Factfiles of Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers
Factfiles of qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Cameroon next January:
Algeria
Popular name: Desert Foxes
Rankings: 3 Africa, 31 world
Coach: Djamel Belmadi
Results: Zambia 5-0 home, 3-3 away, Botswana 5-0 1-0, Zimbabwe 3-1 2-2
Scorers: 4 – Baghdad Bounedjah, 3 – Riyad Mahrez, 2 – Youcef Belaili, Sofiane Feghouli, Islam Slimani, 1 – Ramy Bensebaini, Farid Boulaya, Andy Delort, Rachid Ghezzal, Aissa Mandi, El Arabi Hilal Soudani
Previous appearances: 18
Best placings: Champions 1990, 2019
Burkina Faso
Popular name: Stallions
Rankings: 10 Africa, 58 world
Coach: Kamou Malo
Results: Uganda 0-0 0-0, South Sudan 1-0 2-1, Malawi 3-1 0-0
Scorers: 2 – Aristide Bance, Lassina Traore, 1 – Bertrand Traore, Bryan Dabo
Previous appearances: 11
Best placing: Runners-up 2013
Cameroon
Popular name: Indomitable Lions
Rankings: 7 Africa, 50 world
Coach: Toni Conceicao (POR)
Results: Cape Verde 0-0 1-3, Rwanda 0-0 1-0, Mozambique 4-1 2-0
Scorers: 3 – Vincent Aboubakar, 1 – Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Pierre Kunde, Moumi Ngamaleu, Clinton N’Jie, Serge Tabekou
Previous appearances: 19
Best placings: Champions 1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, 2017
Cape Verde
Popular name: Blue Sharks
Rankings: 15 Africa, 80 world
Coach: Pedro ‘Bubista’ Brito
Results: Cameroon 3-1 0-0, Mozambique 2-2 1-0, Rwanda 0-0 0-0
Scorers: 2 – Ryan Mendes, 1 – Jailton ‘Kuca’ Miranda, Garry Rodrigues, Macky Bagnack (CMR) own-goal, Faisal Bangal (MOZ) own-goal
Previous appearances: 2
Best placing: Quarter-finalists 2013
Comoros
Popular name: Coelacanths (rare fish)
Rankings: 36 Africa, 130 world
Coach: Amir Abdou
Results: Togo 0-0 1-0, Egypt 0-0 0-4, Kenya 2-1 1-1
Scorers: 1 – Youssouf M’Changama, Faiz Mattoir, El Fardou Mohamed Ben Nabouhane, Faiz Selemani
Previous appearances: 0
Egypt
Popular name: Pharaohs
Rankings: 6 Africa, 49 world
Coach: Hossam el Badry
Results: Kenya 1-1 1-1, Comoros 4-0 0-0, Togo 1-0 3-1
Scorers: 2 – Mohamed ‘Afsha’ Magdy, Mohamed Salah, Mohamed Sherif, 1 – Mohamed Elneny, Mahmoud ‘El Winsh’ Hamdy, Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan, Mahmoud Kahraba
Previous appearances: 24
Best placings: Champions 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010
Equatorial Guinea
Popular name: National Thunder
Rankings: 38 Africa, 134 world
Coaches: Juan Micha and Casto Nopo
Results: Tanzania 1-0 1-2, Tunisia 0-1 1-2, Libya 1-0 3-2
Scorers: 2 – Pedro Obiang, 1 – Iban Edu, Josete Miranda, Emilio Nsue, Salomon Obama, Firas Chaouat (TUN)-own goal
Previous appearances: 2
Best placing: Semi-finalists 2015
Ethiopia
Popular name: Walias
Rankings: 42 Africa, 146 world
Coach: Wubetu Abate
Results: Madagascar 4-0 0-1, Ivory Coast 2-1 1-3, Niger 3-0 0-1
Scorers: 3 – Getaneh Kebede, 2 – Shimelis Bekele, Amanuel Gebremichael, 1 – Surafel Dagnachew, Mohamed Mesud, Abubeker Nassir
Previous appearances: 10
Best placing: Champions 1962
Gabon
Popular name: Panthers
Rankings: 18 Africa, 86 world
Coach: Patrice Neveu (FRA)
Results: DR Congo 3-0 0-0, Angola 2-1 0-2, Gambia 2-1 1-2
Scorers: 3 – Denis Bouanga, 2 – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Aaron Boupendza, 1 – Bruno Ecuele Manga
Previous appearances: 7
Best placings: Quarter-finalists 1996, 2012
Gambia
Popular name: Scorpions
Rankings: 46 Africa, 157 world
Coach: Tom Saintfiet (BEL)
Results: Angola 1-0 3-1, DR Congo 2-2 0-1, Gabon 2-1 1-2
Scorers: 3 – Assan Ceesay, 2 – Bubacarr Jobe, 1 – Modou Barrow, Musa Barrow, Pa Modou Jagne, Suleyman Marreh
Previous appearances: 0
Ghana
Popular name: Black Stars
Rankings: 8 Africa, 52 world
Coach: Charles Akonnor
Results: South Africa 2-0 1-1, Sudan 2-0 0-1, Sao Tome e Principe 3-1 1-0
Scorers: 2 – Andre Ayew, Jordan Ayew, Mohammed Kudus, 1 – Nicholas Opuku, Thomas Partey, Baba Rahman
Previous appearances: 22
Best placings: Champions 1963, 1965, 1978, 1982
Guinea
Popular name: Sylla Nationale (national elephant)
Rankings: 14 Africa, 72 world
Coach: Didier Six (FRA)
Results: Mali 1-0 2-2, Namibia 2-0 1-2, Chad 1-0 1-1
Scorers: 2 – Naby Keita, 1 – Mohamed Camara, Sekou Conde, Mamadou Kane, Jose Kante, Seydouba Soumah, Issiaga Sylla
Previous appearances: 12
Best placing: Runners-up 1976
Guinea-Bissau
Popular name: Djurtus (wild dog)
Rankings: 30 Africa, 119 world
Coach: Baciro Cande
Results: Eswatini 3-0 3-1, Congo 3-0 0-3, Senegal 0-1 0-2
Scorers: 2 – Jorginho, Piqueti, 1 – Marcelo Djalo, Joao Mario, Frederic Mendy, Pele, Alfa Semedo
Previous appearances: 2
Best placing: Last in group in both appearances
Ivory Coast
Popular name: Elephants
Rankings: 12 Africa, 61 world
Coach: Patrice Beaumelle (FRA)
Results: Niger 1-0 3-0, Ethiopia 3-1 1-2, Madagascar 2-1 1-1
Scorers: 3 – Franck Kessie, 2 – Serge Aurier, 1 – Willy Boly, Gervinho, Max Gradel, Sebastien Haller, Wilfried Kanon, Jean Kouassi
Previous appearances: 23
Best placings: Champions 1992, 2015
Malawi
Popular name: Flames
Rankings: 32 Africa, 123 world
Coach: Meke Mwase
Results: South Sudan 1-0 1-0, Uganda 1-0 0-2, Burkina Faso 0-0 1-3
Scorers: 2 – Richard Mbulu, 1 – Frank Mhango, Gerald Phiri
Previous appearances: 2
Best placing: Last in group in both appearances
Mali
Popular name: Eagles
Rankings: 9 Africa, 54 world
Coach: Mohamed Magassouba
Results: Guinea 2-2 0-1, Chad 3-0 2-1, Namibia 1-0 2-1
Scorers: 1 – El Bilal Toure, Mohamed Camara, Moussa Djenepo, Moussa Doumbia, Sekou Koita, Adama Traore, Issiaga Sylla (GUI) own-goal
Previous appearances: 11
Best placing: Runners-up 1972
Note: Mali awarded 3-0 win after Chad disqualified
Mauritania
Popular name: Chinguetti Lions
Rankings: 22 Africa, 101 world
Coach: Corentin Martins (FRA)
Results: Morocco 0-0 0-0, Central African Republic 2-0 1-0, Burundi 1-1 1-3
Scorers: 1 – Diallo Guidileye, Mockhtar el Hacen, Aboubakar Kamara, Bakary N’Diaye, Mamadou Niass
Previous appearances: 1
Best placing: Last in group
Morocco
Popular name: Atlas Lions
Rankings: 4 Africa, 33 world
Coach: Vahid Halilhodzic (BIH)
Results: Mauritania 0-0 0-0, Burundi 1-0 3-0, Central African Republic 4-1 2-0
Scorers: 3 – Hakim Ziyech, 2 – Achraf Hakimi, Youssef en-Nesyri, 1 – Zakaria Aboukhlal, Munir el Haddadi, Noussair Mazraoui
Previous appearances: 17
Best placing: Champions 1976
Nigeria
Popular name: Super Eagles
Rankings: 5 Africa, 36 world
Coach: Gernot Rohr (GER)
Results: Benin 2-1 1-0, Lesotho 3-0 4-2, Sierra Leone 4-4 0-0
Scorers: 5 – Victor Osimhen, 3 – Alex Iwobi, 2 – Samuel Chukwueze, Paul Onuachu, 1 – Oghenexxxx Etebo, Samuel Kalu
Previous appearances: 18
Best placings: Champions 1980, 1994, 2013
Senegal
Popular name: Teranga Lions
Rankings: 1 Africa, 20 world
Coach: Aliou Cisse
Results: Congo 2-0 0-0, Ewatini 1-1 4-1, Guinea-Bissau 2-0 1-0
Scorers: 3 – Famara Diedhiou, 2 – Sadio Mane, 1 – Sidy Sarr, Habibou Diallo, Cheikhou Kouyate, Papa Ndiaye, Opa Nguette
Previous appearances: 15
Best placings: Runners-up 2002, 2019
Sudan
Popular name: Jediane Falcons
Rankings: 34 Africa, 127 world
Coach: Hubert Velud (FRA)
Results: Sao Tome e Principe 4-0 2-0, South Africa 2-0 0-1, Ghana 1-0 0-2
Scorers: 3 – Mohammed Abdelrahman, 2 – Seife1din Malik, 1 – Ramadan Agab, Mohamed Elrasheed, Ahmed Hamid, Jordao Diogo (STP)-own goal
Previous appearances: 8
Best placing: Champions 1970
Tunisia
Popular name: Carthage Eagles
Rankings: 2 Africa, 26 world
Coach: Mondher Kebaier
Results: Libya 4-1 5-2, Equatorial Guinea 2-1 1-0, Tanzania 1-0 1-1
Scorers: 3 – Seifeddine Jaziri, Saifeddine Khaoui, Wahbi Khazri, 1 – Anis Ben Slimane, Mohamed Drager, Youssef Msakni, Ellyes Skhiri, Carlos Akapo (GEQ)-own goal
Previous appearances: 19
Best placing: Champions 2004
Zimbabwe
Popular name: Warriors
Rankings: 26 Africa, 112 world
Coach: Zdravko Logarusic (CRO)
Results: Botswana 0-0 1-0, Zambia 0-2 2-1, Algeria 2-2 1-3
Scorers: 2 – Khama Billiat, 1 – Perfect Chikwende, Prince Dube, Tino Kadewere, Knowledge Musona
Previous appearances: 4
Best placing: Last in group in all appearances
Note: Benin or Sierra Leone will complete 24-nation lineup
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