In the third entry in our preview of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations we take a close look at Group C, widely regarded as the “Group of Death” in this edition. Defending champions Senegal headline the group and will be the favorites but the Lions of Teranga must be cautious with plenty of talent in the Guinea and Gambia squads as well as traditional African powerhouse Cameroon. Read more on all four teams below and which players to watch:
Senegal
Resumé
FIFA Ranking: 20
CAF Ranking: 2
Nickname: Lions de la Téranga (The Lions of Teranga)
Previous Appearances: 16
Best Finish: Champions (2021)
Manager
Aliou Cissé
A shining example of how an African coach can lift the national team of his country to its highest level, Cissé signed on as the manager of the Lions of Teranga in March 2015 and continues to raise the bar higher and higher for Senegalese football. A runner-up finish in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations was followed by the title in the 2021 edition and a Round of 16 finish at the 2022 FIFA World Cup as well as an attention grabbing 4-2 friendly victory over Brazil. The former Paris Saint-Germain, Birmingham City and Portsmouth player continues to form an excellent squad with players developed in Senegal as well as dual national players recruited which further strengthen his team.
2023 AFCON Squad
Key Players
Sadio Mané
Club: Al-Nassr (KSA)
Position: Winger/Forward
Much has changed in the Senegalese superstar’s club career since winning his first Africa Cup of Nations trophy but his performances for Senegal have not been affected. An underwhelming move to Bayern Munich from Liverpool was followed by another big money move to Saudi football where Mané now plays regularly with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr. The 31-year-old still shows a high level of motivation when playing for his country and after accumulating eleven goals in fourteen competitive matches since the 2021 AFCON, there is no reason to believe he will slow down on the biggest stage of African football.
Kalidou Koulibaly
Club: Al-Hilal (KSA)
Position: Central Defense
The powerful central defender joined his fellow national team star Mané in the great rush of big money moves to Saudi football and is excelling with the current Saudi Pro League leaders with only nine goals conceded in eighteen matches. The 32-year-old is an excellent passer and the anchor of a strong Senegalese defense that also features dual national left back Ismail Jakobs and 2021 Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper Édouard Mendy. This will be the fourth Africa Cup of Nations tournament for the French-born defender and the captain is in good form for both club and country.
Pape Matar Sarr
Club: Tottenham Hotspur (ENG)
Position: Central Midfield/Attacking Midfield
The 21-year-old creative midfielder is continuing a gradual rise in his career after being tipped for great success following a big money move from FC Metz to English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur. It is a similar story in the Senegal team for Sarr who is earning the trust of head coach Cissé and gaining more responsibility in a Lions of Teranga side that has plenty of industry but limited playmaking options in the center of the midfield. Let’s see if Sarr can take another big step forward and make the Senegalese attack more complete in Ivory Coast.
Other Players to Watch
Illman Ndiaye- A rapid rise to prominence in the English second tier with Sheffield United catapulted the 23-year-old into the discussion with Senegal and it appears that Cissé enjoys the versatility of the forward. Players like Habib Diallo, Nicolas Jackson and Boulaye Dia are in the discussion to lead the forward line for Senegal but none have been convincing, leaving a bit of a mystery as to who will be the central attacking presence in a Senegalese attack which has immense quality on the flanks.
Édouard Mendy- The Goalkeeper came up with strong performances to help Senegal win the last edition of the Africa Cup of Nations and he escaped a difficult situation at English club Chelsea to the riches of Saudi football where he is doing well with Al-Ahli. With Mendy behind a strong defense, Senegal have an excellent foundation that allows them to succeed during the more challenging moments they will experience in the knockout stages.
Krépin Diatta- An intriguing player who missed out on the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations due to a long-term injury, the 24-year-old Monaco player is an option who Cissé likes and is eager to find a role for. The coach continues to experiment with his formation and it appears that Diatta, normally an attacking player, may operate as a right sided defender or wing-back in Ivory Coast. Wherever he plays, Diatta is a consistent player who provides versatility.
Evaluation
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The Gambia
Resumé
FIFA Ranking: 126
CAF Ranking: 35
Nickname: The Scorpions
Previous Appearances: 1
Best Finish: Quarterfinals (2021)
Manager
Tom Saintfiet
The Belgian has managed national teams in four different FIFA sub-confederations including Asia (Qatar U-17, Yemen and Bangladesh), North America (Trinidad & Tobago) and Europe (Malta) but his greatest successes have come in African football and his spell with The Gambia has seen remarkable accomplishments with a nation whose footballing reputation continues to rise swiftly. After achieving a surprise qualification for their first ever Africa Cup of Nations, The Scorpions performed admirably to reach the quarterfinals where they fell to 2021 host nation Cameroon. Due to the fact that their FIFA ranking remains low, once again the odds are against the West African nation in a very difficult Group C but Senegal, Guinea and Cameroon have no excuses if they underestimate this team led by a manager who is more than capable.
2023 AFCON Squad
Key Players
Musa Barrow
Club- Al-Taawoun (KSA)
Position- Attacking Midfield/Forward
Yet another African star who made a big money move to the Saudi Pro League for the 2023-24 season, Barrow enjoyed an excellent spell in Italy’s Serie A with Atalanta and Bologna before shining as Gambia’s star attacker at the 2021 AFCON. A wide player with plenty of creativity and no fear of attacking defenders on the dribble, the 25-year-old provided two goals and two assists at the last edition and gives the Gambian side an edge because of his ability to be deadly on set pieces. With Ablie Jallow and Alieu Fadera also providing threats from the wing, Barrow could line up as a central playmaker with more freedom to drift and find the ball in Ivory Coast.
Omar Colley
Club: Beşiktaş (TUR)
Position: Central Defense
The captain of The Scorpions and current Besiktas central defender is well known in European club football after over ten years on the continent, rising from competing in Finnish and Swedish football to Italy’s Serie A and now a top club in Turkey. The 31-year-old is composed on the ball and brings consistency and stability to his national team. The Gambian defense has had some issues keeping the goals out lately but coach Saintfiet will lean on Colley to keep the team focused on the big stage.
Assan Ceesay
Club: Damac (KSA)
Position: Striker
Which version of Gambia’s all-time leading goal scorer will show up in Ivory Coast? Ceesay’s goals were critical to his nation’s first AFCON qualification in 2021 but the 29-year-old went silent at the finals with zero goals in four matches. Ever since his breakout season in European club football where he contributed twenty goals and eleven assists for Swiss Super League club FC Zürich during the 2021-22 season, it has been streaky at best and underwhelming at the worst from Ceesay and the rangy striker will be under the microscope from Gambian supporters who need him to produce his best for The Scorpions to avoid a group stage elimination.
Other Players to Watch
Ebrima Darboe- After a long-term knee injury left him without any playing time in the 2022-23 season, the talented central midfielder is getting back to fitness at Austrian Bundesliga club LASK Linz on loan from Italian Serie A side AS Roma. The heart of the Gambian midfield is where the biggest concerns lie for coach Saintfiet and Darboe could find a way into the eleven. Ebou Adams and Alassana Manneh are capable candidates as well with Manneh receiving the most consistent playing time for his club out of the bunch.
Ablie Jallow- The talented winger with an excellent left foot continues to grow and develop in European club football, spending a productive spell on loan in Belgium with Seraing before returning to parent club Metz to play a role in the club’s promotion to France’s Ligue 1. Jallow and another talented winger who continues to find his way in Europe, Alieu Fadera, are ready to cause trouble on the flanks for opposition defenders.
Ebou Adams- A stingy ball-winning presence in the heart of the midfield, the English born player began his career in the lower tiers of his home country and found his stride with fourth tier side Forest Green Rovers after a failed spell with Norwich City. Now at EFL Championship side Cardiff City, Adams will have his work cut out for him against some highly regarded midfield players if he gets the nod in the Gambian eleven.
Evaluation
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Cameroon
Resumé
FIFA Ranking: 46
CAF Ranking: 7
Nickname: Les Lions Indomptables (The Indomitable Lions)
Previous Appearances: 20
Best Finish: Champions (1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, 2017)
Manager
Rigobert Song
The last few years under the supervision of Cameroon’s all-time leading appearance leader have made for an excellent soap opera. A third place finish at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations that was hosted in Cameroon was followed by a dramatic second leg victory in Algeria to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, a result that could be best described as a miracle. Despite a victory against Brazil in the World Cup finals, however, there is a clear lack of fluidity in the Cameroonian team that was highlighted by inadequate performances in qualifying for the upcoming AFCON including a defeat away and a draw at home against Namibia. A growing list of notable injuries that includes important forward Bryan Mbeumo and a knock to star striker Vincent Aboubakar (who remains in the squad) makes things even more difficult for the coach.
2023 AFCON Squad
Key Players
Vincent Aboubakar
Club: Beşiktaş (TUR)
Position: Striker
The former Cotonsport de Garoua star continues to rise to the occasion for his nation in major tournaments and will once again be the captain of The Indomitable Lions in Ivory Coast. A powerful striker who imposes his will on opposition defenses, the 31-year-old is not in the best form for club Besiktas at the moment but always saves his best for the Africa Cup of Nations where he led all scorers with eight goals at the 2021 edition in Cameroon and scored the dramatic winning goal in the 2017 final against Egypt. With Bryan Mbeumo ruled out due to injury it is up to the captain to carry his nation’s attack once again. Late news indicates that Aboubakar will miss out on the Group C opener against Guinea due to an injury in training.
André Onana
Club: Manchester United (ENG)
Position: Goalkeeper
After a turbulent beginning to his time at Manchester United following a major transfer from Inter Milan, the biggest question for Cameroon was whether he would join the team in Ivory Coast after a much publicized dispute with Song that saw him sent home from the 2022 FIFA World Cup. However the graduate of the Samuel Eto’o Academy is included in the final squad and unlike the 2021 edition of the AFCON, Onana arrives this time around after playing regularly for his club. However, Onana continues to be a major reason for continued drama with the Cameroon team and his decision to remain with Manchester United and join the Lions’ den just before the group opener against Guinea has once again drawn plenty of criticism and placed his status in doubt for the first match. A mercurial goalkeeper who enjoys having the ball at his feet, Onana’s risky style of play draws plenty of criticism but there is no question he is capable of being the best in Africa when in form.
André-Frank Zambo Anguissa
Club: Napoli (ITA)
Position: Central Midfield
A dynamic central midfielder who is a genuine box-to-box threat, the Napoli player is the star of the Cameroonian midfield and should be given more freedom to roam forward in Ivory Coast. After winning Italy’s Serie A at the conclusion of the 2022-23 season, it has been a difficult 2023-24 season for him and his club but there is plenty of technical skill and potential for Cameroon when Zambo Anguissa is paired with either Olivier Ntcham or Olivier Kemen. For Cameroon to find success in Ivory Coast it is essential that Zambo Anguissa serves as a strong link between the defensive and attacking units.
Other Players to Watch
Christopher Wooh- Coach Song visited the talented young French-born defender and continues to increase his role since Wooh’s debut for Cameroon in 2022. An imposing physical profile and increasing playing time in French club football with current side Stade Rennais makes Wooh a player to watch in Ivory Coast. Jean-Charles Castelletto is the most consistent member of the Cameroonian defense but good performances from Wooh could make an important difference for the Indomitable Lions.
Georges-Kévin N’Koudou- An untimely injury to Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo and a spell of poor form and injury difficulties for Karl Toko Ekambi has perhaps opened the door for a player on the fringes of the team and N’Koudou is a good candidate to take advantage of the opportunity. In excellent form for Saudi club Damac (fourteen goals and four assists in eighteen matches), N’Koudou has stellar pace and the dribbling moves required to cause chaos on the wings. Clinton N’Jie and Frank Magri are other forwards who can provide support for star striker Vincent Aboubakar in the attack.
Moumi Ngamaleu- An attacking player who likes to operate on the right flank as more of a traditional winger, Ngamaleu is technically skilled with a strong shot and accurate deliveries from set pieces. A late addition to the squad due to injuries, it was a surprise to see the Russian-based attacker excluded initially but his ability to provide accurate corner kick services should see him play a role.
Evaluation
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Guinea
Resumé
FIFA Ranking: 80
CAF Ranking: 15
Nickname: Syli National (National Elephants)
Previous Appearances: 13
Best Finish: Runners-up (1976)
Manager
Kaba Diawara
A powerful striker born in France who represented Guinea the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations and won France’s Ligue 1 in 1999 as a member of Girondins de Bordeaux, the 48-year-old became head coach of Guinea for his first managerial assignment and led the Syli National to the Round of 16 at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. While the team is generally performing well under his leadership, the greatest accomplishment of Diawara so far is his recruiting. Trips to Europe to convince dual national players to represent Guinea have been very successful for Diawara with players such as midfielder Ilaix Moriba, central defender Mouctar Diakhaby and most significantly striker Serhou Guirassy adding quality to the squad. The results have been promising and Diawara is showing growth on the job despite lacking head coaching experience, making Guinea a team capable of upstaging established giants Senegal and Cameroon in Group C.
2023 AFCON Squad
Key Players
Serhou Guirassy
Club: VfB Stuttgart (GER)
Position: Striker
Outside of Europe’s elite strikers it is difficult to argue that there is any goal scorer more in form than the Stuttgart marksman when it comes to the top leagues of Europe. Guirassy has seventeen goals in fourteen Bundesliga matches this season and after inconsistency in his early career the 27-year-old is finding success at a high level. If he can translate his incredible club form to the national team then the sky is the limit for a player who can score in a variety of ways.
Mouctar Diakhaby
Club: Valencia (ESP)
Position: Central Defense
Like Guirassy, the central defender was born in France and is one of the major dual national additions to the Guinean selection following a meeting with coach Diawara who identified the Valencia player as one of his major targets. The 27-year-old appears set to be a guaranteed selection in Ivory Coast but there is still room for improvement for the Guinean defense. It will be interesting to see who partners Diakhaby in the heart of defense with Saïdou Sow and Mohamed Ali Camara both talented but inconsistent options.
Amadou Diawara
Club: Anderlecht (BEL)
Position: Central Midfield
The Conakry native has become a regular sight in the midfield because of injuries and inconsistent form to some of Guinea’s important players. Ilaix Moriba has yet to play a match for German club RB Leipzig this season and Guinea superstar Naby Keïta continues to struggle at Werder Bremen after a long period of injuries. Both Keïta and Moriba are included in the squad for the finals but it is Diawara who continues to be the most reliable option, serving as the captain in Guinea’s two recent 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches and providing a composed defensive presence in front of the defensive line.
Other Players to Watch
Aguibou Camara- After a positive start to life at top Greek club Olympiakos, the talented attacking midfielder lost his place in the eleven but is now earning valuable playing time on loan at Atromitos in the same division. Camara is a positive, versatile presence who applies pressure when the opposition defense has the ball and brings youthful energy to the Guinean attack that will create opportunities for Guirassy and his fellow attackers.
Naby Keïta- Of course we cannot forget about the captain despite his many issues with injuries over the past couple of seasons. Coach Diawara will be cautious with using Keïta but every time the former Liverpool and RB Leipzig central midfielder plays for the Syli he shows his immense quality, especially on the ball. When the attack sputters for Guinea, Keïta is the player who provides that moment of quality for a positive result and if he is unable to play from the beginning his presence is valuable even in limited minutes.
Ibrahim Koné- A goalkeeper born in the Ivory Coast, Koné represented the youth national teams of his birth country and was awarded best goalkeeper of the competition with the Young Elephants at the famous 2007 Toulon Tournament youth competition. It took some time for the 34-year-old to get his chance after debuting for the Guinea senior team in 2018 but now he is the undisputed number one and is doing quite well with the Syli. The goalkeeper position has been a weakness for Guinea at times but the shot stopper based in Maltese club football has shown he has the ability to thrive under the pressure he will experience in Ivory Coast.
Evaluation
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Defense:
Midfield:
Attack:
