WELCOME TO GROUP B OF THE SOUTH AFRICA 2013 AFCON!

Group B Consists Of



Fixtures

Ghana




AFCON HISTORY
Best Performance Winners - 1963, 1965, 1978 & 1982
Champions 1963, 1965, 1978 & 1982
Runners-Up 2010
Third Place 2008
Fourth Place 2012


HOW THEY QUALIFIED
The Black Stars of Ghana will be seeking to annex the trophy for the fifth time, as it has eluded them since Libya 1982 and they showed that they really mean business by dispatching Malawi by beating them 2-0 in Accra and 1-0 in Lilongwe to book a place in the 2013 Afcon.


THE COACH - Kwesi Appiah
After having three Serbians as coaches of the Black Stars in series, the west African country settled on their own man James Kwesi Appiah, who served as the assistant coach of the team since 2008 and gained a great deal of experience to propel the team forward.

The former Ghana captain was part of the team when the nation lifted its fourth Afcon trophy 30 years ago, and he is hoping to win the competition now that he finds himself on the touchline.


THE CAPTAIN - Asamoah Gyan


THE STAR PLAYER - Christian Atsu


Goalkeepers: Daniel Adjei (Liberty Professionals), Fatau Dauda (Ashanti Gold), Adam Kwarasey (Stromsgodset/NOR)

Defenders: Harrison Afful (Esperance/TUN), Jerry Akaminko (Eskisehirspor/TUR), Mohammed Awal (Maritzburg Utd/RSA), John Boye (Rennes/FRA), Kissi Boateng (Berekum Chelsea), Jonathan Mensah (Evian/FRA), John Paintsil (Hapoel Tel Aviv/ISR), Isaac Vorsah (Red Bull Salzburg/AUT)

Midfielders: Albert Adomah (Bristol City/ENG), Anthony Annan (Osasuna/ESP), Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus/ITA), Solomon Asante (Berekum), Christian Atsu (Porto/POR), Emmanuel Agyemang Badu (Udinese/ITA), Derek Boateng (Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk/UKR), Mohammed Rabiu (Evian/FRA), Mubarak Wakaso (Espanyol/ESP)

Strikers: Emmanuel Clottey (Esperance/TUN), Asamoah Gyan (Al Ain/UAE), Richmond Boakye Yiadom (Sassuolo/ITA)

Mali




AFCON HISTORY
Best Performance Runners-up - 1972
Champions None
Runners-Up 1972
Third Place 2012
Fourth Place 1994, 2002, 2004


HOW THEY QUALIFIED

The Eagles of Mali qualified for their eighth Africa Cup of Nations by defeating Botswana both home and away. They beat the Zebras 3-0 in Bamako and repeated the dose in Gaborone as they seek to improve upon their third place finish during the last edition in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.


THE COACH - Patrice Carteron
Frenchman Patrice Carteron took over from Alain Girese and he has put together a formidable squad made up of veterans such as Seydo Keita and Adama Coulibally, as well as youngsters including Samba Sow of French side Lens and Djoliba's 19-year-old Salif Coulibally.

He is a strict disciplinarian and tactically efficient as he has guided the Malians to a number of victories since taking over. The players respect him, and his coaching philosophy is thus far paying dividends for the Eagles.

THE CAPTAIN - Seydou Keita


THE STAR PLAYER - Sambou Yatabare


Goalkeepers: Soumbeyla Diakite (Stade Malien), Mamadou Samassa (Guingamp/FRA), Aly Yirango (Djoliba)

Defenders: Adama Coulibaly (Auxerre/FRA), Idrissa Coulibaly (Lekihwiya/QAT), Ousmane Coulibaly (Brest/FRA), Salif Coulibaly (Djoliba), Fousseyni Diawara (Ajaccio/FRA), Mahamadou Ndiaye (Vitoria Guimaraes/POR), Adama Tamboura (Randers/DEN), Molla Wague (Caen/FRA)

Midfielders: Samba Diakite (QPR/ENG), Cheick Fantamady Diarra (Rennes/FRA), Sigamary Diarra (Ajaccio/FRA), Seydou Keita (Aerbin Dalian/CHN), Mohamed Lamine Sissoko (Paris Saint Germain/FRA), Samba Sow (Lens/FRA), Kalilou Traore (Sochaux/FRA), Mahamane Traore (Nice/FRA), Sambou Yatabare (Bastia/FRA)

Strikers: Cheick Tidiane Diabate (Bordeaux/FRA), Modibo Maiga (West Ham/ENG), Mamadou Samassa (Chievo/ITA)

Niger




AFCON HISTORY
Best Performance Round 1 - 2012
Champions None
Runners-Up None
Third Place None
Fourth Place None


HOW THEY QUALIFIED
Niger were among the 16 teams that enjoyed a bye during the first round of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying by virtue of their participation at the 2012 edition held in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. The Mena were pitted against Guinea in the second and final round, bringing home a rather stimulating 1-0 loss from the away fixture played in Conakry and overturning that deficit by two goals in Niamey during the second leg to clinch their second qualification to the Afcon finals.


THE COACH - Gernot Rohr
Gernot Rohr was hired by the Niger football federation in September 2012 following the departure of Frenchman Rolland Courbis, who was promoted to head the Mena weeks after the end of the 2012 Afcon, where they were defeated 2-0 in their opener by Gabon, then under the management of Rohr.

Rohr’s contract was not renewed after the co-hosts of the 2012 Afcon were knocked out of the competition in the quarter-finals, which officials in Libreville said was due to the coach’s incorrect substitutions during the game against Mali and his vision-less style. However, the Niger FA said that the 59-year-old German was the right person to build the country’s football and give the players a wider exposure, which they lacked during their first appearance.


THE CAPTAIN - Moussa Maazou


THE STAR PLAYER - Issoufou Boubacar


Goalkeepers: Moussa Alzouma (Garde Nationale), Daouda Kassaly (Chippa Utd/RSA), Saminou Rabo (Sahel)

Defenders: Ismael Alassane, Kader Amadou and Mohamed Soumaila (Olympic), Mohamed Bachar and Luky James (AS Douane), Mohammed Chikoto (Marsa/TUN), Koffi Dankowa (Zarzis/TUN), Kourouma Fatogoma (Chabab/MAR)

Midfielders: Issoufou Boubacar (clubless), Karim Konate (clubless), Issiakou Koudize (Garde Nationale), Idrissa Laouali (Mangasport/GAB), Amadou Mountari (Le Mans/FRA), Williams N'Gonou (LB 07/SWE), Souleymane Sakou (Olympic), Babacar Talatou (AmaZulu/RSA)

Strikers: Kamilou Daouda (Saoura/ALG), Issoufou Dante (Wydad Fes/MAR), Moussa Maazou (Etoile Sahel/TUN), Modibo Sidibé (clubless).

DR Congo




AFCON HISTORY
Best Performance Winners - 1968, 1974
Champions Champions 1968, 1974
Runners-Up None
Third Place 1998
Fourth Place 1972


HOW THEY QUALIFIED
The DR Congo were pitted against minnows Seychelles in the first round on a two legged encounter, which the central Africans carried off 7-0 on aggregate. The Leopards were fortunate to be handed another team ranked below them in Equatorial Guinea for the second round, and they easily crushed them 6-2 on aggregate to make a return to the continental scene after their last appearance at Egypt 2006.


THE COACH - Claude Le Roy
Claude Le Roy returned to coach the DR Congo in 2011 after handling the team between 2004 and 2006. The 64-year-old Frenchman replaced his compatriot Robert Nouzaret, who was fired for failing to meet his chief objective of qualifying the team to the 2012 Afcon.

Le Roy’s rich experience in African football from years of working as a coach in Cameroon, Senegal, Ghana and the DR Congo has earned him a respectable and trustworthy status, not only in sub-Saharan Africa but beyond. He has been able to steer the Congolese team back to the right direction by booking a place at the 2013 Afcon and helping local officials overcome deep doubts about the once brilliant outfit that had long remained in oblivion.


THE CAPTAIN - Tresor Mputu


THE STAR PLAYER - Dieumerci Mbokani



Goalkeepers: Robert Kidiaba (TP Mazembe), Bakala Landu (MK Etancheite), Parfait Mandanda (Charleroi/BEL)

Defenders: Jean Kasusula (Mazembe), Larrys Mabiala (Karabukspor/TUR), Chancel Mbemba (Anderlecht/BEL), Cedric Mongongu (Evian/FRA), Issama Mpeko (Vita Club), Landry Mulemo (Kortrijk/BEL), Gabriel Zakuani (Peterborough/ENG)

Midfielders: Dioko Kaluyituka (Al-Kharitiyath/QAT), Deo Kanda (Mazembe), Cedric Makiadi (Freiburg/GER), Zola Matumona (Mons-Bergen/BEL), Tresor Mputu (Mazembe), Youssouf Mulumbu (West Bromwich Albion)

Strikers: Patou Kabangu (Mazembe), Yves Diba (Al-Raed/KSA), Domi Kumbela (Eintracht Brunswick/GER), Tresor LuaLua Lomana (Karabukspor/TUR), Manzia Budje (Shark), Dieumerci Mbokani (Anderlecht/BEL), Luvumbu Nzinga (Rojolu).

Pls wat is ghana? Is ghana a noun?

hmmm, who will qualify frm dis group? I c a fightin spirit in Niger Republic. Nobody shld be written off. So, Yousoff Mulumbu is frm DR Congo.

Mali will top this group followed by Ghane.

lol..ghana will have a field day

I think ghana or DR congo will top the group.

GHANA VS EGYPT FRIENDLY!



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USDqq1LVvYA?version=3&hl=en_US


BLACK STARS STAND UP!!!!!

ghana and Mali to Qualify

Ghana and mali/dr congo to qualify.

i tip Ghana & Mali

mukina i see u o...

mali and DR congo will qualify

So the ayew brothers were dropped?

+233:
GHANA VS EGYPT FRIENDLY!



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USDqq1LVvYA?version=3&hl=en_US


BLACK STARS STAND UP!!!!!

4 times African champions went down in flames like a stack of dried wood. That's how bad the Black Stars are.

Wey my malian brovas?

GHana should go through sha.

INSTEAD OF THE MALIAN PLAYERS 2 REMAIN AT HOME AND PREPARE FOR WAR , THEY ARE GOING TO PLAY BALL !! *ISSOKAY

GHANA is topping the group and would go all the way to lift the AFCON 13 trophy. Remember i said it

hisson3: So the ayew brothers were dropped?

captaia John Mensah, Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari, Jordan and Dede Ayew are all dropped from the tournament but be on the look out for the new stars who will surpass all these players- Christian Atsu, Mubarak Wakaso, Solomon Asante and Richmond Boakye Yiadom. Watch out for them. Oseyyy GHANA

Wow, see fine tall men in Mali. And dem no fit break all those hungry looking terrorists into two.. Mali has height and fineness advantage.

torgbe: captaia John Mensah, Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari, Jordan and Dede Ayew are all dropped from the tournament but be on the look out for the new stars who will surpass all these players- Christian Atsu, Mubarak Wakaso, Solomon Asante and Richmond Boakye Yiadom. Watch out for them. Oseyyy GHANA

Yes, new weapons will be unleashed. Don't forget striker Emmanuel Clottey.

See how we also fried Tunisia 4-2 in Abu Dhabi?

Johnnoah1st: Pls wat is ghana? Is ghana a noun?

It means ”worrior king”