- South Africa face Mali in Korhogo
- Tunisia will clash against Namibia
- Burkina Faso face Mauritania
AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations) 2023 gets into day four on Tuesday, with the clash between South Africa and Mali being the highlight of the day.
South African tactician Hugo Broos is looking to win the AFCON title for a second time with a different team, having guided Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions to their last crown in 2017.
Broos, who guided the Bafana Bafana to qualification, believes he has what it takes to help the team clinch the crown, having last tasted glory in 1996 when they hosted the tournament.
“When you win it once, you want to win it twice. It’s fantastic feeling winning the AFCON. I have said it before that I am European but the intensity and the joy and everything around winning an AFCON is unique. It’s really unique so it was fantastic experience six years ago and you can be sure that I dream to do it for the second time,” Broos said, speaking before South Africa’s first game.
Bafana open their account against Mali, in what is expected to be a difficult duel.
Broos has admitted that it will not be an easy evening for his side, but notes that they remain focused on achieving their goal, with a squad majorly made up of players plying their trade locally in the PSL.
“Saying it is much easier than doing it so let us start (tomorrow) and let us do our best to see where we will arrive,” the tactician added.
Winger Percy Tau is also anticipating a tough game, but says the players are focused and well determined to win.
AFCON hopefuls Burkina Faso face off with Mauritania
The Burkina Faso team pose for a team photo during the Group A Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2021 football match against Ethiopia at Stade de Kouekong in Bafoussam. (Photo by Pius Utomi EKPEI / AFP)
Meanwhile in the early kick off, Burkina Faso will look towards an improved performance, having reached the semis of each of their last two appearances at the tournament. The Burkinabe reached the last four in 2017, where they lost but ended up clinching bronze.
They reached the same stage last season, but failed to win the bronze medal match after exiting in the semis. And now, Les Stallions have their eyes focused on another good run, this time hoping they can push into the final at least.
Burkina Faso have scored in each of their last 14 matches at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations; it’s the longest active streak and second longest in the history of the tournament after Egypt found the net in 27 consecutive matches between 1957 and 1980.
They will come up against Mauritania in their opening game. This will be the first encounter between Burkina Faso and Mauritania at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Burkina Faso are unbeaten in their last four meetings with Mauritania in all competitions (W2 D2). Mauritania’s last victory was in September 2018, it was a CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifier (2-0) played on home soil, in Nouakchott.
The Mauritanians are playing in their third consecutive AFCON. They made their debut in 2019 and also qualified in 2021. In both appearances, they failed to make it out of the group stages.
In the late game, Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles will get their campaign started with a north versus south duel against Namibia in Korhogo.
Kadri hopes for a positive start
Tunisia players during training. PHOTO/Tunisia
Head coach Jalel Kadri says his side is wary that underdogs have been posting good results at the tournament and as such should be 100 percent concentrated against the Namibians.
He says the tournament has so far shown that the level between the elite and the rest is reducing and as such, is wary that a surprise could be on the plates.
“Namibia is a serious opponent, and we don’t have any easy team. The results in the opening rounds have shown that there is no small team in Africa as we saw, so we need to show them respect and play to our best ability. The opening matches have shown that,” the coach said, speaking ahead of the game.
Tunisia is making its 21st appearance in the competition, with this edition being the 16th in a row – a record in the history of the tournament thus far.
The side, winners of the tournament when they hosted it in 2004, are looking to battle for the diadem once again.
“We will try to go as far as possible. We have teams that are good quality so we will try to win each match and go as far as possible. We must be respectful to all opponents. There are Africa’s best teams that are present so ours is to do our best in every match and take it game by game,” he said.
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