2013 AFCON - Group A: New face Cape Verde with S. Africa, Angola & Morocco

Topics: 2013 AFCON, Cape Verde, South Africa, Angola, Morocco, Group A

Debutants Cape Verde will be fighting for quarter-finals tickets at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. Meanwhile, Group A contenders South Africa, Angola and Morocco will all try to avoid upsets.

Cape Verde

After over a decade of preparations, Cape Verde’s national football team has reached its goal: to qualify for a major tournament. They daunted a divided Cameroonian side in the playoffs to get to the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations finals. Whether the Blue Sharks will cross more rivers in South Africa is a question which will be answered later in January.

Interestingly, the competition will open with Cape Verde facing hosts South Africa. If the former put their underdog spirit at work and claim victory on the opening day, they will instantly install fear among other participants.

However, the Creoles have nothing to lose. They are making their debut among group contenders who have all hosted the Nations Cup at least once in history.

South Africa

South Africa will be participating in their eighth AFCON tournament. The 2013 edition also marks the country’s second participation as hosts. The Bafana Bafana will be benefiting from immense support from the home fans. However, pressure to succeed will also be intense due to their recent history.

In fact, the South African national team failed to go beyond the group stages in the 2004, 2006 and 2008 tournaments before missing out in 2010 and 2012. The Bafana Bafana enter the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations with the ‘host-and-win’ slogan. Can they revive the spirit that carried them to glory when they hosted the competition in 1996?

Angola

They edged past Zimbabwe through the away goals rule to appear in the finals for the fifth consecutive time. The squad is still struggling to perform at its best. Manucho leads the small group of assets but only better team effort would lift Angola higher.

In Gabon-Equatorial Guinea, the Black Antelopes narrowly missed out on Last 8 qualification after conceding a draw against Sudan and losing to Ivory Coast. Angolan fans are expecting more from their side this term.

Morocco

Morocco have a huge Nations Cup history with 14 previous appearances. Like South Africa and Cape Verde, they missed out on the 2010 edition staged in Angola.

Last year was a disaster for the Lions of the Atlas. They were overpowered by North African rivals Tunisia and co-hosts Gabon in breath-taking encounters. In 2013, will they survive the ferocity of the Blue Sharks, the popularity of Bafana Bafana and the hunger of the Black Antelopes?