Afcon 2019 kicks off on the 21st June in a match between hosts Egypt and Group A counterparts Zimbabwe. The seven-time champions had to step in after security issues and delays in the construction of infrastructure put paid to the Cameroon hosting the event.
Now the crème de la crème of African football will battle it out at six stadia in four Egyptian cities - Cairo, Alexandra, Suez and Ismailia. As can be expected pundits have gazed deep into the crystal ball and are predicting final victory for either Egypt or Senegal.
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Afcon 2019 - Cooler Conditions and More Teams
This year has witnessed a few significant changes, not least of which is the fact that the tournament will be held in winter for the first time in its 62-year history. Up until Afcon 2019 the event was contested in January, a month when searing heat and uncomfortable conditions almost always took a toll on players and fans.
Along with a welcome change in scheduling, the powers that be have also expanded the tournament. In 2019 the Africa Cup of Nations will feature 24 national teams, each with a squad of 23 players. The teams making their debut at the most prestigious football tournament in Africa are Burundi, Madagascar and Mauritania.
Chad will not be competing in this year’s Cup. The north African country was banned by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) due to their withdrawal from the Afcon qualifiers in 2017.
How Egypt Won the Hosting Hotseat
As can be expected, the initial bid to host the tournament was hotly contested. Kenya in conjunction with Uganda was one of 11 nations that had their bids rejected. Algeria, Ivory Coast and the Cameroon were the final three in the running. Once the 2017 event was decided, Cameroon automatically got the nod.
When the Cameroon was unable to fulfil their mandate as hosts, Egypt and South Africa had to battle it out for the honours. Egypt were the overwhelming favourites winning the vote by a whopping 16-1… and the right to host the tournament for a record fifth time!
If history is anything to go by, Egypt is well-placed to win the event for the eighth time simply by virtue of the fact that they are the hosts. As they’ve won three of the four Cups held in the land of the pharaohs, the odds are firmly stacked in their favour!
What Do the Afcon Champions Win?
The national side that does lift the Cup will win a cool $4.5 million in prize money. They will also take home a full-size replica of the Italian-made gold-plated trophy. The runners-up share $2.5 million in hard cash!
Goals Galore
The most goals ever scored at the Africa Cup of Nations was 99 goals in 32 matches. The strike fest happened at the 2008 tournament hosted by Ghana. That’s also the year when former Premier League star and Cameroonian striker Samuel Eto’o scored the most goals in the tournament, with five.
Overall, Eto’o is also the leading goal scorer in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations. The awesomely talented forward racked up 18 goals in six tournaments.
The best-ever statistics for goals scored per match was in 1962 when an average of 4.5 goals were scored in four games. In the current format of 32 matches, the best goals per match average was in the year 2000 when 73 goals were scored at an average of 2.28 per match. Can Champions League superstar Mohamed Salah weave his magic in Afcon 2019?
Stand to win K50,000 in cash
The continent’s best are ready to face off in Egypt and battle it out for African glory. Predict the score of each match in the 2019 AFCON competition to earn points, top the leaderboard at the end of the competition, and you’ll walk away with K50,000 in cash.
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