LetsTalkAFCON2015:AnInDepthAnalysisOn&Off

ThePitch
ByMuturiNjeri(MN),JamesKiawoin(JK)andChernohJalloh(CJ)

EquatorialGuineascaptainEmilioNsue(R)celebratesafterscoringthetournamentsfirst
goal.

MN:Theseasonisuponus,again.Iamtalkingabouttheseasonofthebeautifulgame
onthebeautifulcontinentIamtalkingabouttheAfricanCupofNations(AFCON)2015.
TheAFCON2015,whichstartedonSaturday17thofJanuaryinEquatorialGuinea,is
expectedtobringjoyandexcitementtomillionsoffootballfansaroundthecontinent,
andaroundtheglobe.Joiningme,MuturiNjeri(MN)fromKenya,areseasoned
footballingpundits,JamesKiawoin(JK)fromLiberiaandChernohJalloh(CJ)from
SierraLeone/Guineatodiscussissuessurroundingthetournament,bothonandoff
thefield.Folks,itsmypleasuretodothiswithyoutwoyearsafterweworkedona
jointpieceforthelastAFCONtournament.

MN:Now,gentlemen,whatdoyoumakeofthefirstfewmatches?Arethereanyearly
trendsfromthesematchesthatyouthinkwillcharacterizethiseditionofthe
tournament?

JK:Theopeningmatcheshavenotbeenexciting.Eachteamseemstobelackingandthe
playisallovertheplace.Day1sawacombinationofshakydefendingandincredible
wastefulness.BurkinaFasowerenotconvincing.Gabonwon,buttheirdefendingwas
questionable.Congoshouldhavewon,buttheywereplaguedbyextraordinarywastefulness
inthefinalthird.CapeVerdesFernandoVarelamissedasitterfromeightyards,unmarked.
OnDay2,atleastintheDRCongoandZambiagame,bothgoalscamefromsloppy
defending.Wearealsowitnessingmorefoulsthannormal.48intheCapeVerdeTunisia
gameand40intheCongoEquatorialGuineagame.Ihopethesetrendsdonotcontinue.I
havealsonoticedthatteamsarerelyingonthewideplayersalot.AubameyangandPitroipa,
asexpected,sawlotsoftheball.Bolasie,DRCongosscorerwasalsoveryinvolved.Ithink
thisisatrendthatwillcontinue.ThelikesofGervinho(IvoryCoast),Ayew(Ghana)will
continuetousetheflankstocausetrouble.

CJ:Itshardtogleananysortoftrendfromjustacoupleofmatches,especiallywhenallthe
biggunsareyettohitthefray.Offthefield,itsalmostbecomeanormthattheAFCON
tourneyneverfailstodisappoint.However,onthefield,theresstillalottolookforwardtothis
year,anditllbeprematuretobrandthisasthesameoldAFCON.Afterthefirstgames,were
leftwithaninteresting,albeitslightlyunexpected,poise.However,andasmycolleague
alludedto,werestillyettoseeacohesiveandwelldrilledunit.Teamsseemtohavefallento
theoldstandardofrelyingonstarmentodeliveronthebigstage.Sustainedfocusand
properdefendinghavebeenachillesheelsformanyAfricanteamsandthistournamenthas
beennothingshortofthat,asweveseenintheseveralgoalsalready.BurkinaFaso,last
timesrunnersupandpretournamentfavouritestoclinchgroupA,failedtobuildontheir
defensivesolidityinthepast,thuslosingbytwogoalstoadynamicGabonesesideputsthem
underenormouspressure.TogetherwiththehostsandCongo,theseteamshavealltodoin
theirnextgames.Aswevealreadyseen,theteamswiththelionsshareofpossessionand
goalattemptsarenotnecessarilygoingtowin.Withsomanyinexperiencedplayersinthe
mix,tacticaldisciplineandandclinicalfinishinghavebecomeevenmoreimportant.Maybe
wellseethatintodaysandtomorrowsgameswhentheheavygunsstartfiring!

MN:Letsbacktrackandtalkaboutthepoliticsbehindthehostingofthetournament,
especiallythelastminuteswitchfromMoroccotoEquatorialGuinea.Whatdoyou
makeoftheseandhowdoyouthinktheywillaffectthetournament?

JK:IthinkMoroccoshouldhavehostedthetournament.TheirfearofEbolawasoverblown.
Ofcourse,theplayerswouldhavebeenassessedbeforetheymadethesquad.Lotsoffans
fromEbolahitcountrieswouldnothavemadethetripbecauseofclosedbordersandfinancial
constraints.Eveniftheydid,airportscreeningsandsurveillancewouldhavemadesureonly
healthyfanstravel.IdonotknowwhattheinternalpoliticsorreasoningwasfromMoroccos
standpoint,buttheymissedagoodchancetoshowcasetheirnationandkeepfriends.Iam
gladthatEquatorialGuineasteppeduptohostthetournament,butIthinkAFCONorganizers
shouldhavedonemuchbetterbeefingupinfrastructureandplanning.Wehavealreadyseen
theeffectsfromalogisticalstandpoint.


CJ:Forme,thistopichitshard.Moroccosdecisionismarginallyunderstandableatbest,
consideringtheygraciouslyallowedmydarlingSyliNationalofGuinea(oneofthecountries
heavilydealtbyEbola)toplayalltheirqualifyinggamesonMoroccansoil.Itwouldhavebeen
greattoseethistournamentplayedinMoroccowiththeirexcitingcropofyoungtalentandthe
vibrancyoftheirfootballfans.ButkudostoEquatorialGuineaforsavingtheday!Forallthe
goodthingsAsiahastooffer,IcantimaginewitnessingtheAFCONplayedthere,oreventhe
prospectofpostponingatournamentforwhichsometeamshavesacrificedsomuch.The
effectsoftheirlatewithdrawalcannotbedownplayedasJKalreadypointedout,someteams
havealreadybeenforcedtorelocatehotelsonlyhoursbeforekickoffthisissimply
unacceptable.Politically,whatthisswitchdoesisthatitremovesresponsibilityand
accountabilityfromthehosts,whohadonlyweekstoprepare.Nowwhocanwecriticizein
caseofanyfailure?Imnotsure.

MN:ComparedtootherAFCONtournaments,howdoyouthinkthisonewillbe
unique?

JK:Ifthistournamentwillbeunique,itwillboildownmainlytoofffieldactions.Wewillhear
lotsofcomplaintsaboutpoorattendanceandpoorinfrastructure.TheCongoleseteambegan
yesterdaybycomplainingabouttransportation.Youcantblamethehoststheyhadthe
tournamentpushedontheminthelastminuteandtherewaslittletimeforamplepreparation.
Thereissomethingaboutthistournamentthatfailstoraiseexcitementlevels.Intermsof
actualfootballingaction,thisisthetournamentthatmanyoftheplayerswillcomeofageon
theAfricanscene.ThelikesofWilfriedBony(IvoryCoast),AndileJali(SouthAfrica),Nabil
Bentaleb(Algeria)willbeamongstthefewpeoplelookingtocreateanameforthemselvesin
nationalfolklore.Formanyoftheolderguards,thisisaboutcementingtheirlegacyorifyou
areAsamoahGyan(Ghana),rewritingthescriptofyoureulogy.YayaToure(IvoryCoast),
StephanMbia(Cameroon)willbeamongstthepeoplelookingtoendtheirnationalcareerson
ahigh.

CJ:Formany,thisAFCONpromisestobeonetoremember.WiththemixofGolden
GenerationsinthelikesofIvoryCoastandtheburgeoningnationslikeCapeVerdeand
Algeria,wereallsetforauniqueride.Unlikeinthepast,wereseeingmanyteamsreinvented
withexcitingnewcomerswhowilllooktoimpressonAfricasbigstage,afterdoingsointheir
respectiveEuropean(andAfrican)clubs.Inparticular,teamslikeSenegal,Ghana,South
Africa,andCameroonhavereinvigoratedtheirsquadswithproventalents.Willthisbethe
yearwhenweseesomeofAfricasindisputablebestfinallycrownedchampionsorwillitbe
theyearweseeadramaticshiftinAfricaspowerrankings?Ofcourseonlytimewilltell.As
luckwouldhaveit,itsdelicatelypoisedforanyoutcome.Thistournamentwillundoubtedly
providetheshakingupthatmostAfricanfootballlovershavelongedfor.

MN:TherehavebeenconcernsaboutlowstadiumturnoutsinpastAFCON
tournaments,andeveninthisone.Doyouthinkthisisasignofgeneralambivalence

onthepartofthefansorwhatwouldyouattributethisto?Inaddition,whatdoyou
makeofthelivetransmissionofthetournament?

JK:Itisacombinationofgeneralambivalenceandthecloudofuncertaintythathungoverthe
tournamentforsuchalongtime.Allofthewranglingssappedtheenergiesoutofthefans.
MostofthepeoplethatItalktodontseemtobeasinterestedascomparedtoprevious
tournaments.Theabsenceofbignames(throughretirementoromission)couldbe
responsible.Iamexcitedbythelivetransmissionoptions.BeINSports,CanalPlusaregood
TVoptions,buttherearemanyonlinestreamingoptionsofgoodquality.Someonewillnotbe
payingfullattentioninclass.

CJ:HadthistournamentstayedinMorocco,wewouldbetalkingaboutacompletelydifferent
actionbothonandoffthestadium.Thelateswitch,location,timing,andEbolahavecertainly
nothelped.Inaddition,thefactthatthistournamentdoesnotfeatureAfricaslargest
population(theSuperEaglesNigeria)meantthatdisappointmentinturnoutswasalways
goingtobetheorderoftheday.ThelivetransmissionsonTV(andonline)provideloadsof
optionsanditwasgreattoseethelikesofEquatorialGuineaandCongoonBeINSports.
WithsomanyAfricanstarsbrighteningtheskiesofEuropeandshininginmajorleaguesall
aroundtheworld,itwasonlyamatteroftimebeforeAfricanfootballwasembracedin
internationaltelebroadcasting.Onanothernote,thepunditrycancertainlybe
improvedmaybewellneedaRayHudsontotakeittothenextlevel.

MN:DoyouanticipateAfricansswitchingfromwatchingEuropeanteamsplayto
watchingAfricansplayintheAFCON?

JK:IthinklotsofpeoplewillbetunedintoAFCONduringtheweek.Thestarttimesare
conduciveformostpeople,butIthinkonweekends,mostpeoplewillbewatchingEuropean
games,especiallyinthegroupstages.ThevariousleaguesacrossEuropeareheatingup
andpeoplehavemoreknowledgeaboutthoseleaguethantheirnationalteams.Butoncewe
gettoquarterfinals,everyonewillbewatching.ThatswhenAFCONlivesuptothebilling.

CJ:Ithinkitlldependontheinterveninggames.Weallknowtheresstillalongwaytogoin
virtuallyallEuropeanleagues,andwiththeavailabilityofextendedhighlightsandreplays,
theresanincentivetotakeabreakandturntosomethingdifferent.Justlikeitsdifficulttoturn
awayfromaChelseaCityorBarcaAtleticogame,Idontthinkanyfootballloverwouldeasily
shyawayfromaSenegalGhanaorIvoryCoastCameroonencounter.Inthiscase,itwontbe
abadideatohavetwowindowsopen,assumingyouhaveafatAmericanbandwidthto
entertainboth.

MN:Letsgetintotheactualtournament.Straightup,whodoyoupredicttoliftthe
cup?

JK:IamgoingwithGhana.IfGhanadoesnotwin,IvoryCoast.Theybothhavemorebalance
andtournamentexperiencethantheotherteams.Senegalwillbeexciting,butcanthey
defend?Algeriawillalsoplaywell,butcantheyholdtheirnerves?Cameroonhasnochance.
Malimightsettlefortheirusualthirdspot.BurkinaFasowillnotmaintaintheirexcitingrun
fromthelasttournament.Theywillhaveamuchbetterchancetoprogressfromthegroup
stagesifBancestartsalongsideTraore.Theylackedapresenceintheboxyesterday.
AnotherBanceomissionandtheywillbeonthefirstflightbackhome.

CJ:MymindsaysAlgeriabutmyheartsaysCameroon.ArmedwithBBCAfricabestplayerin
2014inYacineBrahimi,Algeriastechnicalflairandpace,mixedwithexperiencedpersonnel
guardingtheirback,thisnationissettogoalltheway.TheirWorldCupexploitsand
almostperfectqualifyingrunmakethistournamenttheirstolose.Theonlyquestionmarkon
themishowwilltheycopewiththetoughAfricanclimate,andpoorinfrastructure(especially
thosebattlegroundpitches!)?Anythinglessthanaspotinthefinalwouldbeadisappointment
forthisexcitingteam.DespitetheirawfulcampaigninBrazil,Cameroonpresentsaformidable
sidecapableofknockinganyonedownashighlightedbytheircrushingwinagainstIvory
Coastduringthequalifiers.Havingscrappedallthenegativityandinfightingtensionsthat
cloudedtheirshortWorldCupstint,andwithanexperiencedcoachonthedriversseat,
Cameroonexudessignsoftheirsuccessfulpast.Nonetheless,theirrelianceonyoungand
inexperiencedplayersatcrucialpositionsinthemiddleoftheparkmakesthemslightly
vulnerableunderpressure.Thesearethetwoteamsthathaveshownconsistencyoverthe
lasttwelvemonthsandIwontputitpastoneofthemclinchingglorycomeFebruary8th.

MN:TheAFCONisknowntobeatournamentofsurprisesandupsets,doyou
anticipateanythistime?
JK:Therewontbelotsofsurprisesinthegroupstagesbecauseofthedearthof
superpowerunderdogpairing.IthinktheorganizersdidnotdousjusticebyputtingGhana,
Senegal,SouthAfricaandAlgeriainthesamegroup.Acrossothergroups,youhaveteamsof
equalpowersgoingupagainsteachother.IthinkbeatingIvoryCoastwillbetheonlymajor
upsetinthefirstround.Theyaremanypeoplesfavorites,andonpapertheylooksolid.Safe
bitingyournailsforthesecondround,thatswheretheexcitementwillbegin.

CJ:Withtheirdeadlyforwardline,IhopeSenegalcanfinallybreaktheirdeadlockwithgood
resultscomplementedwiththeiralwayseyecatchingfootball.Iftheirporousbacklinecan
defytheodds,andiftheycangettheirtalismanicSadioManeonthefieldontime,Icanseea
confidentTerangaLionssideproceedingfarintothetournament.Similarly,asnooneseems
tobetalkingaboutSouthAfrica,Icanseethisdarkhorseunleashingamajorupsetinthe
groupofdeath.WatchoutfortheSyliNationaleupsettingthewidelyacclaimedElephants
tomorrow.

MN:Isthereisagroupofdeath?Ifso,whichone?Why?

JK:GroupCisthegroupofdeath.IthasGhana,Senegal,Algeria,andSouthAfrica.Ghana
hasaverybalancedsquadandacoachwhoonpapershouldaddlotsofvaluetotheirtactical
balancesheet.Senegalhasoneofthemostdeadlyattackingforceinthetournamentand
theywillbeouttoproveapointaftertheirlastdisastrousouting.Algeriahasmanyyoung
playerswhohavealreadyshownthemselvestobegoodfootballers.Iftheirperformancein
theWorldCupisaguide,weareinforagoodride.TheadditionofBentalebwasagreat
move.Hewillpressalot,andwillalsomovetheballaroundthefieldandwillfeedthestrikers
withsomejuicythroughballs.IthinkhewillbecrucialforAlgeriassuccess.SouthAfricais
resurgentandtheywillbelookingtoplayforSenzoMeyiwa,theirgoaliewhodiedfromagun
relatedviolencelastyear.Thisisthestrongestgroupbasedonindividualtalentsandteamset
up.
Ihopeitlivesuptothebilling.IalsothinkGroupDisagroupofdeath.IvoryCoastarethe
clearfavorites,butthatgroupisunpredictable.WehaveaMaliansquadthathasperformed
consistentlywelloverthelastdecade.WehaveaCamerooniansidethatislookingtoregain
dominance(althoughunlikelyatthistournament)andaGuineansidethatnoonetalksabout,
butwhohasseriouspotentialtofrustratetheotherswiththeirpaceandhardwork.

CJ:Byallmeasures,groupsCandDarethemostcompetitiveandtheonesmostpeoplewill
focusoninthegroupstages.TheirheavystockswithbignameslikeToureYaya,Asamoah
Gyan,Brahimi,Mbia,Feghouli,Mane,Bony,Moukandjo,andAndreAyewpromise
overwhelmingaction.However,groupCseemstobethetoughestonetobreakoutof.If
theresboundtobeanyupsetsinthefirstrounds,looknofurtherthanthisgroup.ButgroupD
alsopresentssomepulsatingaffairswithbigoldWestAfricanrivalslockinghorns.WhileIvory
CoastandCameroonwilllooktoqualifywithoutbeingtoostretched,aloss(orevenadraw)in
theirrespectivefirstgameswillmakethisgroupallthemoreinteresting.

MN:Anylessonsorinsightsaboutthetournamenttobegainedfromthequalifiersor
lastyearsWorldCupinBrazil?

JK:Africanteamsneedtocloseoffgames.Theyneedtoconcentrateinthefinalminutes.We
sawIvoryCoastgaveawayaneedlesspenaltykick,GhanalostconcentrationagainsttheUS
andfailedtocapitalizeonGermanmistakesinthefinalminutes.WealsosawAlgeriaplay
wellagainstGermanyandthenswitchoffwhenitmatteredthemost.IalsothinktheWorld
CupshowedusthatthereismuchmoretoAfricanteamsthanthebignames.Muntariand
BoatengorchestratedGhanasdownfall.MikelObiwasnotasimpressiveforNigeriaaswe
expected.Drogbawasoneofthefewbignamestomakemyimpact.Moreandmore,lesser
knownplayersareshoulderingthelionshareoftheresponsibilities.Thatiswhatfootball
shouldbeabout,collectiveeffort.

CJ:BesidesAlgeria,andfromwhatweveseensofar,itshardtolabelanyAfricanteamasa
TEAM.Theresoverrelianceonindividualbrilliance,wesawthiswithGabonsAubameyang,
BurkinasPitroipa,EquatorialGuineasNsue,andastheWorldCuptaughtus,thebest
teams,notthebestplayers,winatthebigstage.Thebestteacheristhequalifiersandonce

again,wesawteamsthatplayedmorelikeTEAMSrallyallthewayintothetournament
despitesomanyobstacles.Consideringthefactthattherearenotmanyreliableindividualsin
mostoftheteamsincontention,itsrefreshingtoseemostcoachesreverttoteambuilding.
Defensively,therearesomanylessonstobelearned.TeamslikeSouthAfrica,Algeria,and
Cameroonaregoodrolemodelsastheirfewgoalsconcededinthequalifiersprovidedafirm
baseforthemtoqualifyeasily.IntheWorldCup,wesawasturdyArgentinianteamcrawlall
thewaytothefinalandalmostwonit.WeallknowAfricansaretough,theyjustneedtoshow
alittlebitofthatandmorefocuswhendefendingtheirgoalsandtheymustdoitcollectively
asTEAMS.

MN:WhichoftheAfricanteamsorplayersthatwillnotbeparticipatingwillyoumiss
themost?

JK:IwillmissNigeria.Itwouldhavebeennicetohavethemdefendingtheirtitle.Stillwith
Nigeria,IwillmissEmmanuelEmenike.Twoyearsafter,Iamstillobsessedwithhim.He
wouldhaveterrorizeddefensesagain.IwillalsomissSiphiweTshabalala(SouthAfrica),the
combativeSouthAfricanmidfielderandAlexanderSong(Cameroon).Idontunderstandwhy
hewasleftout,buthesplayingwellforWestHamandhewouldhaveaddedstabilityand
attackingthreattoCameroonsmidfield.NomissesforDrogbaandEtoo.Idontthinkthey
wouldhaveaddedmuchtotheirteams.NomissesforMuntari(Ghana)andBoateng(Ghana).
Theywouldhavebeenliabilities.

CJ:AllthosemissesformyfriendJKareundeniable.YouhavetomissaSundayscoringon
aSunday.ButyoualsohavetomissthelegendEtooandMr.Drogba,theyhavebroughtso
muchjoytoAfricanfootball.Alongsidetheirpuretalents,theyvebeenthefacesofAfricafor
solonganditsweirdtonotseethemaround.Butforme,thebiggestmisshastobethe
Vuvuzelas.Overthepastyears,theyvereenergizedAfricanfootballandhavealmostbeen
partofitsidentity.Iknowthetournamentjustbegun,soImstillhopingtoseesomeofthem
around.

MN:Areyoumakinganybets?Illbegladtobethewitnessincaseanyonesaysthey
dontremembermakingthesebets.

JK:Itishardtomakebetsonthisparticulartournament.Iwillmakepredictionsinstead:Bony
(IvoryCoast)andAubameyang(Gabon)willleadthetournamentwithgoals.IvoryCoastwill
scorethemostgoalsinthegroupstages.AsamoahGyanandGhanawillwintheawardfor
mostentertainingdancemoves.

CJ:YoucantdenytheamazingdancemovespossessedbytheBlackStars,butdont
discounttheSenegalese.Theyllsurpriseyou.ImbettingonIbrahimaTraorescoringadirect
freekick,Ghanagoingoutinthegroupstage,CapeVerdebreakingintotheSemis,and
Algeriamakingittothefinal(withSlimaniscoringmostgoals).

MN:Finalwords?

JK:Ithinkthiswillbetheworsttournamentbecauseofhurriedplanningandlowturnouts.I
thinktheteamswillditchtheirnegativeplaysandbecomemoreadventurousoncetheyare
fullysettled.ThegamestowatchformeareGhanavs.SouthAfricaandAlgeria.Keepaneye
outforAubameyangspaceandPitroipastrickery.YayaToure,GervinhoandBony(allof
IvoryCoast)willbeadeadlygoingforward.Lasttimeout,Icommentedonthediversityof
haircutsatthetournament.Aftertwodays,Ifeellikeweareatanexhibitionshow.Ifyouarea
youngchildwithparentswhoarewillingtoexperiment,youhavemultipleoptionstochoose
from.

CJ:Asthetournamentisalreadyunderway,andwiththeunderwhelmingperformancesweve
alreadywitnessed,Ishallspareyouwithmyupbeatandfurthercomments.EnjoytheAfrican
musicandrhythmcomingoutofEquatorialGuinea.

MN:Thestakesinthistournamentareveryhigh,andourpunditshavelaidthembare
foralltosee.Now,letssitback,buyvuvuzelasifwehaveto,orbetteryetsippalm
wineandbreakkolanuts(orfeastonfestival,bammyandpattydemfiwiinna
Jamaica)andwatchhistorygetmade.MrJallohandMrKiawoin,thankyousomuch
foryourtimeandyourinvaluableinsights.Ilookforwardtodoingthisagain.