Egypt vs Guinea
CAIRO, EGYPT – JULY 06: Mohamed Salah of Egypt and Dean Furman of South Africa during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16 match between Egypt and South Africa at Cairo International Stadium on July 6, 2019 in Cairo, Egypt. (Photo by Visionhaus)
The record, five-times African champions kick off their latest qualification campaign.
2022 hasn’t been kind to Egypt who were first beaten in the Africa Cup of Nations Final by Senegal on penalties.
51 days later, déjà vu, as Egypt’s World Cup hopes went up in flames, falling in the play-off round, once again to Senegal in a shootout.
Since, Ehab Galal has taken over as Head Coach, needing to motivate a group of players who’ve suffered double disappointment.
The Pharaohs have qualified for 17 of the last 20 AFCON tournaments, and are big favourites to top this group too.
Guinea meantime have reached the round of 16 at each of the last two tournaments, falling to Algeria and The Gambia.
Overall, the National Elephant have reached seven of the last ten editions, so will be looking to maintain this solid record.
Malawi and Ethiopia round-out Group D, meaning these two are the favourites to qualify.
Here, anything other than an Egypt win at Cairo International Stadium would be a major surprise.
Tunisia vs Equatorial Guinea
Tunisia’s midfielder Ferjani Sassi celebrates after scoring a goal during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) quarter final football match between Madagascar and Tunisia at the Al Salam stadium in Cairo on July 11, 2019. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP) (Photo credit should read JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images)
The big two in Group J go head-to-head at Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi.
Tunisia have enjoyed mix fortunes in 2022 so far, firstly crashing out of the Africa Cup of Nations at the quarter-final stage.
Nevertheless, the Eagles of Carthage bounced back in March by qualifying for the World Cup, edging out Mali 1-0 in aggregate in the play-offs.
So, later this year, Jalel Kadri will lead his country at their sixth World Cup where they’ll face Denmark, probably Peru and France.
Before then, they kick off Africa Cup of Nations qualifying with a tough matchday one fixture.
Equatorial Guinea were one of the surprise packages at January’s AFCON, beating Algeria, Sierra Leone and Mali before falling to Senegal in the quarter-finals.
That was the first time they’d featured at a tournament not on home soil, so Juan Micha’s team are desperate to qualify once again.
With minnows Libya and Botswana also in this group, these two teams are overwhelming favourites to qualify.
Here, Tunisia should make home advantage count.
Malawi vs Ethiopia
Malawi’s team pose ahead of the Group B Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2021 football match between Malawi and Zimbabwe at Stade de Kouekong in Bafoussam on January 14, 2022. (Photo by Pius Utomi EKPEI / AFP) (Photo by PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP via Getty Images)
After a memorable run at the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, Malawi are hungry for more memorable moments on the big stage.
Back in January, the Flames reached the round of 16 in their first AFCON appearance for 12 years, beating Zimbabwe before a goalless draw with Senegal.
Then, in the first knockout round, despite taking the lead through Gabadinho Mhango’s rocket, they were ousted out by Morocco.
Nevertheless, getting that far was an admirable accomplishment for relative minnows who are now desperate to qualify again.
If Mario Marinică’s side are going to finish in the top two of Group D, this is probably must win.
Ethiopia meanwhile were also in Cameroon earlier this year, bowing out in the group phase with just a solitary points to their name.
Despite being the 1962 African Champions, Ethiopia have only qualified for two of the last 20 editions, and are underdogs in this group too.
With five-times AFCON champions Egypt and Guinea completing this section, ever point is vitally important for these two outsiders.
Mozambique vs Rwanda
The Rwanda football team sing the national anthem ahead of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match between Cameroon and Rwanda at Stade Omnisport in Douala on March 30, 2021. (Photo by Daniel BELOUMOU OLOMO / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL BELOUMOU OLOMO/AFP via Getty Images)
These are the two minnows in Group L, making it vitally important for both to make a winning start.
Mozambique have qualified for four Africa Cup of Nations in their history, but have now missed six on the bounce, last qualifying in 2010.
Os Mambas only amassed four points from six World Cup qualifiers last year with their only win coming at home to Malawi in November.
However, they’re favourites to win this one as opponents Rwanda have only reached one AFCON to date, namely the 2004 edition.
The Wasps are winless in seven competitive matches, only claiming victory in one of the last 14.
This game is being played on neutral territory in Johannesburg, but nominal hosts Mozambique should still come out on top.
