution and a commanding presence when dealing with aerial balls. The Samuel Eto’o Academy graduate has only made two appearances for club Ajax since his return but has the ability to help Cameroon fulfill their ambitions of being a contender to win the competition.
PAF’s Evaluation
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Prediction
Cameroon is a real threat to win the competition not only due to the fact that they are hosting, but also because the Indomitable Lions squad is solid from front to back. The return of Onana in goal is a boost and instantly upgrades a position that could have been exploited. However, the team lacks a major star on the level of Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mané or Mohamed Salah who can provide that individual moment in an elimination game. A semifinal appearance is the most realistic goal for Cameroonian supporters, but if this team gains momentum anything is possible with a nation behind them.
Cape Verde
Manager
Bubista
The 51-year-old was a former Cape Verde national team defender who excelled in the local league and competed for CD Badajoz in the Spain’s Segunda Division as well as in Angolan football during his playing career. Bubista took over two matches into the qualification campaign with Cape Verde on two points, leading the Blue Sharks to a four-match unbeaten streak that saw them defeat Cameroon and overtake Mozambique for second place. A former U-17 and U-20 youth national team manager, he also was an assistant on the historic team that qualified for Cape Verde’s first ever AFCON in 2013 under manager Lúcio Antunes, where they made it to the quarterfinals. Bubista will look to crowd the middle of the pitch with his tactical setup and instruct his team to play direct to set up speedy attacker Ryan Mendes as well as target forward Julio Tavares.
Key Players
Vozinha – AEL Limassol (CYP)
Vozinha, a veteran goalkeeper whose moniker means “Little Voice” in Portuguese, has been ever-present for the Blue Sharks over the years. Vozinha made his debut for Cape Verde in qualifying for the 2013 AFCON, shutting out Cameroon 2-0 in the first leg and appearing in the 2-1 return leg defeat to help his country qualify for their first ever appearance. His status as permanent starter was secured when Cape Verde surprised the experts by making it to the quarterfinals in the final tournament. The Cyprus-based keeper provides valuable experience to go along with his adeptness at shot stopping, giving the Blue Sharks a reliable presence between the sticks.
Kenny Rocha Santos – Oostende (BEL)
The 22-year-old quickly established himself as a creative presence in the Cape Verde midfield over the past year. Rocha Santos had a hand in many of Cape Verde’s attacks during their 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign where the Blue Sharks came up just short of overtaking Nigeria for first place in their group. Came up in the youth system of French club Saint-Étienne before breaking through at second division club AS Nancy, where he scored six goals and provided nine assists in the 2020-21 Ligue 2 season. While midfield partner Jamiro Monteiro looks to push the tempo and apply pressure on the opposition, Rocha Santos is content to sit a bit deeper and spray passes out to Cape Verde’s pacey players on the wing.
Ryan Mendes – Al-Nasr (UAE)
Able to operate as an attacking winger or up top, Mendes appeared in every match across Cape Verde’s two previous AFCON campaigns in 2013 and 2015. The speedster came up at Le Havre in France before making a big money move to Lille in 2012, where an ankle injury threatened to end his career prematurely. However, the now 31-year-old was able to recover and is now starring in the United Arab Emirates following spells in England’s EFL Championship and the Turkish Süper Lig. Second on Cape Verde’s all-time scorer list, the Blue Sharks will count on Mendes to cause havoc by running at the defense to shoot or set up his fellow attackers.
PAF’s Evaluation
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Prediction
This Cape Verde team stays tactically solid and will be difficult to break down because Bubista knows his squad well. Understanding that the defense needs extra support, Cape Verde defends in numbers and will attempt to break out in transition once they win the ball. As a result, this team is battle tested with veterans in the squad who know how to get the job done. Expect the Blue Sharks to qualify for the knockout stages, most likely as one of the competition’s highest ranked third-place teams.
Burkina Faso
Manager
Kamou Malo
Malo has done excellently in recent months as Burkina Faso manager despite not qualifying the Stallions for the final round of 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying. Injuries played a major factor in his squad selection with Bertrand Traoré and Edmond Tapbsoba unavailable for large stretches due to injury, and star striker Lassina Traoré suffering a devastating leg injury in late September that ruled him out for the latter part of their qualifying fixtures. Malo adjusted well and explored the talent pool, giving some of the nation’s young and African-based players their opportunity to gain valuable experience and nearly upsetting Algeria on the road to overtake Africa’s defending champions for a spot in the final round. The AFCON qualifying campaign was straightforward in a relatively easy group and expectations are high for the team in Cameroon. It will be interesting to see how his team lines up with Bertrand Traoré and Tapsoba back from injury, but the coach who has spent his entire career in Burkinabe football should have his team in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3.
Key Players
Edmond Tapsoba – Bayer Leverkusen (GER)
Tapsoba is an immense talent who is the embodiment of a modern defender. The 22-year-old is composed with the ball at his feet and his passing statistics are up there with the best defenders in the world in Europe’s top-5 leagues. The 22-year-old always appears calm but accelerates to top speed quickly when closing down opposition attackers, making him an excellent option in a defensive midfield role as well. A youth product of Ouagadougou-based club Salitas, Tapsoba played a season for the reserve team of Portuguese Primeira Liga side Vitória de Guimarães before being promoted to the senior team, where he stayed for only six months before moving to current club Leverkusen for about $20 million. Due to a three-month injury lay off last year, his name is not being mentioned as much as it should heading into the tournament but he is now fit and ready to remind the world’s biggest clubs why he just may be the best defender in Africa.
Bertrand Traoré – Aston Villa (ENG)
Another Burkinabe star who is returning from injury issues throughout last year, Traoré is a remarkable attacking talent who is back just in time for the Stallions. From the country’s second largest city of Bobo-Dioulasso, the 26-year-old was held in the highest regard as a youth player and rejected Manchester United to join Chelsea from French club Auxerre after turning 18. Traoré showed promise at Chelsea but spent the majority of his time there out on loan, excelling at Dutch clubs Vitesse and Ajax before moving to French club Olympique Lyon and then back to England with current club Aston Villa. Possesses a languid style of play that lulls defenders to sleep before using his playmaking, dribbling skill and deadly left foot to make the opposition pay. Made his senior national team debut at the age of 15.
Hervé Koffi – Charleroi (BEL)
Hervé Koffi is a goalkeeper we have covered in extensive detail before, but his improvement has been significant since our scouting report came out. Continuing his spell in Belgian football since signing on a permanent transfer to Charleroi from French club Lille, the 25-year-old is now at a club invested in his development and has appeared in every match as his team sits in 7th place. The Bobo-Dioulasso-born custodian is continuing to improve his distribution and his excellent reflexes make him a talent who appears to be destined for a top-5 European league. Was crucial for Les Étalons during FIFA World Cup qualifying as they came up just short of overtaking Algeria for a spot in the final round. Now it is time for Koffi to boost his reputation on the big stage after making his name by appearing in every match at the 2017 AFCON as a 20-year-old.
PAF’s Evaluation
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Prediction
Burkina Faso has a history of coming out of nowhere to surprise at the AFCON with a runner-up finish in 2013 and fourth place in 2017. Now Les Étalons are out to establish themselves as a team that should be feared by their peers, and the AFCON in Cameroon represents an excellent opportunity. The goal should be at least a quarterfinal finish but the team must navigate a potentially difficult Group A. The star power is there in defense and attack, but the lack of quality in the center of midfield will prevent the Stallions from challenging for the trophy.
Ethiopia
Manager
Wubetu Abate
Citing his embrace of challenges, Abate took on the role of Ethiopia national team manager in September 2020. The tactician did brilliantly to guide the Walias to qualification for Cameroon as they took down African power Ivory Coast at home, finishing in second place behind the Elephants by edging out Madagascar by one point. Abate is well regarded in Ethiopian football and cemented his status when he led Addis Ababa club Ethiopian Coffee to their second Ethiopian Premier League title in the 2010-11 season. Known for employing an attractive style of play that keeps the ball on the ground and utilizes passing out of the back, under Abate the Ethiopian team will not bunker down and play long balls but will look to construct chances through combinations and by taking risks. The Walias will probably line up in a 4-3-3 to take advantage of their surplus of talent at the forward position.
Key Players
Getaneh Kebede – Saint George (ETH)
Ethiopia’s all-time leading goalscorer by a wide margin, Kebede is a predator in the opposition penalty area who is quick to react when an opportunity falls his way. The 29-year-old had a stretch where he scored in three straight games at the tail end of AFCON qualifying, leading the Walias to two important victories over Niger and Madagascar. Kebede is one of a handful of players in the squad who have played club football abroad, spending three years in South African football with Bidvest Wits and University of Pretoria. Keep an eye out anytime Ethiopia has a free kick within range of goal because he can provide a quality strike from dead ball situations.
Shimelis Bekele – El Gouna (EGY)
The diminutive attacker has a remarkable ability to sneak into the opposition penalty area unnoticed before finishing with either his left or favored right foot. Bekele has thrived in the Egyptian Premier League with almost 50 league goals since moving to Petrojet in 2014. One of three players in the team who featured for the Walias in their previous AFCON appearance in 2013, the 32-year-old has struggled to get going this season at El Gouna but still has the quality to either initiate attacking movements or finish them. Likely to line up as an attack-minded midfielder behind Ethiopia’s potent forward line, Bekele has stated his pride at appearing in a second AFCON and that he intends to give way to the younger generation following the competition.
Abubeker Nassir – Ethiopian Coffee (ETH)
A player whose name continues to rise in prominence not only in Ethiopian football, but in African football as well. The 21-year-old scored an astounding 27 goals during the 2020-21 season to lead the Ethiopian Premier League, drawing transfer interest from clubs like Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates in South African football. Nassir easily glides by defenders and thrives when operating in tight spaces, making him capable of dribbling past multiple defenders before either scoring or setting up his teammates. It appears that the Ethiopian Coffee forward is patiently waiting before making a decision to move abroad, but he has the opportunity in Cameroon to grow the hype around him to unprecedented levels if he can help the Walias to advance out of Group A.
PAF’s Evaluation
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Prediction
In 2013, the Walias made an instant impression in their debut AFCON appearance by largely outplaying defending champions Zambia before burning out in spectacular fashion due to an inadequate defense and horrible goalkeeping. Unfortunately, this team is similar to the 2013 team in many ways, particularly in the goalkeeping department. If the team has competent goalkeeping then Ethiopia has the potential to surprise due to a very talented attack, but it is hard to see them advancing out of Group A because mistakes in the back will be punished severely at this level.
