--- title: "Africa Cup of Nations — all you need to know about the squads vying for continental glory" description: "Afcon fever is sweeping the continent, with teams such as Algeria, Angola, Bafana Bafana, and Cameroon ready to show off their credentials." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "STATS & FACTS" author: "Reuters" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-01-16-africa-cup-of-nations-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-squads-vying-for-continental-glory/" published: "2024-01-16T11:36:47" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 1182 --- # Africa Cup of Nations — all you need to know about the squads vying for continental glory > Afcon fever is sweeping the continent, with teams such as Algeria, Angola, Bafana Bafana, and Cameroon ready to show off their credentials. By Reuters · Published 16 January 2024, 13:36 SAST ## Key points - African football fever is about to kick off, with teams like Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, and Cameroon ready to show off their skills, while Egypt brings the unstoppable Mohamed Salah to the field, and Nigeria aims to reclaim their past glory - it's going to be a tournament to remember! - Algeria: Two-time winners, drawn in Group D with Angola, Burkina Faso, and Mauritania. Key player: Riyad Mahrez. - Angola: Quarterfinalists twice, drawn in Group D with Algeria, Burkina Faso, and Mauritania. Key player: Manuel Luís da Silva Cafumana. - Burkina Faso: Runners-up in 2013, drawn in Group D with Algeria, Angola, and Mauritania. Key player: Edmond Tapsoba. - Cameroon: Five-time winners, drawn in Group C with Gambia, Guinea, and Senegal. Key player: Andre Onana. ## Content Egypt brings the unstoppable Mohamed Salah to the field, while Nigeria aims to reclaim their past glory in this year's competition. Bafana Bafana will rely on forward Percy Tau as they navigate the tournament as underdogs. #### **Algeria** **Africa Cup of Nations appearance record:** (19) 1968, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021. **Best performance:**Winners 1990, 2019 Drawn in **Group D**with Angola, Burkina Faso, Mauritania. **Coach:** Djamel Belmadi **Key player:** Riyad Mahrez. Age: 32. Winger #### **Angola** **Africa Cup of Nations appearance record:** (8) 1996, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2019 **Best performance:**Quarterfinalists 2008, 2010 Drawn in **Group D**with Algeria, Burkina Faso and Mauritania. **Coach:** Pedro Gonçalves **Key player:** Manuel Luís da Silva Cafumana (Show). Age: 24. Midfielder. #### **Burkina Faso** **Africa Cup of Nations appearance record:** (12) 1978, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2021 **Best performance:** Runners-up 2013 Drawn in **Group D**with Algeria, Angola and Mauritania. **Coach:** Hubert Velud **Key player:** Edmond Tapsoba. Age: 24. Defender. #### **Cameroon** **Africa Cup of Nations appearance record:** (20) 1970, 1972, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 **Best performance:** Winners 1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, 2017 Drawn in**Group C**with Gambia, Guinea and Senegal. **Coach:** Rigobert Song **Key player:** Andre Onana. Age: 25. Goalkeeper ![Andre Onana, goalkeeper of Cameroon. (Photo: Lenoir Records/BackpagePix)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/pwwWIbD41x7uJBhqYDr9ZcRas5o=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/B23KQLR0143.jpg) *Andre Onana, goalkeeper of Cameroon. (Photo: Lenoir Records/BackpagePix)* #### **Cape Verde** **Africa Cup of Nations appearance record:** (3) 2013, 2015, 2021 **Best performance:** Quarterfinalists 2013 Drawn in **Group B** with Egypt, Ghana and Mozambique. **Coach:** Pedro Brito Leitao (Bubista) **Key player:** Ryan Mendes. Age: 33. Forward. #### **Democratic Republic of Congo** **Africa Cup of Nations appearance record:** (19) 1965, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1988, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 **Best performance:** Winners 1968, 1974 Drawn in **Group F** with Morocco, Tanzania and Zambia. **Coach:** Sebastien Desabre **Key player:** Cedric Bakambu. Age: 32. Forward. #### **Egypt** **Africa Cup of Nations appearance record:** (25) 1957, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1970, 1974, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2017, 2019, 2021 **Best performance:** Winners 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010 Drawn in **Group B** with Cape Verde, Ghana and Mozambique. **Coach:** Rui Vitoria **Key player:** Mohamed Salah. Age: 31. Forward. ![Mohamed Salah of Egypt. (Photo: Visionhaus.Getty Images)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/c2AHlUVRG5kHV1DJ3K9uMC0JsK4=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/1936237285.jpg) *Mohamed Salah of Egypt. (Photo: Visionhaus.Getty Images)* #### **Equatorial Guinea** **Africa Cup of Nations appearance record:** (3) 2012, 2015, 2021 **Best performance:** Semifinalists 2015 Drawn in **Group A** with Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast and Nigeria. **Coach:** Juan Micha **Key player:** Saul Coco. Age: 24 Defender #### **Gambia** **Africa Cup of Nations appearance record:** (1) 2021 Drawn in **Group C** with Cameroon, Guinea and Senegal. **Coach:** Tom Saintfiet **Key player:** Yankuba Minteh Age: 19. Forward. #### **Guinea Bissau** **Africa Cup of Nations appearance record:** (3) 2017, 2019, 2021 **Best performance:** Group phase Drawn in **Group A**with Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast and Nigeria. **Coach:** Baciro Cande **Key player:** Mama Balde. Age: 28. Striker. #### **Guinea** **Africa Cup of Nations appearance record:** (13) 1970, 1974, 1976, 1980, 1994, 1998, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 **Best performance:** Runners-up 1976 Drawn in **Group C** with Cameroon, Gambia and Senegal **Coach:** Kaba Diawara **Key player:** Serhou Guirassy. Age: 27. Forward. #### **Ghana** **Africa Cup of Nations appearance record:** (23) 1963, 1965, 1968, 1970, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 **Best performance:** Winners 1963, 1965, 1978, 1982 Drawn in **Group B** with Cape Verde, Egypt and Mozambique **Coach:** Chris Hughton **Key player:** Mohammed Kudus. Age: 23. Midfielder. #### **Ivory Coast** **Africa Cup of Nations appearance record:** (24) 1965, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1980, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 Best performance: Winners 1992, 2015 Drawn in **Group A** with Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau and Nigeria. **Coach:** Jean-Louis Gasset **Key player:** Sebastien Haller. Age: 29. Forward. #### **Mali** **Africa Cup of Nations appearance record:** (12) 1972, 1994, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 **Best performance:** Runners-up 1972 Drawn in **Group E**with Namibia, South Africa and Tunisia **Coach:** Eric Chelle **Key player:** Yves Bissouma. Age: 27. Midfielder #### **Mauritania** **Africa Cup of Nations appearance record:** (2) 2019, 2021 **Best performance:** Group phase Drawn in **Group D** with Algeria, Angola and Burkina Faso **Coach:** Amir Abdou **Key player:** Aboubakary Koita. Age: 25. Forward. #### **Morocco** **Africa Cup of Nations appearance record:** (18) 1972, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1986, 1988, 1992, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2019, 2021 **Best performance:** Winners 1976 Drawn in **Group F** with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania and Zambia **Coach:** Walid Regragui **Key player:** Achraf Hakimi. Age: 25. Defender. #### **Mozambique** **Africa Cup of Nations appearance record**: (4) 1986, 1996, 1998, 2010 **Best performance:** Group phase Drawn in **Group B** with Cape Verde, Egypt and Ghana. **Coach:** Chiquinho Conde **Key player:** Reinildo. Age: 29. Defender. #### **Namibia** **Africa Cup of Nations appearance record:** (3) 1998, 2008, 2019 **Best performance:** Group phase Drawn in **Group E** with Mali, South Africa and Tunisia. **Coach:** Collin Benjamin **Key player:** Peter Shalulile. Age: 30. Forward #### **Nigeria** **Africa Cup of Nations appearance record:** (19) 1963, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2019, 2021 **Best performance**: Winners 1980, 1994, 2013 Drawn in **Group A** with Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau and Ivory Coast. **Coach:** Jose Peseiro **Key player:** Victor Osimhen. Age: 25. Forward. **Senegal** **Africa Cup of Nations appearance record**: (16) 1965, 1968, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1994, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 **Best performance:** Winners 2021 Drawn in **Group C** with Cameroon, Gambia and Guinea. **Coach:** Aliou Cissé **Key player:** Sadio Mane. Age: 31. Forward. ![Sadio Mané of Senegal. (Photo by MB Media/Getty Images)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/luzHpc2oVagG3QWgfxmjm0IazVY=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/1928007199.jpg) *Sadio Mané of Senegal. (Photo by MB Media/Getty Images)* #### **South Africa** **Africa Cup of Nations appearance record**: (10) 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2019. **Best performance:** Winners 1996 Drawn in **Group E** with Mali, Namibia and Tunisia **Coach:** Hugo Broos **Key player:** Percy Tau. Age: 29. Forward **Read more in Daily Maverick:**[Underdogs Bafana Bafana will lean heavily on Percy Tau during Afcon onslaught](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-01-02-underdogs-bafana-bafana-will-lean-heavily-on-percy-tau-during-afcon-onslaught/) #### **Tanzania** **Africa Cup of Nations appearance record**: (2) 1980, 2019 **Best performance:** Group Phase Drawn in **Group F** with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Morocco and Zambia. **Coach:** Adel Amrouche **Key player:** Mbwana Samatta. Age: 31. Forward. #### **Tunisia** **Africa Cup of Nations appearance record:** (20) 1962, 1963, 1965, 1978, 1982, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 **Best performance:** Winners 2004 Drawn in **Group E** with Mali, Namibia and South Africa. **Coach:** Jalel Kadri **Key player:** Ellyes Skhiri. Age: 28. Midfielder. #### **Zambia** **[Africa Cup of Nations](https://www.cafonline.com/caf-africa-cup-of-nations/) appearance record**: (17) 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015 **Best performance:** Winners 2012 Drawn in **Group F** with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Morocco and Tanzania. **Coach:** Avram Grant **Key player:** Patson Daka. Age: 25. Forward. **DM**