AFCON 2021: Ghana and Morocco to be challenged by Gabon and debutants from Comoros

Are we all excited about the Africa Cup of Nations yet? We had no choice but to get over the fact that Harambee Stars would miss out again – and focus on an intriguing month of football. We invite you to follow Mozzart Sport Kenya coverage of the tournament – starting with a detailed preview of each individual group.

Group C will feature Ghana, Morocco, Gabon and Comoros.

It should be interesting to see whether a troubled Gabon side or the island boys of Comoros can break into the top two and upset the AFCON mainstays Morocco and Ghana. With everything that's been going on around the teams – player not getting the call-ups due to disciplinary issues, legends being left out and replaces with new blood and Covid causing havoc for the players travelling from Europe, you get a competition where nothing can be taken for granted and where pretty much nothing is impossible.

Morocco

A national team that can afford to leave out players like Chelsea's tricky winger Hakim Ziyech, Ajax's excellent right-back Noussair Mazraoui and Marseille's attacking midfielder Amine Harit is either super strong or their coach is a bit crazy. When it comes to Vahid Halilhodzic, Morocco's Bosnian tactician, you could say that he's crazy for discipline. It's his way or no way at all. While many fans are frustrated to see such talented individuals miss out, the results are firmly behind Halilhodzic. Under the guidance of the former Ivory Coast coach, The Atlas Lions have lost just one game out of 20 - grabbing 14 wins along the way. If it's working - it's working.

The north African nation has won the AFCON back in 1976 and it'll probably remain their only success in the competition - for the time being at least. Despite boasting the likes of PSG's Achraf Hakimi and Wolverhampton's Romain Saiss in their backline, it's the lack of creativity in midfield that's likely to hamper them in the long run. What they could rely on is Sevilla attacker Youssef En-Nesyri to bang in a goal or two using his physical presence and a natural goalscoring instinct.

Nickname: The Atlas Lions

Head coach: Vahid Halilhodzic

Captain: Romain Saiss

FIFA ranking: 28

Gabon

Gabonese football is in total freefall. A nationwide scandal came to light a few weeks ago where several football coaches were accused of abusing minors. The failure of Gabonese stars, such as Aubameyang, to say anything about the story has drawn public ire. Their domestic league has been suspended for more than two years. They have never gone past the quarter-finals stage, which they reached twice before in 1996 and 2012. With the difficult situation and general bad vibes surrounding the team, the Panthers are very much outsiders. However, in captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, they still possess a highly dangerous goalscorer - as his 29 goals for Gabon will attest. However, following a positive Covid-19 test a few days ago, he and Nice midfielder Mario Lemina will have to wait before helping their country on the pitch.

In peak condition, the 28-year-old former Fulham loanee could be vital in the key games against Ghana and Morocco. A dynamic dribbler, Lemina is good at withstanding the press, creates space and is progressive with the ball. He's just the kind of player who could re-ignite Auba. Also in midfield, there's the enigmatic midfielder Guelor Kanga, who impressed this season playing for Crvena zvezda in the UEFA Europa League.

Nickname: The Panthers

Head coach: Patrice Neveu

Captain: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

FIFA ranking: 89

Ghana

The Black Stars are AFCON regulars, but it's been 40 years since they last won the competition. And this edition of the tournament will mark a start of a new era for Ghana. For the first time since 2006, their legendary captain Asamoah Gyan will not be in the squad. The 36-year-old had scored in six different AFCON editions from 2006-2017, but the new-old coach Milovan Rajevac made the tough call not to include the former Rennes and Sunderland attacker this time. A host of young players will make their AFCON debuts - Rennes striker Kamaldeen Sulemana, Ajax midfielder Mohammed Kudus and Bordeaux defender Gideon Mensah will carry the burden of the nation's expectations alongside the experienced Ayew brothers, Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey, left-sided defender Baba Rahman and Leicester City's centre-back Daniel Amartey.

Rajevac must know that regardless of the circumstances, the nation expects the Black Stars to compete against any team in Africa and bring the trophy back to Accra.

Nickname: Black Stars

Head coach: Milovan Rajevac

Captain: Andre Ayew

FIFA ranking: 52

Comoros

They've already made it! The tiny island nation made history by securing their first-ever AFCON slot by finishing two points above us in the qualifiers. Their win in Lome and a sensational goalless draw with Egypt in Moroni were the key results as the Coelacanths made it into the dreamland. Of all the AFCON participants, only Cabo Verde have got a smaller population. But they won't lack courage. In their ranks is another Crvena zvezda player El Fardou Mohamed Ben Nabouhane, a man who has famously scored against Napoli in the UEFA Champions League and is a regular for the Serbian club in the European cups.

Behind the proven forward, midfielders Youssouf M'Changama of Guingamp in France, Faiz Selemani who plays for Kortrijk in Belgium and Rafidine Abdullah from Lausanne in Switzerland are in charge of forming a strong presence in the middle of the park with a fine mix of steel and flair.

Nickname: The Coelacanths

Head coach: Amir Abdou

Captain: Nadjim Abdou

FIFA ranking: 132

AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS

Group C

Monday, 10 January

19.00: (2.20) Morocco (3.15) Ghana (3.90)

22.00: (4.50) Comores (3.40) Gabon (1.95)

Friday, 14 January

19.00: Morocco - Comoros

22.00: Gabon - Ghana

Tuesday, 18 January

22.00: Gabon - Morocco

22.00: Ghana - Comoros

***odds are subject to change

All games except Ghana - Comoros will be held at the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaounde. Ghana - Comoros will take place at the Roumde Adjia Stadium in Garoua.