AFCON 2023: 7 Things We Have Learnt From Group stages including Competition's Favourites

• The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations delivered almost everything
• From outrageous goals to upsets, fans are expecting more in the knockouts
• We highlight several things we picked up from the group stages

The latest edition of the Africa Cup of Nations has been so exhilarating that it has attracted an audience beyond the continent.

With the group stages done and dusted, there have been several talking points ahead of the knockout stages, which also promise to deliver.

Not only have we witnessed giants like Ghana falter in a tournament they were expected to excel in, but fans have also seen a tournament where stakes have been raised, from the coverage to refereeing.

Sports Brief highlights several things we have learned from the 2023 AFCON group stages:

1. Ghana is struggling to regain glory days

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At the start of the tournament, Ghana was touted as one of the favourites to go all the way in the competition.

But after a shock defeat to Cape Verde coupled with 2-2 draws against Egypt and Mozambique, the Black Stars were dealt a brutal reality check - that they were ill-prepared for this tournament.

It is back to the drawing board for the 1982 AFCON champions, who suffered their second successive group-stage exit from the competition.

2. The North Africans are struggling

Traditionally, North African nations are expected to excel at the AFCON. After all, the last North African nation to win the trophy was Algeria in 2019, while Egypt holds the record for most AFCON titles. Meanwhile, Morocco became the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final in 2022, according to Olympics.com.

Despite their credentials being there for all to see, North African nations have struggled in this year’s edition, with Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria having a combined two wins in the group stage.

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Perhaps the scorching sun of Ivory Coast is a factor in their dipped performances, but credit also has to go to opponents who have put up a good fight.

An excellent example of this is how minnows Mauritania masterminded a 1-0 win over Algeria to knock them out of the tournament.

3. It could be the year of underdogs

Several unexpected teams have qualified for the last 16.

Mauritania is probably the biggest name in this category, as the nation, ranked 103 by FIFA, remains on course to cause more upsets.

Equatorial Guinea also defied the odds to beat Nigeria and Ivory Coast to top Group A, while Cape Verde also showed glimpses of promise to scrape past a group that had Egypt and Ghana.

4. No coach’s job is safe

We are barely two weeks into the tournament, and six managers have already lost their jobs at the 2023 AFCON.

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As reported by BBC, Adel Amrouche was first to be shown the boot by Tanzania, although his dismissal had little to do with Taifa Stars’ results.

For the other coaches like Ghana’s Chris Houghton and Jean-Louis Gasset of Ivory Coast, the disappointment that came with their nations’ performances at the group stages meant an instant axe.

With underdogs proving to be no pushovers, one can bet other managers are bound to lose their jobs as the competition wears on.

5. Competition’s organization has been top-notch

Despite their struggles on the pitch, credit needs to go to the host nation for how the tournament has been handled.

Stadiums hosting the games have been in peak condition, unlike in previous editions of the AFCON, where facilities left many question marks.

Sports Brief’s very own Babajide Orevba, who is in Ivory Coast's capital, noted such a flawless tournament must have taken years to prepare for.

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“They have done extremely well, from infrastructure to security; it has been top-notch. I hope they would be able to maintain the facilities even after the tournament. What I see here must be years of preparation, and I must commend them,” he said.

6. It is still Senegal’s to lose

Amid the struggles of the so-called favourites, one nation has stood out with their consistent performances - Senegal.

Not only do the Lions of Teranga have high-profile football stars in all areas of the pitch, but their superstar factor has manifested itself on the pitch with three wins from three in the group stages.

All factors considered; Senegal are poised to successfully defend their crown.

7. Golden Boot contender is a 34-year-old, third-tier player

One of the biggest surprises in the group stage is the race for the Golden Boot.

Who would have guessed that a 34-year-old playing for third-tier Spanish side Intercity would take the competition by storm.

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Of course, we are talking about Emilio Nsue, the Spanish-born right back with an impressive five goals at the tournament. His goals have been instrumental in helping Equatorial Guinea reach the knockout stages.

To put things in perspective, Nsue has outscored the likes of Mohamed Salah, Victor Osimhen, Mohamed Kudus, and Achraf Hakimi.

Cameroon handed injury boost

Ahead of the round of 16 clash between Nigeria and Cameroon, the Indomitable Lions have been handed a major injury boost.

Captain Vincent Aboubakar and winger Clinton N'Jie have returned to full training and will be eligible for selection on Saturday, January 27.

They both missed all three group games as Cameroon scraped to the knockout stages with a 3-2 win over The Gambia.