[center]WELCOME TO GROUP C OF THE GABON-EQUATORIAL GUINEA 2012 AFCON![/center]

Group C is made up of Gabon,Morocco,Niger, and Tunisia


FIXTURES
Gabon Vs Niger on 23rd January 2012 @ 17:00 in Stade d'Angondje

Morocco Vs Tunisia on 23rd January 2012 @ 20:00 in Stade d'Angondje

Niger Vs Tunisia on 27th January 2012 @ 17:00 in Stade d'Angondje

Gabon Vs Morocco on 27th January 2012 @ 20:00 in Stade d'Angondje

Gabon Vs Tunisia on 31st January 2012 @ 19:00 in Stade de Franceville

Niger Vs Morocco on 31st January 2012 @ 19:00 in Stade d'Angondje

Gabon



History: Previous Appearances: 1994, 1996, 2000, 2010
                      Best Performance: Quarter-finals: 1994


How They Qualified For AFCON 2012
Gabon enter the tournament as co-hosts alongside Equatorial Guinea. They have stayed in shape by playing friendly matches against other national teams including former world champions Brazil and African giants Cameroon.

Coach: Gernot Rohr - The 58-year-old German tactician has coached Bordeaux, Nice and Nantes in the past. Now he has the opportunity to lead Gabon beyond their best ever quarter-final finish in the Afcon at home in January’s tournament. The former defender took over from Alain Giresse at the end of the 2010 Afcon in Angola.


Squad
Goalkeepers:  Yann Bidonga - Mangasport, Stephane Bitseki Moto - US Bitam, Didier Ovono - Le Mans

Defenders:  Georges Ambourouet - Missile FC,Moise Brou Apanga - Brest,Bruno Ecuele Manga - Lorient,Remy Ebanega - US Bitam,Edmond Mouele - Mangasport,Rodrigue Moundounga - Olympique Beja,Charly Moussonou - Missile FC,Henri Ndong - Henri Ndong

Midfielders:  Andre Biyogo Poko - Bordeaux,Cedric Boussougou - Mangasport,Levy Madinda - Celta Vigo,Bruno Mbanangoye Zita - Dinamo Minsk,Cedric Moubamba - US Bitam,Lloyd Palun - Nice

Attackers:  Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - Saint-Etienne,Daniel Cousin - FC Sapins,Fabrice Do Marcolino - Laval,Roguy Meye - Zalaegerszeg,Eric Mouloungui - Nice,Stephane Nguema - US Bitam


Captain: Daniel Cousin - Former Hull City and Rangers striker Cousin is the captain of the Azingo Nationale. The 34 year-old will be making his third appearance at the Afcon after his first two appearances came 10 years apart, in 2000 and 2010. He will look to inspire his side past the first round where they have ended up on both previous occasions.

Star Player:  Eric Mouloungui - The talented and experienced midfielder plays his club football for Nice in France, but it is often with his national team that he produces the most important performances. Originally a striker, he certainly has an eye for goal and is not afraid to hit a shot from distance

Young Talent: Pierr-Emerick Aubameyang - The 22-year-old Saint Etienne striker is expected to be one of the stars of the tournament on home soil. With five goals in 19 matches for the Azingo Nationale, Aubameyang looks set to continue in the family tradition taking after his father Pierre Aubameyang who is now a scout at AC Milan and elder brother Willy, who also plays in the national team.

Probable Starting XI: Gernot Rohr favours the more attack-minded 4-3-3 formation but has been experimenting with the traditional 4-4-2 selection in recent friendlies. During the tournament it will be interesting to see which formation he settles on.

                                                                         (4-4-2)
                                                                         Ovono
                                              Moundounga, Ambouret, Manga, Apanga
                                              Moubamba, Mouloungui, W. Aubameyang,
                                                               P. Aubameyang, Cousin

Morocco
[img]http://world-cup-wallpaper.com/wp-content/themes/snapshot/thumb.php?src=wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Morocco-Football-National-Team.jpg&w=690&h=396&zc=1&q=90[/img]

History: Previous Appearances: 1972, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1986, 1988, 1992, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004,2006, 2008
             Best Performance: Winner: 1976


How They Qualified For AFCON 2012
GROUP D WINNER
Morocco had a bumpy start to 2012 Afcon qualifying with a goalless draw against eventual second-place finishers Central African Republic. The north Africans quickly recuperated with a victory against Tanzania and then suffered a second setback in Algeria before finding their stride and dominating the next three encounters to qualify top of their group.


Coach: Eric Gerets - Contractual issues with his former employer, Al-Hilal, meant that Gerets could only join up with the Atlas Lions after the first qualifier was played. The Belgian instilled a sense of unity and purpose within the Moroccan squad that has been their main deficiency in years past.

Squad
Goalkeepers: - Nadir Lamyaghri - Wydad,Mohamed Amsif - Augsburg, Issam Badda- Fath

Defenders: Michael Chretien Basser - Bursaspor,Abdelfettah Boukhriss - Fath,Mehdi Benatia - Udinese,Abdelhamid Kouatri - Montpellier,Jamal Alioui - Al Kharitiyat,Moustapha Mrani - MAS Fes,Ahmed Kantari - Stade Brest,Badr El Kaddouri - Celtic


Midfielders: Houssine Kharja - Fiorentina,Younes Belhanda - Montpellier,Karim El Ahmadi - Feyenoord,Nordin Amrabat - Kayserispor,Adil Hermach - Al Hilal,Mehdi Carcela - Anzhi Makhachkala,Adel Taarabt - QPR,Oussama Assaidi - Heerenveen,Mbark Boussoufa - Anzhi Makhachkala

Attackers:
Marouane Chamakh - Arsenal,Youssef Hadji - Stade Rennes,Youssef El Arabi - Al-Hilal


Captain: Houssine Kharia - Kharja is one of the remaining members of the old guard that survived Gerets’ rejuvenation of the Atlas Lions. At 29, he is one of the more experienced players in the Moroccan side, providing both tactical and mental support to the younger members in the team from his position in central midfield.

Star Player: M[b]arouane Chamakh[/b] - While he may be going through a difficult period at Arsenal, Chamakh remains one of the most important pieces in the Atlas Lions puzzle thanks to his sense of positioning, aerial ability and ruthlessness in front of goal. This will be his fourth Afcon and the north Africans will be looking to him for goals.


Young Talent:  Oussama Assaidi - The obvious choice would have been QPR’s Adel Taarabt but Assaidi is the player who has surprised onlookers the most with his performances. He burst onto the scene in the 4-0 qualifying thumping of Algeria, a game in which he replaced Taarabt on the wing, and has become a mainstay in the starting line-up ever since. A gifted dribbler and distributor, Assaidi will cause many defenders problems in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.


Probable Starting XI: In terms of raw talent, the Moroccan side is probably one of the most gifted on the continent and their embarrassment of riches is most evident in midfield and attack. Lamyaghri has been excellent in goal, Benatia is a rock in central defence, while Belhanda and Kharja provide additional cover. The front four are as menacing as you’ll find in all of Africa.


                                                                            (4-2-3-1)
                                                                            Lamyaghri
                                                          Basser, Kaouatri, Benatia, Kaddouri
                                                                     Belhanda, Kharja
                                                             Taarabt, Boussoufa, Assaidi
                                                                            Chamakh

Niger


History
Previous Appearances: None
Best Performance: Qualified: 2012


How They Qualified For AFCON 2012
GROUP G WINNER
Niger qualified for the 2012 Afcon as Group G winners, ending up level with South Africa and Sierra Leone on nine points, but with a better head-to-head record against the other two opponents. Three wins and three losses were enough to see the Mena progress to Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Coach: H[b]arouna Doula Gabde[/b] - Harouna Doula Gabde is a determined coach who has the distinction of being the first man to lead Niger to the Africa Cup of Nations. Discipline is high on his list of traits that he transmits to the team, but he is also a great motivator, and this aspect will be key to any success from the underdogs.

Squad
Goalkeepers: Daouda Kassaly (Coton Sport, Cameroon), Rabo Saminou (Sahel SC), Lossény Doumbia (DC Motema Pembe, DR Congo)

Defenders: Koffi Dan Kowa (ES Zarzis, Tunisia), Kader Amadou Dodo (Olympic FC), Mohamed Chikoto (Platinium Stars, South Africa), Mohamed Soumaïla (Olympic FC), Djibrilla Moussa (AS Garde Nationale), Souleymane Mazadou (Union Sportive Marignanaise, France), Jimmy Bulus (Hussein Dey, Algeria), Issiaka Koudize (AS Garde Nationale)

Midfielders: Idrissa Laouali (AS FAN), Abdoul-Karim Lancina (Coton Sport, Cameroon), William Tonji Ngounou (IF Limhamn, Sweden), Olivier Harouna Bonnes (Lille, France), Yacouba Ali (Africa Sports, Ivory Coast), Idrissa Saïdou (Coton Sport, Cameroon), Boubacar Talatou (Orlando Pirates, South Africa), Moutari Amadou (Akokana FC), Issoufou Boubacar (FC Phuket, Thailand)

Attackers: Moussa Maazou (Zulte Waregem, Belgium), Issoufou Alhassane Dante (Raja Casablanca, Morocco), Kamilou Daouda (CS Sfaxien, Tunisia)


Captain: Idrissa Laouali - Nicknamed Pele, skipper Laouali is the kind of player coaches are pleased to have in their side. A natural leader, the 28-year-old debuted for the Mena in 2002 and has been a fixture ever since. The midfielder plays his club football in Niger for Yennenga.

Star Player: Ouwo Moussa Maazou - Ouwo Moussa Maazou is a formidable striker who plays in Belgium for S.V. Zulte Waregem on loan from CSKA Moscow. The 23-year-old has been part of the Niger national team since 2007, and his goals in Afcon qualifying handed the Mena victories over Egypt and South Africa in Niamey.

Young Talent: Seidou Idrissa - The youngster has been a part of the team since 2005, and yet, by the start of the tournament in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea he will only be 23-years-old. The Cotonsport Garoua striker is closing in on twenty goals for the Mena, and will be looking to pass that mark at the 2012 Afcon.


Probable Starting XI: The Mena proved during the qualifiers that they like to put teams under pressure in attack, finding themselves tagged as underdogs on most occasions. Experienced keeper Kassaly Daouda will be in goal, with midfielders Boubacar Talatou and captain Laouali supplying Ouwo Maazou in attack.


(4-4-2)
Kassaly
Djibrilla, Mohamed, Kowa, Kader
N'Gounou, Talatou, Laouali, Lancina
Maazou, Daouda

Tunisia
[img]http://world-cup-wallpaper.com/wp-content/themes/snapshot/thumb.php?src=wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Tunisia-National-Team.jpg&w=690&h=396&zc=1&q=90[/img]


History
Previous Appearances: 1962, 1963, 1965, 1978, 1982, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010
Best Performance: Winners: 2004


How They Qualified For AFCON 2012
GROUP K SECOND PLACE
Tunisia qualified by finishing behind Botswana in Group K, the only qualifying pool with five teams in it. The Carthage Eagles struggled for consistency and needed to win their final match against Togo and hope for Chad to hold Malawi in N’Djamena. A last second goal from the Sao’s Karl Marx against the Flames sent the north Africans through.


Coach: S[b]ami Trabelis[/b] - Trabelsi took over when Bertrand Marchand was sacked after a qualifying loss against Botswana in Gaborone. The former CS Sfaxien defender decided to rely primarily on local players with which he won the 2011 African Championship of Nations (Chan), and the decision paid off.


Squad
Goalkeepers: Rami Jeridi (Stade Tunisien), Aymen Mathlouthi (Etoile du Sahel), Moez Ben Cherifia (Esperance)

Defenders: Khalil Chammam (Esperance), Anis Boussaidi (Rostov, Russia), Aymen Abdennour (Toulouse, France), Bilel Iffa (Club Africain), Karim Haggui (Hannover, Germany), Ammar Jemal (FC Cologne, Germany)

Midfielders: Adel Chedli (Etoile du Sahel), Oussama Darragui (Esperance), Mejdi Traoui (Esperance), Khaled Korbi (Esperance), Wissem Ben Yahia (Mersin, Turkey), Yassine Chikhaoui (FC Zurich, Switzerland), Hocine Ragued (Karabukspor, Turkey), Jamel Saihi (Montpellier, France)

Forwards: Issam Jemaa (Auxerre, France), Zouhaier Dhaouadi (Club Africain), Youssef Msakni (Esperance), Saber Khelifa (Evian, France), Amine Chermiti (FC Zurich, Switzerland), Sami Allagui (Mainz, Germany)


Captain: Aymen Mathlouthi - The Etoile goalkeeper is a calming influence between the posts and very vocal in marshalling his defenders. However, he is recovering from adductor and finger surgery and may miss the tournament as a result. If he does, it is likely that veteran midfielder Adel Chedli will wear the captain’s armband. Chedli is the only player in African history to have won both the Afcon and the Chan.

Star Player: Sami Allagui - The Mainz striker was a relative unknown only a few years ago, but is now one of the top-rated strikers in the Bundesliga after a brilliant campaign during the last season. His pace and efficiency have bolstered Tunisia’s attack, where he shares goal-scoring duties with Issam Jemaa.

Young Talent: Aymen Abdennour - The 22-year-old Etoile product went to Werder Bremen on loan before returning to Tunisia, but quickly found himself back in Europe at Toulouse. The centre-back can play on the left side of defence as well. His aerial ability, clean tackling, and good passing have reportedly attracted interest from Arsenal.

Probable Starting XI: Tunisia have often been criticised for playing too much counterattacking football, but ever since Trabelsi took over the Carthage Eagles are taking more initiative and looking to conserve the ball for longer periods while trying to create attacking opportunities.


(4-3-3)
Mathlouthi
Chemmam, Abdennour, Hichri, Boussaidi
Korbi, Darragi, Traoui
Dhaouadi, Allagui, Jemaa

Tunisia and Morocco