Profile of Cape Verde Islands team for 2023 Africa Cup of Nations
Africa Cup of Nations record:
Previous appearances in finals: (3) 2013, 2015, 2021
Best performance: Quarter-finalists 2013
Drawn in Group B with Egypt, Ghana and Mozambique.
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Coach: Bubista
Pedro Brito Leitao, known as Bubista, played as a defender for Cape Verde for 14 years, captaining the national team, while playing club football in Angola and Spain, before moving onto a coaching career. He worked at local clubs Mindelense, Academica Mindelo, Sporting Praia and Batuque, winning regional and national championships, before taking over from Rui Aguas as national team coach in January 2020. At the last Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon, he was confined to his hotel room for his side’s opening two games because of a COVID-19 infection.
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Key player: Ryan Mendes. Age: 33. Forward.
Mendes has played in all three of Cape Verde’s previous Cup of Nations finals appearances and is both captain and the country’s most capped international, with 66 appearances since his debut in August, 2010 when he was 20-years-old. He moved from Cape Verde as a promising junior to France, where he played Ligue 2 football with Le Havre and then in Ligue 1 with Lille. The left winger’s club career has included time spent on loan at Nottingham Forest and also at clubs in Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.
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FIFA world ranking Dec. 2023: 73
How they qualified: Runner-up in Group B, behind Burkina Faso but ahead of Togo and Eswatini
Squad
Goalkeepers: Marcio Rosa (Anadia), Dylan Silva (Sintrense), Vozinha (Trencin)
Defenders: Joao Correia (Chaves), Logan Costa (Toulouse), Diney (Al Bataeh), Roberto Lopes (Shamrock Rovers), Steven Moreira (Columbus Crew), Stopira (Boavista da Praia), Dylan Tavares (Bastia)
Midfielders: Patrick Andrade (Qarabag), Cuca (Uniao Leiria), Deroy Duarte (Fortuna Sittard), Laros Duarte (FC Groningen), Joao Paulo (Sheriff Tiraspol), Kevin Pina (FK Krasnodar), Jamiro Monteiro (San Jose Earthquakes), Kenny Rocha (AEZ Zakakiou)
Forwards: Bebe (Rayo Vallecano), Djaniny (Al Fateh), Ryan Mendes (Karagumruk), Garry Rodrigues (Ankaragucu), Jovane (Salernitana), Willy Semedo (Omonia Nicosia), Bryan Teixeira (Sturm Graz), Helio Varela (Portimonense).
Profile of Egypt team for 2023 Africa Cup of Nations
Africa Cup of Nations record:
Previous appearances in finals: (25) 1957, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1970, 1974, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2017, 2019, 2021
Best performance: Winners 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010
Drawn in Group B with the Cape Verde Islands, Ghana and Mozambique.
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Coach: Rui Vitoria
The 53-year-old Portuguese has been in charge of the Egyptian side for the last 18 months after signing a four-year deal in July, 2022. After a modest playing career in the lower reaches of the Portuguese leagues, he made his name as a coach at Vitoria Guimaraes, leading them to cup success over Benfica in 2013. The Lisbon giants signed him to coach them from 2015 and he won two successive league titles with Benfica. He has also won the championship in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr.
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Key player: Mohamed Salah. Age: 31. Forward.
There will again be expectations on Salah’s shoulders as Egypt look to him to return them to winning ways, particularly after the disappointment of losing on penalties to Senegal in the last final in Cameroon. The Liverpool forward has won two African Footballer of the Year awards and become a global icon after a career that has also included spells at Basel, Chelsea, Fiorentina and AS Roma. Salah, Liverpool's leading Premier League goalscorer, made his international debut in 2011 and has since won 93 caps for his country, with the possibility to reach 100 if Egypt do well in the Ivory Coast.
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FIFA world ranking Dec 2023: 33
How they qualified: Top placed team in Group D, ahead of Guinea, Malawi and Ethiopia.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Mohamed Abou Gabal (National Bank), Ahmed El Shennawy (Pyramids), Mohamed El Shennawy (Al Ahly), Mohamed Sobhi (Zamalek)
Defenders: Mohamed Abdelmoneim (Al Ahly), Ahmed Fatouh (Zamalek), Ali Gabr, Osama Galal, Mohamed Hamdy (all Pyramids), Mohamed Hany (Al Ahly), Ahmed Hegazi (Al Ittihad), Yasser Ibrahim (Al Ahly), Omar Kamal (Future), Ahmed Samy (Pyramids)
Midfielders: Emam Ashour, Marwan Attia (both Al Ahly), Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal), Hamdi Fathi (Pyramids), Mahmoud Hamada (Al Ahly), Mohanad Lashin (Pyramids), Ahmed Zizo (Zamalek)
Forwards: Mostafa Fathi (Pyramids), Mahmoud Kahraba (Al Ahly), Ahmed Hassan Kouka (Pendikspor), Omar Marmoush (Eintracht Frankfurt), Mostafa Mohamed (Nantes), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Mahmoud Trezeguet (Trabzonspor).
Profile of Ghana team for 2023 Africa Cup of Nations
Africa Cup of Nations record:
Previous appearances in finals: (23) 1963, 1965, 1968, 1970, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021
Best performance: Winners 1963, 1965, 1978, 1982
Drawn in Group B with the Cape Verde Islands, Egypt and Mozambique
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Coach: Chris Hughton
The former Ireland fullback’s father hails from Ghana and it was this connection that saw him visit the country two years ago where Ghana's FA persuaded him to help with the national team. Hughton was first a technical advisor to coach Otto Addo at the World Cup in Qatar and in March last year took over as coach. His management credentials were built at Newcastle United but it was with Brighton & Hove Albion that he forged his reputation.
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Key player: Mohammed Kudus. Age: 23. Midfielder.
A product of the "Right to Dream" academy, he moved quickly onto FC Nordsjaelland in Denmark and then Ajax Amsterdam before signing for West Ham United, where he has been one of the buys of the season in the Premier League. Kudus was 19 when he scored on his Ghana debut against South Africa in a Cup of Nations qualifier and has netted nine times in 29 appearances for his country. A fractured rib ruled him out of the last Cup of Nations but he did compete at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
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FIFA world ranking Dec 2023: 61
How they qualified: Top team in Group E ahead of Angola, the Central African Republic and Madagascar.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Lawrence Ati-Zigi (St Gallen), Richard Ofori (Orlando Pirates), Joe Wollacott (Hibernian)
Defenders: Daniel Amartey (Leicester City), Alexander Djiku (Fenerbahce), Abdul Fatawu Hamid (Medeama), Gideon Mensah (AJ Auxerre), Denis Odoi (Club Brugge), Nicholas Opoku (Amiens), Mohammed Salisu (AS Monaco), Kingsley Schindler (Samsunspor), Alidu Seidu (Clermont Foot)
Midfielders: Majeed Ashimeru (Anderlecht), Osman Bukari (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia), Baba Iddrisu (Almeria), Ransford Koningsdorffer (Hamburg SV), Mohammed Kudus (West Ham United), Richmond Lamptey (Asante Kotoko), Elisha Owusu (AJ Auxerre), Joseph Paintsil (Racing Genk), Salis Abdul Samed (Racing Lens)
Forwards: Andre Ayew (Le Havre), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace), Ernest Nuamah (Olympique Lyonnais), Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth), Jonathan Sowah (Medeama), Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao)
Profile of Mozambique team for 2023 Africa Cup of Nations
Africa Cup of Nations record:
Previous appearances in finals: (4) 1986, 1996, 1998, 2010
Best performance: Group phase
Drawn in Group B with the Cape Verde Islands, Egypt and Ghana.
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Coach: Chiquinho Conde
One of three brothers to play for Mozambique, Conde had a successful career as a striker in Portugal at Belenenses, Vitoria Setubal and Sporting. He is regarded as the most successful post-independence player for the country where Portugal great Eusebio was born. The 58-year-old, who played for Mozambique at the Cup of Nations in 1986, 1996 and 1998, has managed the national team since late 2021. He coached at club level in Mozambique, winning the Mocambola title with UD Songo.
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Key player: Reinildo. Age: 29. Defender.
Atletico Madrid will not be happy about losing their left back to national team duty at the Cup of Nations one game after his return to LaLiga action following almost a year out of the game. He played 50 of 54 matches at Atletico and had become an important part of coach Diego Simeone’s plans before suffering a serious knee injury in last February’s derby against Real Madrid. Originally signed from Mozambique by Benfica, Reinildo broke through at Belenenses and then moved to Lille.
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FIFA world ranking Dec 2023: 111
How they qualified: Second team in Group L, behind Senegal but ahead of Benin and Rwanda.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Ernan (UD Songo), Fazito (Ferroviario Nampula), Ivane (Associacao Black Bulls)
Defenders: Edmilson (Kaizer Chiefs), Infren (UD Songo), Bruno Langa (Chaves), Domingos Macandza (Costa do Sol), David Malembana (Noah), Mexer (Bandirmaspor), Nene (Associacao Black Bulls), Reinildo (Atletico Madrid)
Midfielders: Alfons Amade (KV Oostende), Amadou (Ferroviario Beira), Clesio Bauque (Honka), Geny Catamo (Sporting Lisbon), Dominguez (UD Songo), Guima (Chaves), Joao (Ferroviario Beira), Gildo Lourenco (Sporting Covilha), Shaquille (Ferroviario Maputo), Witi (Nacional)
Forwards: Lau King (Sagrada Esperanca), Stanley Ratifo (CFR Pforzheim)