2017 Africa Cup of Nations

•Group A
Gabon,
Cameroon,
Guinea-Bissau,
Burkina Faso.

•Group B
Algeria,
Senegal,
Zimbabwe,
Tunisia.

•Group C
Ivory Coast,
Togo,
Morocco,
DR Congo.

•Group D
Ghana,
Uganda,
Egypt,
Mali.

http://www.cafonline.com/en-US/NewsCenter/News/NewsDetails?id=iwdIPveUmoLu1bmeG%2bt28g%3d%3d

Ahead of the start of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), we

provides a group-by-group guide and predicts which two nations will progress to the knockout stage

Group A: Gabon, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Guinea-Bissau


A wide consensus has it that the hosts, Gabon, have handily avoided too many stiff hurdles as they attempt to at least match — and, a nation hopes, better — their achievement of reaching a quarter-final, as the Gabonese team did in 2012. They should be more potent now than then, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, pictured, more mature at leading the forward line.

Yes, Cameroon are heavyweights in terms of continental prestige but they are once again riven with internal tensions, with several senior players including the Liverpool defender Joel Matip having declined their invitations to attend this Nations Cup.

Burkina Faso have plenty of talent and a desire to relive the glories of 2013, when they reached the final. But two years later, they stumbled out at the group stage.

As for Guinea-Bissau, they are the only nation making their debut at this Afcon, and might have a surprise result in them. Though none of their personnel could be classified as stars, they qualified at the expense of Zambia, the 2012 champions.


http://www.thenational.ae/sport/africa-cup-of-nations/africa-cup-of-nations-2017-group-by-group-guide-and-predictions#1

Group B: Algeria, Tunisia, Senegal, Zimbabwe

According to the current Fifa rankings, Group B has three of Africa’s top five crowded into the same contest to produce just two of the last eight at this Afcon. That at least suggests there can be no room for slow starts, of the kind Riyad Mahrez, many Leicester City followers might suggest, has made to this season. Algeria’s Mahrez, pictured, is the new African Footballer of the Year, largely because of his brilliance in the 2015/16 season and is under pressure to rise to that status, and help make Algeria look the sum of their many gifted parts.

Senegal are strong on paper, too, especially with Sadio Mane in attack, but disappointed at the last Afcon. Tunisia have a realistic hope of squeezing one of Algeria and Senegal aside, especially if they maintain the strong defensive record they have built up in competitive matches over the last few months. Zimbabwe, under-resourced but game and the sole representatives of the continent’s southern region, look like the minnows in this company.

Group C: Ivory Coast, DR Congo, Morocco, Togo

Ivory Coast, the defending champions, have at last said goodbye, fondly, to their so-called golden generation, the totemic band led by the Toure brothers and Didier Drogba. They toiled for years to win a Nations Cup. Their younger successors are now charged with making the title of African champions a regular habit. The team of Serge Aurier, Eric Bailly and newcomer Wilfried Zaha should be equipped to reach the last four, at least.

Morocco have hired as manager Herve Renard, guide of Zambia’s champions in 2012 and Ivory Coast’s in 2015, which makes them look even darker horses, although they may find DR Congo a handful, even if the Congolese are without the injured trickster Yannick Bolasie up front. As for Togo, they have become weathered veterans of Afcon tournaments, though it remains to be seen how effective Emmanuel Adebayor, the maverick striker, and the veteran goalkeeper Kossi Agassa will be after six months without club employment.

Group D: Ghana, Egypt, Mali, Uganda

The return of Egypt to a Nations Cup seems long overdue. Much has happened in Egypt, and to its football status since the national team won a third continental title on the trot in 2010 and then startlingly failed to qualify for any of the next three events. Political turmoil played a part, but under the sage Hector Cuper as manager, a revival is afoot. Not too many defenders in Gabon will keep up with the speedy Egyptian striker Mohamed Salah.

Ghana, finalists in 2015, have Asamoah Gyan, pictured, leading them, and chasing a 100th cap by the end of a group stage that they would hope to master without too much alarm.

Mali look diminished from the force they were when they reached successive semi-finals in 2012 and 2013, and Uganda’s absence from the event has been so long that they must risk feeling overawed.

The Ugandan Cranes were last at a Nations Cup 39 years ago, as hosts. They won the silver medal, but it has collected a lot of dust in their trophy cabinet since.

Fixtures and kick-off times for matches at the Africa Cup on Nations - UAE time

Saturday January 14

Group A

Gabon v Guinea-Bissau 8pm

Burkina Faso v Cameroon 11pm

Sunday January 15

Group B

Algeria v Zimbabwe 8pm

Tunisia v Senegal 11pm

Monday January 16

Group C

Ivory Coast v Togo 8pm

DR Congo v Morocco 11pm

Tuesday January 17

Group D

Ghana v Uganda 8pm

Mali v Egypt 11pm

Wednesday January 18

Group A

Gabon v Burkina Faso 8pm

Cameroon v Guinea-Bissau 11pm

Thursday January 19

Group B

Algeria v Tunisia 8pm

Senegal v Zimbabwe 11pm

Friday January 20

Group C

Ivory Coast v DR Congo 8pm

Morocco v Togo 11pm

Saturday January 21

Group D

Ghana v Mali 8pm

Egypt v Uganda 11pm

Sunday January 22

Group A

Cameroon v Gabon 11pm

Guinea-Bissau v Burkina Faso 11pm

Monday January 23

Group B

Senegal v Algeria 11pm

Zimbabwe v Tunisia 11pm

Tuesday January 24

Group C




Morocco v Ivory Coast 11pm

Togo v DR Congo 11pm

Wednesday January 25

Group D

Egypt v Ghana 11pm

Uganda v Mali 11pm

Saturday January 28

Quarter-finals

1 Group A winner v Group B runner-up 8pm

2 Group B winner v Group A runner-up 11pm

Sunday January 29

Quarter-finals

3 Group C winner v Group D runner-up 8pm

4 Group D winner v Group C runner-up 11pm

Wednesday February 1

Semi-finals

Q-final 1 winner v Q-final 4 winner 11pm




Thursday February 2

Semi-finals

Q-final 2 winner v Q-final 3 winner 11pm

Saturday February 4

3rd place play-off 11pm

Sunday February 5

Final 11pm

cc: lalasticlala
http://www.thenational.ae/sport/africa-cup-of-nations/fixtures-and-kick-off-times-for-africa-cup-of-nations-2017

Although Nigeria will not be present you can adopt a team an support


Lets go there….

ItsQuinn, safarigirl, shizzy7, AngelAhnie, Smellymouth, Mediapace, refiner(, suwalee, optional1, vivianblog1, cruzita, klexycole, VickyRotex(, blueto, TheSuperNerd, mikron, TonyeBarcanist, Ajibel, honeric01

Gabon country profile:

Gabon, located on the west coast of Africa, is one of the region's more stable countries.

Since independence from France in 1960, Gabon has had just three presidents. Late President Omar Bongo ruled for more than four decades until his death in 2009.

During Omar Bongo's rule, Gabon maintained a close relationship with France under a system known as "Francafrique", receiving both political and military support in exchange for business favours.

But relations have cooled since his son Ali won a contested election in 2009 and French authorities launched a long-running corruption investigation into the family's assets.

Gabon is a major oil producer but a third of its population live in poverty, according to the World Bank.

FACTS


The Gabonese Republic

Capital: Libreville

Population 1.5 million


Area 267,667 sq km (103,347 sq miles)


Languages French, Bantu-group languages


Religion Christianity


Life expectancy 62 years (men), 64 years (women)


Currency CFA (Communaute Financiere Africaine) franc



LEADER

President: Ali Ben Bongo Ondimba

Ali Bongo was sworn in for a second seven-year term in September 2016, after Gabon's constitutional court upheld his narrow victory in a bitterly disputed election.

Main rival Jean Ping described the court's decision as a "miscarriage of justice" amid opposition claims of vote fraud.

Mr Bongo took over from his late father Omar Bongo, who ruled Gabon for 41 years until his death in 2009.

He has pledged to address some of the issues that have fuelled anger among the country's 1.8 million people, like youth unemployment and over-reliance on falling oil revenues

But his presidency has been overshadowed by a long-running French investigation into allegations of embezzlement involving the Bongo family's assets.

Born in 1959 in Brazzaville, Congo where his father was serving in the armed forces, Mr Bongo was educated in France.

MEDIA

Gabon's main broadcast media are government-controlled.

In 2013, Reporters Without Borders acknowledged the authorities had made some progress in media freedom but said journalists still faced "police brutality and intimidation by officials". The watchdog called for an overhaul of the country's 2001 media law.

There were more than 670,000 internet users out of a population of 1.5 million by November 2015. (Internetworldstats.com).
◾Read full media profile

TIMELINE

Some key dates in Gabon's history:

14th-19th century - European settlers: Arrival of Portuguese slave traders, followed by French, Dutch and British.

1839 - France signs treaties with Gabonese coastal chiefs. Local Mpongwe ruler signs away sovereignty to the French.

1910 - Gabon becomes one of four territories making up French Equatorial Africa.

1958 - Gabon votes to become autonomous republic in the French Community.

1960 - Gabon declares independence.

1967 - Omar Bongo becomes president after the death Leon Mba.

1967-2009 - Omar Bongo dominates Gabonese politics, serving seven consecutive terms.

1990s - Multi-party political system introduced.

2003 - Constitution amended to repeal term limits, ensuring President Bongo holds the presidency for life.

2009 - Death of Omar Bongo, succeeded by his son Ali Ben Bongo Ondimba.

robosky02:


Although Nigeria will not be present you can adopt a team an support


Lets go there….

not called? I go just dey look then...

host venues for the game:


1.Libreville Stadium

Libreville is the capital and largest city of Gabon, in west central Africa. The city is a port on the Komo River, near the Gulf of Guinea, and a trade center for a timber region. As of 2012 its population was estimated at 797,003.

Stade de l’Amitié
• In Libreville, Gabon
• Hosted the 2012 AFCON final
• Has a capacity of 38,000
• Built by Shanghai Construction Group

daveP:
not called? I go just dey look then...

ok

but some will adopt a country
or
want to see how Algeria and Cameroon want to perform

Can Ghana win 5th AFCON crown in Gabon?


The Black Stars of Ghana will again be one of the favourites for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations as they aim to clinch a fifth title after their last triumph 35 years ago.

Regarded as ‘Africa’s Brazil’, Ghana are one of the most successful teams in the continent’s football showpiece event having won it in 1963, 1965, 1978 and 1982.

However, they have since fallen short of standing on the podium again after they were beaten in the championship games for the 2010 and 2015 editions.

They also reached the final four in 2012 and 2015

In 1982, oil-rich Libya paid for cash-strapped Ghana to attend the tournament with the Black Stars inspired by youngster Abedi Pele Ayew eventually edging past their generous hosts in the final.

It was therefore understandable when Ayew’s son Andre will weep uncontrollably after Ghana fell on penalties in the championship game in Equatorial Guinea 33 years later.

The signs are again good they will enjoy another fine run in Gabon after they qualified unbeaten in a group that included Mozambique, Rwanda and Mauritius.

But at the same time, they have been concerns over the team’s recent form after going without a win in their last four games towards the end of last year so much so that their qualification hopes for the 2018 World Cup hang in the balance.

Juventus midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah will be the biggest absentee for Ghana as he has stayed back at his team to fight to regain his first-team shirt after he was sidelined by injury for almost a year.

However, Torino midfielder Afriyie Acquah will back his team to be champions again after a rather long wait.

“I think we have a good team like we had in the last tournament. We played in the final in the previous edition but we lost to the Ivory Coast after a penalty shootout,” said Acquah.

“We have a tougher mentality this time around.

“We are working hard to be in the final and win the cup.''

One of the leaders of this team, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu said they are determined to win the competition so as to make the country’s newly-elected President-elect Nana Akufo-Addo proud.

The Udinese star said: “We want to congratulate the president-elect for the wonderful job he has done throughout the year and being elected next president of the Republic of Ghana.

“With the quality in camp, the cohesion and team spirit, I think Nana will be proud of us by the time the tournament ends.”

And like it was in 2015 in Equatorial Guinea, the 25-year-old midfielder said former Chelsea manager Avram Grant will again be a source of inspiration with his lucky match day shirt, experience and personality.

“Grant has taken us as his children, always checking on us, how conditioned we are. Even if you aren’t part of the team he motivates you to train harder and get much playing time in your team,” he remarked.

Ghana boast MVP of the last edition Christian Atsu, who has shone at promotion-chasing English Championship side Newcastle United this season, as well as West Ham star Andre Ayew, who has bounced back from a long-term thigh injury.

Skipper Asamoah Gyan has continued to provide the goals and leadership for a team who have brought in new blood with the inclusion of the likes of Bernard Tekpety from Schalke 04 and Austria-based midfielder Samuel Tetteh.

The Black Stars are drawn in a tough-looking Group D along with World Cup rivals Egypt and Uganda as well as Mali.

They open their campaign on January 17 against Uganda in Port-Gentil.

I pray and expect a bad performance from Cameroun and Algeria because they are in our group for the world cup. A bad performance will lower their confidence and increase our chances when we face them. A good performance leading to AFCON finals might pose a threat to our chances at qualifying for the next world cup. Above all, Super Eagles look good for now.

k

Why oh why .... I de look up and down for my darling Eagles in that list

May the best team win

Nigeria were you dey...since you carry nation cup we no see una again

Ali bongo ondimba is the president of Gabon. He was an orphan in an orphanage, before the late president of Gabon Omar bongo adopted him. Who says you can't make it? With God all things are possible.

Nigeria absent...

But Nawa for naija. Afcon witout naija is like world cup witout brazil

Senegal all the way

Looking like 9ja no be African country again ooo

I beg which station dey show the match? Star times dey show or na only DSTV?

Wm

And we call ourselves the giant of Africa, common Afcon we no fit qualify for.

Were is Nigeria?

kings09:
But Nawa for naija. Afcon witout naija is like world cup witout brazil

keep deceiving us. They won't miss Nigeria there

All the group are very tough

Tho we're rivals,i support ghana whenever naija is absent....but not if it involves creating a record naija doesnt have sha