2017 AFCON Group D: Ghana, Mali, Egypt, Uganda squads & fixtures

Topics: TV Schedules, TV Listings, Ghana, Mali, Egypt, Uganda, AFCON 2017

Ahead of the 2017 AFCON tournament, LiveSoccerTV.com provides you with all the info about Group D. Who are the favorites? Is this the so-called Group of Death?

Group D. This really could be the so-called "Group of Death" at AFCON 2017. That is, if there is actually one. Group C could also be pretty tricky, as it features Morocco, reigning champs Ivory Coast, Togo, and DR Congo. In any case, we have provided an overview of Group A, Group B, and Group C, so let's have a look at the final group in the upcoming tournament, which includes Ghana, Mali, Egypt, and Uganda.

Ghana: Can the Black Stars finally end their long wait for AFCON glory?

Ghana suffered heartbreak at the last AFCON tournament as they were unable to get better of the Ivory Coast. After a tense scoreless match, the game went to spot-kicks, during which the Elephants came out on top to clinch their second AFCON title. To date, the Black Stars have won four AFCON titles (1963, 1965, 1978, 1982) and presently are ranked 54th in the world by FIFA.

Led by Israeli boss Avram Grant, (who will be well-known to Chelsea fans for his time with the Blues), Ghana have a pretty stellar record in this competition. In addition to their aforementioned four titles, they've finished as runners-up on three occasions (1992, 2010, 2015) and in fact, have not finished out of the top four in the past five editions of this tournament.

However, Grant's time on the Black Stars bench is in doubt. Appointed after Ghana's utter embarrassing showing at the 2014 World Cup, which off-pitch issues contributed to a group-stage exit, he reportedly has a rather contentious relationship with the local media. Star quality for Ghana is certainly not lacking as they boast players like Asamoah Gyan, Jordan Ayew, and Andre Ayew as well as Atletico Madrid's Thomas Partey, Udinese's Emmanuel Ageymang-Badu, and Torino's Afriyie Acquah.

In terms of personnel, there are some notable exclusions from Grant's squad. Interestingly, there is no room for Leicester City's Jeff Schlupp. Meanwhile, Juventus midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah is not with
the team after declining a call-up to stay with the Bianconeri this January.

Here's their squad for the tournament:

Goalkeepers: Razak Braimah (Cordoba, Spain), Abdul-Fatau Dauda (Enyimba, Nigeria), Richard Ofori (Wa All Stars)

Defenders: Harrison Afful (Columbus Crew, USA), Andy Yiadom (Barnsley, England), Baba Rahman (Schalke, Germany), Frank Acheampong (Anderlecht, Belgium), (John Boye (Sivasspor, Turkey), Jonathan Mensah (Columbus Crew, USA), Daniel Amartey (Leicester City, England), Edwin Gyimah (Orlando Pirates, South Africa)

Midfielders: Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (Udinese, Italy), Afriyie Acquah (Torino, Italy), Thomas Partey (Atletico Madrid, Spain) Mubarak Wakaso (Panathinaikos, Greece), Christian Atsu (Newcastle, England), Ebenezer Ofori (AIK Stockholm, Sweden), Samuel Tetteh (Leifering, Austria)

Forwards: Asamoah Gyan (Al Ahly, UAE) Jordan Ayew (Aston Villa, England), Andre Ayew (West Ham, England), Ebenezer Assifuah (Sion, Switzerland), Bernard Tekpetey (Schalke, Germany)

Mali: What can they achieve? Or is an early exit on the cards for the Eagles?

Although they have only featured at nine prior AFCON tournaments, Mali have a pretty good track record overall. The Eagles have managed to reach at least the semi-finals on six occasions, which includes two third-placed finishes in 2012 and 2013. However, they crashed out in the group stages in 2015 and were not exactly the most impressive side during qualifiers - but it was still enough to top their group with five wins, one draw and secure their spot at AFCON 2017.

Alain Giresse is currently the man in charge. This is the former French midfielder's second spell with the team, having managed them from 2010 to 2012. Under his tenure, Mali secured third spot, which was their best ever result since finishing as runners-up in 1972. They're presently ranked 64th in the world, but can they be AFCON 2017's surprise package? After all, they do have a knack for managing to get through to the latter stages in prior editions.

One key player that is no longer with the squad is none other than Seydou Keita, who is presently the nation's all-time top goalscorer and most capped player. Keita, who won a slew of titles with Barcelona (including 3 La Ligas and 2 Champions League trophies) retired from international duty in 2015.

Here's their squad for AFCON 2017:

Goalkeepers: Soumaila Diakite (Stade Malien de Bamako), Djigui Diarra (Stade Malien de Bamako), Oumar Sissoko (Orléans, France)

Defenders: Ousmane Coulibaly (Panathinaikos, Greece), Hamari Traore (Reims, France), Molla Wague (Udinese, Italy), Salif Coulibaly (TP Mazembe, DR Congo), Mohamed Oumar Konate (RS Berkane, Morocco), Mahamadou N’Diaye (Troyes, France), Youssouf Kone (Lille, France)

Midfielders: Yves Bissouma (Lille, France), Mamoutou N’Diaye (Royal Antwerp, Belgium), Lassana Coulibaly (Bastia, France), Yacouba Sylla (Montpellier, France), Samba Sow (Kayserispor, Turkey), Adama Traore (AS Monaco, France), Sambou Yatabare (Werder Bremen, Germany)

Forwards: Moussa Marega (Vitoria Guimaraes, Portugal), Kalifa Coulibaly (Gent, Belgium), Mustapha Yatabare (Karabukspor, Turkey), Bakary Sako (Crystal Palace, England), Moussa Doumbia (Rostov, Russia)

Egypt: The Pharaohs looking to rule supreme once again

No other team in Africa can boast of as much success as Egypt. The Pharaohs have clinched a whopping seven AFCON titles and have made 23 appearances at this competition. Their most recent triumph, however, was back in 2010, and they actually failed to qualify for the past three editions. That is indeed quite shocking, especially considering that they had won three in a row from 2006 to 2010, with their other four titles taking place in 1957, 1959, 1986, and 1998.

Political turmoil, of course, didn't help the country's cause. Egypt, not surprisingly, have also been semi-finalists on 14 occasions and more important, were quite impressive in qualifiers. They absolutely blitzed Nigeria to clinch top spot with ten points, five ahead of the Super Eagles and it will be very interesting to see how the Pharaohs perform now that they've back on the AFCON stage after a seven year hiatus.

Ranked 35th, the team are led by Argentinian coach Hector Cuper, who famously guided Valencia to the Champions League final in 2000 and 2001, but lost on both occasions to Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. Much of the talk has been about Roma's Mohamed Salah, who continues to impress for the Giallorossi this season as well as Arsenal's Mohamed El Nenny, who is also having a solid season, but another notable player is shot-stopper Essam El Hadary. Should he feature, El Hadary, who will turn 44 in a few days' time, will become the oldest player in this competition's history. Right now, that record belongs to Hossam Hassan, who was 39 when he featured for Egypt at the 2006 edition.

Here's their squad for AFCON 2017:

Goalkeepers: Sherif Ekramy (Al Ahly), Essam El Hadary (WadiDegla), Ahmed El Shennawi (Zamalek)

Defenders: Mohamed Abdelshafi (Al Ahly Jeddah), Ahmed Dwidar(Zamalek), Ahmed Elmohamady (Hull City), Ahmed Fathi (Ahly), Omar Gaber (FC Basel), Ali Gabr (Zamalek), Karim Hafez (Racing Lens), Ahmed Hegazy, Saad Samir (both Al Ahly)

Midfielders: Mohamed El Nenny (Arsenal), Abdallah El Said (Al Ahly), Mahmoud Trezeguet Hassan (Royal Mouscron-Peruwelz), Tarek Hamed, Ibrahim Salah (both Zamalek), Amr Warda (Panetolikos)

Forwards: Mahmoud Abdelmoneim Kahraba (Al Ahly Jeddah), Ahmed Hassan Kouka (Sporting Braga), Marwan Mohsen (Al Ahly), Mohamed Salah (Roma), Ramadan Sobhi (Stoke City)

Uganda: Hoping to make East Africa proud at AFCON

1978. That was the last time Uganda featured at an AFCON tournament. It also so happens to be their best ever finish, when they finished as runners up in the final against Ghana. The Cranes are making their sixth overall AFCON appearance this month and qualified for this edition after finishing second in their group behind Burkina Faso.

Ranked 73rd in the world, they are presently led by experienced Serbian tactician Milutin 'Micho' Sredojevic, who has spent well over a decade in Africa. Previously, he managed the Rwanda national squad prior to being sacked in 2013. Despite having lots of ambition, Uganda are widely viewed as underdogs to get out of their tough quartet, and will be heavily relying on shot-stopper Denis Onyango, who played a vital role in his club Mamelodi Sundowns clinching the African Champions League. For his efforts, he was named as the best African-based player of the year by the CAF.

Here's their squad for the tournament:

Goalkeepers: Salim Jamal (Al Merrikh, Sudan), Robert Odongkara (Saint George, Ethiopia), Denis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa)

Defenders: Timothy Dennis Awany (KCCA, Uganda), Joseph Ochaya (KCCA, Uganda), Shafiq Batambuze (Tusker, Kenya), Denis Iguma (Al Ahed, Lebanon), Isaac Isinde (Unattached), Murushid Juuko (Simba, Tanzania), Nicholas Wadada (Vipers, Uganda)

Midfielders: Khalid Aucho (Baroka, South Africa), Mike Azira (Colorado Rapids, USA), Geoffrey Kizito (Than Quang Ninh, Vietnam), William Luwagga Kizito (Rio Ave, Portugal), Tony Mawejje (Thotur, Iceland), Hassan Wasswa (Nejmeh, Lebanon), Moses Oloya (Hanoi T and T, Vietnam), Godfrey Walusimbi (Gor Mahia, Kenya)

Forwards: Geoffrey Massa (Baroka, South Africa), Faruku Miya (Standard Liege, Belgium), Yunus Sentamu (Ilves, Finland), Geoffrey Sserunkuma (KCCA, Uganda), Muhammed Shaban (Onduparaka, Uganda)