The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off this weekend in earnest with what appears to be relatively straightforward matches for the established teams against their unfancied opponents.
Egypt will set the ball rolling in Group B in an intriguing encounter against Mozambique at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan. With Ghana in the group, the North Africans know that nothing less than a win is required to immediately pile the pressure on their West African rivals. A shockingly monumental victory for the Southern Africans would immediately upend the applecart, blowing the group wide open.
A win for Qatar or Ecuador would put them in a great position to start this tournament as the two group favourites, Netherlands and Senegal, face off against each other.
To Win
Egypt 4/10
Draw 28/10
Mozambique 7/1
Egypt
The Pharaohs are seeking their record eighth men’s continental title in their 27th appearance, having last snagged the trophy in 2010 at the Angola edition.
To say that Egypt is in good form would be an understatement going into the tournament. They lost just once in the whole of 2023 and including their 2024 opener – a 2-0 friendly win over Tanzania – that is a run of nine victories, one loss and one victory.
Ranked fifth in Africa and 33rd in the world, Egypt will be counting on superstar Mohamed Salah to help fire them to glory.
Mozambique
The Mambas have only ever been to AFCON on four different occasions, and they have failed to escape the group stages each time.
Considering that Egypt and Senegal are in the group – plus a pesky Cape Verde team to also contend with – one cannot see how this will change in 2024. Mozambique’s form going into the competition is all over the place, having won just five of their last 13 matches in all competitions, which includes five losses and three draws.
There is not much expected of the Mambas – 25th in Africa; 111th in the world – expected in Ivory Coast, but who knows, they might strike when least expected, properly launching themselves among the pigeons.
Prediction: Egypt win (4/10)
However, as much as we all enjoy an upset, it most certainly won’t happen in this clash, with the Egyptians being at least two goals better than the Mozambicans.
Keba Mothoagae