Bafana bafana are in Group C of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. It has been designated as the Group of Death.
With Algeria, Ghana and Senegal as opponents, South Africa need to be at their best to survive this group, and advance to the knockout stages.
ALGERIA
Nickname: Desert Foxes
Nations Cup best: Champions in 1990
World Cup qualification:1982, 1986, 2010 and 2014
Coach: Christian Gourcuff
The 59-year-old French coach has had spells at Lorient, Le Mans and Stade Rennais before assuming control of the Algerian national squad.
Known as a shrewd tactician, with an emphasis on attacking football, Gourcuff has brought discipline and organisation to the technically gifted Algerian players.
Football pedigree also clearly runs in the family as the coach’s son, Yoan, is an influential midfielder at top French side Lyon, and represented his country at the 2010 World Cup.
Strengths
The attack-minded north Africans demonstrated the positive nature of their football by accumulating 15 points during their Afcon qualifying campaign, which was the highest tally of all the countries involved. Blessed with an array of tactically-astute and quick-passing midfielders – most notably Nabil Bentaleb of Tottenham Hotspur and Porto’s Yacine Brahimi – Algeria will be difficult to peg back during the continental showpiece.
With an exciting flexible style of football, based on typical European strengths, the Desert Foxes are adept at pressing high up on the pitch and then striking back on the counter with ruthless efficiency. Teams looking to beat them will do well to look at their lack of pace in defence.
Player to watch
Sofiane Feghouli, pictured left, is the man who makes Algeria tick. The Valencia attacking midfielder had a fantastic World Cup in Brazil last year – and he will again be an influential presence when the north Africans begin their campaign in Equatorial Guinea.
Clever on the ball, sharp, superb touch and with an eye for goal, if Feghouli’s on top of his game, expect the Algerians to be among the favourites to go all the way.
GHANA
Nickname: Black Stars
Nations Cup best: Champions in 1963, 1965, 1978 and 1982
World Cup qualification:2006, 2010 and 2014
Coach: Avram Grant
The former Chelsea manager recently took charge of Ghana’s national squad and he is looking to make an immediate impression with Afcon success next year.
Israeli Grant’s tenure at Chelsea was in the aftermath of Jose Mourinho’s departure in September 2007. He led the London club to the Champions League final and the League Cup final.
After Chelsea, he had spells at Portsmouth and West Ham, before moving to Partizan Belgrade, in Serbia.
The 59-year-old’s first move with Ghana has been to open talks with out-of-favour stars Sully Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng.
The duo were sent home from last year’s World Cup in Brazil for disciplinary reasons – and Grant wants to repair the damage and bring the duo back for Afcon.
Strengths
Ghana’s physicality has always been their greatest strength. However, in addition to the powerful physique of their footballers, they also have finesse and great technique on the ball.
Added to this, is the impressive pace, power and stamina of their overall game, which makes the west African nation among the favourites to be crowned African champions again.
In midfield, they rely on the consistent Michael Essien and the creative touch of Andre Ayew, while, in attack, captain Asamoah Gyan remains the main source of goals.
Player to watch
Kwadwo Asamoah, pictured left, has been rated among the 30 best footballers in the world.
The Juventus utility man – he can play in central midfield, left-midfield or left-back – has already won two Serie A titles with the Italian club.
With outstanding technical skills and an intuitive tactical awareness, Asamoah will be the man Ghana look to in pursuit of winning the continental crown for the fifth time.
SENEGAL
Nickname: Lions of Teranga
Nations Cup best: Runners-up in 2002
World Cup qualification:2002
Coach: Alain Giresse
The 62-year-old Frenchman has the difficult task of trying to emulate the late Bruno Metsu’s influence on Senegalese football. But he definitely has the football nous, having been a top player for his country.
He played at the 1982 and 1986 World Cups, and played in midfield alongside legendary men like Michel Platini and Jean Tigana.
Metsu, known as the “White Sorcerer”, died of cancer two years ago, but is fondly remembered for the success he achieved with the west African nation. In the 2002 World Cup, under Metsu, Senegal caused a huge shock when beating world champions France – and going on to a place in the quarter-finals of the competition.
It is this legacy that Giresse is tasked with continuing. Having coached the national teams of Mali and Gabon, the Frenchman has experience on the continent, and his main priority is to, again, ensure that Senegal become a close-knit, mentally strong unit. If Giresse can achieve this, the Senegalese will have belief, and they will be capable of beating almost any team in the world, as demonstrated in 2002.
Strengths
Like Ghana, it’s the west African physical strength and power that dominates in Senegalese football. However, when the Lions of Teranga are at their best, it’s the other assets of their game that make them a force to be reckoned with. They work extremely hard and they have a boundless energy which is capable of overwhelming opponents.
For Afcon, though, Senegal are holding thumbs that their most influential player – captain Mohamed Diame – will be available. The player, who has been in great form for Hull City, is currently out with a knee injury and is in a race against time to be passed fit.
Player to watch
If you watched English Premier League leaders Chelsea being beaten for the first time this season by Newcastle, then you will know that both the winning side’s goals were scored by Senegal’s Papiss Demba Cisse, pictured left.
The 29-year-old destroyed Jose Mourinho’s hopes of going the season unbeaten, and on display in that game was his remarkable instinct for goal.
He’s always in the right place at the right time. At Afcon next year, and especially in this Group C, which is likely to be tight and tense, it will come down to the men who score goals. And Cisse certainly knows how to do that. - Cape Argus