AFCON 2021: Monday exciting matches to expect
The African Cup of Nations( AFCON) tournament kicks-off yesterday in a style, after a beautiful opening ceremony before the ball was set rolling.
The Host Cameroon fought from a goal down to beat Burkina Faso by two goals to one, and Cape Verde also pipped 10 men Ethiopia by a lone goal.
On Monday, one of the favourites to win the tournament, The Taranga Lions of Senegal will face off with Zimbabwe in the opening fixture of group B at Stade Kouekong.
Senegal has some Covid worries as their number goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and defender Kalidou Koulibaly are down with Covid, but the core of the team is available.
Liverpool talisman Sadio Mane will lead the charge against less fanciful Zimbabwe at 1 pm.
In the second group B match, Guinea and Malawi will play out some entertaining football as both sides are not under any pressure with favorite tag.
In group C, Ghana Black Stars will face a difficult opponent in their opening fixture, Morocco, one of the favorites to lift the competition in Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo at 4pm, Morocco decided to ignore Chelsea star Hazim Ziyech over undisciplined, it tells how in-depth their squad is.
Ghana’s Captain Andre Ayew is optimistic Ghana will end the 40years trophy drought. Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew are some of the star players the Ghanaian will depend on in this game. Morocco may be more desperate because they haven’t won it since 1976 as compared to Ghana since 1982.
The last match of the day will be between Minnows Comoros and Gabon at 7 pm.
Gabon’s star man and captain, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has tested positive and would not feature in this match.
Source:africaneditors.com/Raymond Karvi