Six years after their last triumph and subsequently, their last appearance, the [b]Super Eagles [/b]made a return to Africa’s biggest football showpiece.

On Friday 12th of April, CAF made the groupings for the 2019 edition which will be held in Egypt from June to July, with a couple of changes made to the championship which the West African nation having won the covetous tournament three times.



Not only has the natural date for the tournament changed from January-February to June-July to avoid club/country clashes but also the number of participating teams have increased from 16 to 24 with Mauritania, Burundi and Madagascar making their first appearance.

Also, there is a return for the likes of Benin, Kenya, Namibia and Tanzania after a long term absence of 9, 15, 11 and 30 years respectively.

The draw which took place on Friday 12th of April 2019, at an arena facing the Sphinx and the Pyramids in Giza, Egypt saw the Super Eagles get two of the tournament’s debutants in an easy draw. Here we take a look at Nigeria’s group B opponents.


The draw which took place on Friday 12th of April 2019, at an arena facing the Sphinx and the Pyramids in Giza, Egypt saw the Super Eagles get two of the tournament’s debutants in an easy draw. Here we take a look at Nigeria’s group B opponents.



SOURCE: https://cheapgoals.com/afcon-2019-profiling-nigerias-afcon-opponents/

Guinea



Appearance: 12th

Last Appearance: 2015

Best Performance: 1975 Runner-up

Nickname: Syli Nationale

Players To Watch Out For: Ibrahima cissé (Fulham), Naby Keita(Liverpool) & Amadou Diawara (Napoli)

Coach: Paul Put



The West African country is making its 12th appearance at the AFCON having last appeared in 2015. Apart from the 2nd place finish back in 1975, The Syli Nationals have appeared in the quarterfinals four times 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2015.

For the 2019 AFCON, the team qualified from a group which had Central African Republic, Ivory Coast and Rwanda picking 12 points from possible 18. Failing to lose any of their 6 qualifying games to book the top spot in their group.

On paper, they look like the only team who should give Nigeria problems and probably qualify alongside the favourites in the group. Head to Head the Guineas have played Nigeria 17 time across all levels and have both shared 5 wins each with 7 draws.

It’s a statistics that shows that Nigeria has never had it rosy against The National Elephants and the last time both teams met in 2011, they ensured that Nigeria missed out on the 2012 AFCON with a 2-2 draw in Abuja

With Liverpool’s Naby Keita, expected to lead the team, they are not of the quality to upset the Nigerians

Burundi

Appearance: Debut

Last Appearance: None

Best Performance: None

Nickname: The Swallows

Players To Watch Out For: Saido Berahino(Stoke City), Gael Bigirimana (Hibernian) & F. Abdul Razak (JS Kabylie)

Coach: [img]Olivier Niyungeko[/img]



One of the three debutants in the expanded format, Burundi can be classified as minnows on the African football scene but they have recently shown that perhaps there is a steady of football in the country.

In 2014, The Swallows qualified for the CHAN, while their U20 male team made it to the group stages of that CAF U20 tournament earlier this year, in 2018 their female counterparts failed at the final stage to qualify for the FIFA women’s U20 World cup in France losing to Ghana in the last qualifying round.

Burundi made it out of a group that had Gabon, South Sudan and Mali with 2 wins and 4 draws also qualifying unbeaten, although they placed second Mali who finished atop the group.

Although many may not know of the team’s strength and weaknesses, they, however, possess their own fair share of quality players who can get the win if the big teams do not come to the party.

Players like former England youth international and Stoke City’s Saido Berahino, Fiston Abdul Razak who has 17 goals in 35 National team caps as well as young defender Christoph Nduwarugira can pop up with crucial goals. However, with Madagascar also in the group, it is hard to see Burundi qualify for R16 even as one of the best third-placed teams.

Space booked

I won't give myself High BP because of Nigeria

Ordinarily, Nigeria should qualify with ease but trust; the Super Eagle can give one high BP.

If you don't top that group with 9 points.. They should not be paid there allowance.. That's the easiest group the super eagle have ever been in any tournaments.

eagles should not underate them

This is just a easy group for the super eagles. But when you trust and expected much from them, they just do you like bubu.

Best wishes to them big boys.

.

cheapgoals:
Guinea


On paper, they look like the only team who should give Nigeria problems and probably qualify alongside the favourites in the group. Head to Head the Guineas have played Nigeria 17 time across all levels and have both shared 5 wins each with 7 draws.

It’s a statistics that shows that Nigeria has never had it rosy against The National Elephants and the last time both teams met in 2011, they ensured that Nigeria missed out on the 2012 AFCON with a 2-2 draw in Abuja
Nigerians

Like Senegal, Guinea has always been a tricky customer for Nigeria.

They beat us to the 2019 U17 AFCON final ticket just this afternoon.

Hmmm

Permit me to rant a little.. God will punish Buhari

ojigbijigbi:
Permit me to rant a little.. God will punish Buhari

Kwantiniu

If you believe we "winning this nations cup,hit like...

These teams are nothing to worry about. We should be concentrating on our next opponents after Group stages.
Egypt again comes to mind.

These teams are nothing to worry about. We should be concentrating on our next opponents.

Madagascar

Appearance: None
Last Appearance: None
Best Performance: None
Nick Name: The Barea
Players to watch out for: Faneva Imà Andriatsima (Clermont Foot), Paulin Voavy (Misr Lel Makkasa), Njiva Rakotoharimalala
(Samut Sakhon)
Coach: Nicolas Dupuis

Madagascar's national football team, nicknamed the Barea, has not had great success internationally having never qualified for a FIFA World Cup or an African Nations Cup. They have performed well in some minor competitions however, advancing to the semifinals in the COSAFA Cup (contested between national teams from Southern Africa) in 2008 and winning the football portion of the Indian Ocean Games twice. Among its biggest wins was a 1–0 home victory over Egypt in the qualification rounds of the 2004 African Cup of Nations. Some of the country's best players have played professionally overseas, mostly in France.

ojigbijigbi:
Permit me to rant a little.. God will punish Buhari

hoping for a ghana v nigeria final so that we can beat nigeria for the cup

Until Mikel announces his retirement from international football, I will count the eagles' squad incomplete without him.

That may also be the only condition for which I will follow and support Super Eagles during AFCON finals.

Dont know why Guinea has never won the Nations Cup.

They always hve good players playing in good clubs in Europe.

From the days of Titi Camara who played for Liverpool to the days of the Bangouras.

Even now, Nigeria may not be better than them player for player but I expect SE to flog them.

Btw, Pogba has Guinean origin.

cheapgoals:
Burundi

Appearance: Debut

Last Appearance: None

Best Performance: None

Nickname: The Swallows

Players To Watch Out For: Saido Berahino(Stoke City), Gael Bigirimana (Hibernian) & F. Abdul Razak (JS Kabylie)

Coach: [img]Olivier Niyungeko[/img]



One of the three debutants in the expanded format, Burundi can be classified as minnows on the African football scene but they have recently shown that perhaps there is a steady of football in the country.

In 2014, The Swallows qualified for the CHAN, while their U20 male team made it to the group stages of that CAF U20 tournament earlier this year, in 2018 their female counterparts failed at the final stage to qualify for the FIFA women’s U20 World cup in France losing to Ghana in the last qualifying round.

Burundi made it out of a group that had Gabon, South Sudan and Mali with 2 wins and 4 draws also qualifying unbeaten, although they placed second Mali who finished atop the group.

Although many may not know of the team’s strength and weaknesses, they, however, possess their own fair share of quality players who can get the win if the big teams do not come to the party.

Players like former England youth international and Stoke City’s Saido Berahino, Fiston Abdul Razak who has 17 goals in 35 National team caps as well as young defender Christoph Nduwarugira can pop up with crucial goals. However, with Madagascar also in the group, it is hard to see Burundi qualify for R16 even as one of the best third-placed teams.

Wow, Berahino has finally played for Burundi. When I was monitoring his career, he was planning to play for England.

I don't think I can watch those game because Nigeria can make someone die Young untop hibp

ojigbijigbi:
Permit me to rant a little.. God will punish Buhari

Btw you and Buhari , who is being punish by God..?
Your linage cannot and will not attain where Buhari has reached in life..

Cursed linage

kevin constant also for Guinea. Dude was on the pay books of AC Milan.

Super Eagles for the cup

Jarus:


Wow, Berahino has finally played for Burundi. When I was monitoring his career, he was planning to play for England.

i had so much expectations for that dude,every transfer was always about him(one season wonder)