Senegal captain Sadio Mane predicts “a really tough group” awaits the Africa Cup of Nations winners when they face Gambia, Cameroon and Guinea.
“The game against Cameroon will be very difficult and we cannot underestimate the other opponents,” the two-time African Footballer of the Year told reporters. “While we accept that none of these games will be easy, we have the ability and determination to reach the knockout stages,” he said before the tournament began on Saturday.
Senegal beat Cameroon 34 years ago in a group stage match in Algeria when they first met in the African Cup of Nations. But Cameroon have since prevailed, winning the quarter-finals, then the final in 2002 and another quarter-final on penalties. Senegal have beaten Guinea twice, but only drew 0-0 with them in the group stage two years ago on their way to winning the Cup of Nations for the first time.
The Group C clash between the defending champions and dark horse 2022 quarter-finalists Gambia will be the first game of the tournament. Mane, one of several Senegalese stars who have featured in this year’s lucrative Saudi Pro League, admits that having won the title two years ago was difficult, retaining it will be even harder.
“I believe the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2023) will be the hardest tournament to win because of the strongest squads,” the 31-year-old, who married longtime partner Aicha Tamba in a private ceremony this month, was referring to the fact that 15 top teams are competing in Ivory Coast.
‘Conspiracy to dethrone us’
Of the top 20 African teams (as ranked by FIFA), only Gabon, Uganda and Benin failed to make it to a tournament featuring 12 former champions, including seven-time winners Egypt. “I can’t remember a stronger tournament,” Mane added. “All the giants will be in Ivory Coast and they will all be plotting to dethrone us.”
Sadio Mane has won the Club World Cup, Champions League and Premier League with Liverpool, but says no triumph can compare to lifting the Africa Cup of Nations in Yaounde two years ago. Mane, who converted a penalty in the shootout against Egypt, said: “Winning AFCON was the greatest moment of my career. There is no other success that can compare to it.”
“It’s a special achievement and one I’ve dreamed of since I was a child. Our victory has had a huge impact on all Senegalese people.” Since their success in the Africa Cup of Nations, Senegal have also won the African Nations Championship (for domestic players) and the African Under-17 and Under-20 Championship titles.
Cameroon, who have won five titles and are the second most successful nation at the Africa Cup of Nations, were among the most unpredictable qualifiers. After drawing and losing to Namibia in qualifying, they beat modest Burundi to qualify after being lucky not to fall behind by many goals in the first half.
Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana is expected to play at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday – a day before Cameroon take on Guinea in their opening match in Yamoussoukro. Cameroon coach Rigobert Song will rely on AFCON 2021 top scorers Vincent Aboubakar and Karl Toko Ekambi to score goals after leaving out Bayern Munich striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.
Guinea’s star striker Serhou Guirassy, who has scored 17 Bundesliga goals for Stuttgart this season, has recovered from a thigh injury sustained in the warm-up against Nigeria.
