With the conclusion of the Africa Cup of
Nations draw in Malabo, Africans now
know exactly what lies ahead early next
year when the 16 contestants converge for
the continent’s biggest showpiece.
Painfully, the Super Eagles will not be
defending the trophy they won in South
Africa after blowing away their chance in
their last qualifier on home soil. As Stephen
Keshi’s men continue to lick their wounds
for not qualifying, Goal takes a look at
countries that will likely conquer Equatorial
Guinea come 2015.
ALGERIA
No doubt the best team in Africa at the
moment by virtue of their Fifa ranking.
The Algerians have been among the most
exciting nations to watch at recent major
tournaments. They surprised everyone at
the 2014 World Cup with their free-flowing
attacking football and almost dispatched
reigning world champions Germany.
Christian Gourcuff will be hoping to lead his
entertaining side to their first victory since
1990 achieved on home soil.
The Fennecs have a fair number of other
players with big-game experience from
playing in major leagues across Europe
and are hot favorites to rule Equatorial
Guinea.
Star Player: Yacine Brahimi

CAMEROON
The Indomitable Lions make a return to
the competition after missing out of the
2012 and 2013 editions in South Africa.
Though ranked number eight in Africa,
they are a very strong force to reckon with
going by their antecedents in the history
of the competition with four title wins to
their credit. Blessed with a relatively
youthful side. In a defensive sense, they
have been very difficult to break down.
They were unbeaten in their six qualifiers
and only let in one goal.
Star player: Vincent Aboubakar
COTE D'IVOIRE
After a catastrophic African championship
campaign in South Africa that saw them
crash out of the quarter-final to eventual
champions, Nigeria, the Elephants will be
out for redemption in Equatorial Guinea.
They are definitely on the right track,
blessed with some of the finest footballers
on the continent.
Herve Renard’s return to the competition
(he was an African champion with Zambia
in 2012) will be a big morale booster for the
west African nation who chase their first
trophy since 1992.
Star player: Yaya Toure

GHANA
In the last four editions, the Black Stars
have not failed to make the semi finals of
the Africa Cup of Nations.
Their closest efforts at winning the title
was when they were pegged 1-0 by Egypt
in the final of the 2010 edition staged in
Angola. It would be downright dippy to
suggest the current Ghana squad is
anything but the best the country has
been blessed with.
It is a genuinely star-studded line-up,
with the likes of Asamoah Gyan, the Ayew
brothers and Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu.
Something tells me the Black Stars might
just break their 33-year-old jinx.
Star player: Asamoah Gyan
TUNISIA
After a failed expedition in 2013, the
Carthage Eagles failed to get out of the
group stage that paraded Ivory Coast,
Togo and Algeria. Georges Leekens’ men
seek redemption that will not only see
them challenge for the trophy but secure
their second title after their 2004 triumph
on home soil.
They were unbeaten in the group stage
and let in two goals to testify to their
defensive prowess. The north Africans are
blessed with blistering speed and depth in
all positions and are currently ranked 22nd
by Fifa.
Should they miss out on this one, a
conquest in 2017 will be a better bet.
Star player : Aymen Mathlouthi

source: www.goal.com/en-ng/news/4082/editorial/2014/12/05/6750142/top-five-2015-africa-cup-of-nations-contenders?ICID=HP_BN_1