There’s Gloucestershire interest in one of today’s African Cup Of Nations fixtures, as Forest Green Rovers midfielder Ebou Adams is set represent Gambia as they take on Mauritania.
Born in Greenwich but eligible to represent Gambia through his parents, Adams has eight caps for the Scorpions to date, playing in a similar central midfield role as he does for his domestic club.
Gambia are ranked 47 places below Mauritania in the FIFA rankings, but could be considered favourites given the calibre of their players. Modou Barrow is another player recognizable to British football fans after stints with Swansea City and Reading. Other star players include Saidy Janko (Real Valladoid), Musa Barrow (Bologna) and Assan Ceesay (FC Zurich).
By contrast, Mauritania’s squad is made of mostly domestic-based players, with a handful of players featuring in North Africa and Southern Europe. Their talisman is French-born Aris Thessaloniki striker Aboubakar Kamara, who was only capped by Mauritania for the first time in March 2021.
Elsewhere, the day’s early kick-off sees the highest-ranked nation Tunisia face Mali in what should prove to be the day’s marquee fixture.
Tunisia have the burden of expectation, and the 2004 winners arrive at the tournament in good form, with 12 wins and just three defeats since the beginning of 2021. They finished fourth in the previous edition, the first time they had ventured further than the quarter finals since they won the whole thing.
Whabi Khazri is the obvious standout in their team, with seven goals in Ligue 1 for Saint Etienne in 2021/22, whilst the emergence of Manchester United youngster Hannibal Mejbri is exciting Tunisian fans.
Meanwhile, Mali are going through a bit of a golden generation. Yves Bissouma (Brighton & Hove Albion), Amadou Haidara (RB Leipzig), Mohamed Camara (Red Bull Salzburg) and Diade Samassekou (Hoffenheim) are all high quality midfielders, whilst 22-year-old Ibrahima Kone scored five goals in five games during qualification.
However, goals could be the downfall for the Eagles, with no player amongst their squad with double-figure goal tallies for their country.
The late kick-off today will see two-time AFCON champions Ivory Coast open their campaign against Equatorial Guinea, in what could be the most one-sided contest of the day. Transfermarkt values the Ivory Coast squad at £263 million, 50 times higher than Equatorial Guinea.
Equatorial Guinea, ranked 114th in the world by FIFA, are comparative minnows to the star studded Elephants. Captain Emilio Nsue has 13 goals in his 25 caps and is their star player, but is currently without a club.
By contrast, Ivory Coast can call upon from a number of players from Europe’s major leagues, including the likes of Eric Bailly (Manchester United), Serge Aurier (Villareal), Franck Kessie (AC Milan) and Sebastien Haller (Ajax Amsterdam). Haller is currently in the form of his life, scoring 10 Champions League goals in just six appearances during the group stage.
AFCON schedule 12/01:
13:00 – Tunisia vs Mali – Limbe Stadium, Limbe
16:00 – Mauritania vs Gambia – Limbe Stadium, Limbe
19:00 – Equatorial Guinea vs Ivory Coast – Japoma Stadium, Douala