Some SBOBET followers may view this as the poor relation of the summer, the little sister to what is going on across the continent in Brazil.
Yet that does a great disservice to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
The best sides in Africa are heading to the land of the Pharaohs for AFCON 2019,the continents’ showcase, and make no mistake, there should be Africa Cup of Nations highlights galore.
From June 21 to July 19, there will be a feast before you very eyes.
Who says so?
Well I do, for one.
Why would there not be with the likes of Liverpool pair Mohamed Salah (Egypt) and Sadio Mane (Senegal) – the Premier League’s joint top goalscorer – Manchester City’s title-winning Riyad Mahrez (Algeria) and Crystal Palace’s exciting forward Wilfried Zaha (Ivory Coast) among the Premier League stars expected to feature.
Throw in one or two as yet unknown players, who may well make a name for themselves and a feast of football awaits lovers of the beautiful game and, potentially, club scouts.
There will certainly be more to look out for this year with 24 teams competing, an increase from the 16 that took part in the event in Gabon 2017.
There will also be three debutants in Burundi, Madagascar and Mauritania.
The tournament has been switched to being held in odd-numbered years so as not to clash with the FIFA World Cup. AFCON is also, for the first time, being held mid-year, away from the traditional January to February window.
Whether it eases the club-versus-country battles that have overshadowed previous tournaments remains to be seen, especially as the Champions League Final is only being held on June 1.
Five-time winners and holders Cameroon – now managed by Clarence Seedorf – will be there to defend their title, even though they were stripped of hosting the tournament.
That honour goes to Egypt, the most experienced and decorated side competing, having won the AFCON seven times, most recently in 2010.
On home soil, they have only lost twice in their last 25 home games against African opponents.
Morocco coach Herve Renard is looking to win an unprecedented third Africa Cup of Nations – with a third team. The Atlas Lions are in Group D with one of the previous teams he won it with, the Ivory Coast. South Africa and neighbouring Namibia complete that group.
Renard produced one of the most scintillating results ever when he led Zambia to the 2012 crown with a penalty shoot-out victory over the Ivorians.
Three years later, he turned their tears into chants of jubilation when he led them to the title with another post-match penalties conquest, this time over Ghana’s Black Stars.
He now looks straight at another piece of history as he hopes to win a third continental crown with a side that has not won the title since 1976.
Ghana has its own build-up story. Take Asamoah Gyan, their record scorer with 51 goals in 106 appearances.
It took the country’s president, no less, to persuade him to come out of retirement for this competition.
The Black Stars have been remarkably consistent in recent AFCONs, reaching the final four in the last six tournaments.
If they progress from their group – particularly with a win against the holders – the talk won’t just be about them reaching the semi-finals for a seventh time, but about whether they can end their near-four-decade wait for continental gold.
For a time, Gyan was impressive for Sunderland, as was Wilfried Bony for Swansea – so much so he became a £28 million recruit for Manchester City.
He has now been included in an Ivory Coast squad for the first time since the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.
The 30-year-old is on a 27-man provisional list and will be keen to make his mark now he is without a club.
As well as the Ivory Coast, winners in 2015, keep a look out for Nigeria – who triumphed in 2013 – although this time, despite the increased number of teams, there is no Zambia, surprise winners in 2012.
The draw has been kind for Nigeria as they face Guinea and AFCON first timers Madagascar and Burundi. The Super Eagles are unbeaten since the 2018 World Cup and have strength in all positions, especially in midfield where they can call on Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi and Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi.
African football’s biennial showpiece is definitely a competition which has come a long way since 1957 when only three countries (Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia) took part.
Then there was no qualifying competition. Egypt won.
They re favourites to do so again but it will be close.
Make sure you study our Africa Cup of Nations betting odds carefully.
There’s usually a surprise in this tournament!
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