5 Players to Watch in AFCON Qualifiers on November 19
Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers conclude Wednesday with a full schedule of matches across the continent.
Heading into this final round of group-stage fixtures, five automatic places remain up for grabs. In Groups A, B and D, two teams are competing for one spot, while Group E remains the most open pool of all—any of the four teams can still secure top spot.
Beyond the automatic spots, there will also be one team fortunate enough to qualify as the best third-place team, giving some of the fixtures an extra dimension.
In this feature, we profile five players to watch in November 19’s AFCON qualifiers.
Ogenyi Onazi
1 of 5
For the first year or so of his Nigeria career, Ogenyi Onazi could do no wrong.
He was the bright young thing in the heart of the Super Eagles midfield, a symbol of all that was good and right about the Stephen Keshi era. The SS Lazio man made his first forays into the national side in the matches preceding the 2013 Cup of Nations, before being an ever present during the latter stages of the competition.
It was a meteoric rise, but few doubted that Onazi belonged.
Even this summer at the World Cup, his energetic, astute performances in midfield came in contrast to John Obi Mikel’s lethargic displays alongside him.
Indeed, could things have been different had an ill-timed Blaise Matuidi tackle not ended his match in the last 16 against France?
However, since the World Cup, Onazi has struggled as Nigeria have declined.
He was lambasted by Mikel during the Congo match for supposed ill discipline, and commentators such as James Ezimoha of Goal Nigeria have called for him to be dropped.
Surely, with Hope Akpan injured, Keshi wouldn’t willingly lose another central midfielder, but if Onazi does play in the must-win contest against South Africa, he must keep his cool.
Salomon Kalou
2 of 5
Quite rightly, the Ivory Coast’s abject defensive displays have caught the eye during the 2015 Cup of Nations qualifying series.
The Elephants headed into the last round of fixtures with the worse defensive record in Africa and weren’t even able to keep a clean sheet against already eliminated Sierra Leone.
However, while the back line will surely be keeping new coach Herve Renard awake at night, he can be confident that his team are lethal in attack.
They have scored 13 goals in five games and are—by some distance—Africa’s great entertainers at the moment.
While the team struggles to settle on a striker to replace Didier Drogba, one of the “old heads," Salomon Kalou, is proving to be an incredibly effective presence.
The Hertha Berlin forward scored twice against the Democratic Republic of Congo to almost rescue a point for the Elephants and followed that up with another brace against the Leone Stars on Friday night.
He heads into the final crunch match with Cameroon as the joint-second top scorer in qualifying. A draw will see the Ivorians to Equatorial Guinea; can Kalou once again rise to the occasion and continue Renard’s salvage operation?
David Accam
3 of 5
When Ghana beat Guinea at home in the middle of October, they realistically needed just two draws to secure Cup of Nations qualification.
They were expected to secure progression against Uganda on Saturday, but a dreary defeat away in Kampala has threatened to derail the Black Stars’ AFCON ambitions.
They welcome Togo to Tamale with the Sparrowhawks knowing that victory would guarantee their spot at the 2015 showpiece. For Maxwell Konadu’s Ghana, a draw would suffice, however, considering the West Africans’ recent form, nothing should be taken for granted.
Injuries have further compounded their problems.
Kwadwo Asamoah is out, while Asamoah Gyan returned to the camp Tuesday, per Goal.com, having missed the weekend’s match through injury—there can be no guarantees about the star striker’s fitness.
As if things couldn’t get any worse, Andre Ayew, one of the team’s key figures (and their stand-in skipper) suffered a knock against the Cranes and will also be missing.
In the absence of these three critical talents, Ghana need someone who can make a difference in the final third.
Could that man be David Accam? After many false starts, the Helsingborgs striker finally made his debut as a substitute against Uganda.
He impressed late on with his bright movement and desire to make things happen—will Konadu allow him to build on his promising showing and start against Togo?
He could do a lot worse!
Seydou Keita
4 of 5
Mali, like Ghana, ought to really have wrapped up qualification already.
The Eagles travelled to Blantyre on Saturday knowing that a draw against Malawi would have seen them guaranteed a spot at the 2015 Cup of Nations. After remaining tight for over an hour, however, two second-half goals for the home side ensured a 2-0 victory.
Mali and Malawi now go into the final round of fixtures neck-and-neck on points, with their head-to-head record identical. Goal difference favours Mali, but the West Africans can surely feel the Flames breathing down their necks and licking at their heels.
To make matters worse, Mali need to welcome Algeria to Bamako on Wednesday; the North Africans have lost only three of their last 21 matches and only once against African opposition.
If Mali are to win, they will need midfielder Seydou Keita to be at his best.
The veteran is an experienced operator who has risen to the absolute pinnacle of the sport; his Champions League winner’s medals can only be envied from afar by the majority of his team-mates.
Speaking to Kick Off ahead of the fixture, Keita remains confident: “I am still confident we can qualify for the 2015 Afcon. There are many nations who are also struggling. We are going to do anything to defeat Algeria and qualify. It is going to be very difficult, but we must do it. I am praying to God for Mali to be at this showpiece of continental football. We mustn’t give up.”
Dean Furman
5 of 5
Installed as South Africa captain following the tragic death of Senzo Meyiwa, Dean Furman has wasted little time in proving he is the right man for the role.
The Doncaster Rovers midfielder led by example against Sudan as Bafana Bafana secured a 2-1 victory and confirmed their place among the continent’s elite.
I claimed, quite boldly, back in September that South Africa have potentially one of Africa’s top five central midfields. Furman—alongside the likes of Andile Jali and Thulani Serero—is a crucial figure, and the captaincy only seems to have sharpened his competitive edge.
Shakes Mashaba’s side are through to the tournament and thus their contest with Nigeria holds no tangible bearing. However, for the memory of Meyiwa, and for the opportunity to secure their first victory over the Super Eagles in a decade, surely Furman will ensure that his troops are at their best.
