Olunga, Mahrez, Samatta, Mane: AFCON Group C Hitmen On The Prowl

17th June 2019 - by Erick Ochieng

SportPesa News runs the rule on the forwards who will competing to fire Kenya, Algeria, Tanzania and Senegal to the knock out stages of Egypt 2019

Michael Olunga (2nd L) in action against the DRC in an international friendly on Saturday, June 16, 2018. PHOTO/Courtesy/FKF

SUMMARY

Having watched the continental showpiece as spectators for the last 15 years, Kenyan football fans will be rooting for their team Harambee Stars that qualified among the 24 teams in the expanded biannual competition having been drawn in Group C alongside Senegal, Algeria and neighbors Tanzania
SportPesa News looks at the hit-men the four nations will rely on to fire them to the top two positions in the pool to qualify automatically for the knockout phase

NAIROBI, Kenya- The Egypt CAF Africa Cup of Nations kicks off on Friday with excitement reaching fever-pitch in the final countdown of the competition.

Having watched the continental showpiece as spectators for the last 15 years, Kenyan football fans will be rooting for their team Harambee Stars that qualified among the 24 teams in the expanded biannual competition having been drawn in Group C alongside Senegal, Algeria and neighbors Tanzania.

SportPesa News looks at the hit-men the four nations will rely on to fire them to the top two positions in the pool to qualify automatically for the knockout phase.

The side below will have to wait to see whether they will join them as one of the best-placed third team across all pools.

Kenya- Harambee Stars

Returning to the AFCON for the first time in 15 years, Stars have three forwards in their final squad, Michael Olunga, John Avire and Masud Juma.

Olunga, who formerly played for SportPesa Premier League (SPL) champions, Gor Mahia FC is the main attacker in head coach Sebastien Migne's team.

The Kashima Reysol striker has netted eight goals for his J2 League side in 14 appearances and comes to the team in great form.

Such is the importance of the former domestic top scorer that his club was initially reluctant to release him for the AFCON before he linked up with his teammates in France less than a fortnight ago.

Lanky Olunga, 25, evolved to his nations' top striker with 14 goals in 32 appearances and last Saturday, he scored a fine goal as the team drew 1-1 with fellow AFCON finalists and former champions, the Democratic Republic of Congo to underline his lethal touch in front of goal.

Avire on the other hand is a surprise call up to the final team having netted seven goals in 38 games for SPL side Sofapaka FC who finished the domestic league third.

He earned Migne's favour as a young forward and marked as one for the future, with the AFCON experience meant to expose him to the big stage as one of the promising talent his nation will be counting on in the coming years. His speed and technique his biggest assets, having scored memorable goals for Batoto ba Mungu.

Juma who is currently unattached was the 2017 SPL Golden Boot winner with 17 goals but since then, his spells at Cape Town City FC in South Africa and Libya have not yielded much.

However, he managed to convince the head coach to give him an AFCON ticket ahead of the likes of Jesse Were of Zesco United FC and the two top SPL scorers, Enos Ochieng' (20) and Allan Wanga (18) and it will be interesting to see what Migne has planned for the striker who on his day, can be lethal in front of goal.

Juma came on against DRC on Saturday but failed to make an impact as The Leopards scored a late equaliser.

Tanzania- Taifa Stars

Tanzania are returning to the AFCON after 29 years and are taking no chances in their hunt for goals, bringing with them six strikers to Egypt.

Their forward will be led by team captain Mbwana Samatta who plays for Belgium Pro League side Racing Genk.

Samatta emerged top scorer in the league, scoring 23 in 38 appearances to win the coveted Ebony Award.

As a former CAF African Based Player Of The Year, the Taifa Stars superstar knows he already has what it takes to battle big boys in the competition. He was instrumental in their AFCON qualifiers, scoring two to take his tally to 17 in 45 caps.

Genk's Aly Mbwana Samatta scores a goal during the soccer match between STVV Sint-Truiden and KRC Racing Genk, Friday 18 January 2019 in Sint-Truiden, on the 22nd day of the 'Jupiler Pro League' Belgian soccer championship season 2018-2019. PHOTO/AFP

Head coach and former Nigeria international striker, Emmanuel Amunike also intends to rely on the vast experience of Simba SC forward John Bocco who has netted 14 goals in 56 appearances.

Bocco was influential in Simba’s 20th domestic league victory as well as their progress to the 2018/19 CAF Champions League quarterfinals.

Thomas Ulimwengu did not have a great season with Algerian side JS Saoura but Amunike will rely on his speed and goal-poaching skills that has seen him rise through the ranks of Tanzania's international set up, from U17, U20 to U23 and now the senior team where he has notched seven goals in 44 games.

Other reliable forwards for Taifa Stars will be Rashid Mandawa (Defence Force/ Botswana), Abdi Yussuf Mussa (Blackpool/England) and Yahya Zayd (Ismaily/Egypt).

Algeria- Desert Foxes

The 1990 champions Algeria will be guided by former CAF Africa Player of The Year Riyad Mahrez in the AFCON.

The former Algerian Footballer of The Year has scored 10 in 43 appearances for his nation since 2014.

He won the Premier League with Leicester City FC in 2016 and was on target on the last day as Manchester City FC buried Brighton 4-1 to lift the trophy on May 12, ending the season with seven in 27 matches.

Algeria's forward Riyad Mahrez (L) challenges Senegal's midfielder Ismaila Sarr during the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations group B football match between Senegal and Algeria in Franceville on January 23, 2017. PHOTO/AFP

Mahrez was part of Algeria’s squad for 2014 FIFA World Cup where his side was eliminated in the round of 16 by eventual winners Germany after extra time.

Youcef Belaili hopes to find the back of the net for Algeria after missing the target in his four appearances with the Desert Foxes.

He is buoyed with the fact that his side, Esperance, lifted the Tunisian league title as well as reached the CAF Champions League finals where they are set to play Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca in the repeat second round at a neutral venue after the AFCON when their 2-1 victory on aggregate was nullified.

After switching international allegiance from France, Yacine Brahimi is ready to show Algeria what he is made of in his second appearance in the tournament.

The Porto FC striker netted 10 in 32 matches including two assists in the season and has been on target on 11 occasions in 45 outing for Algeria including scoring at the 2014 World Cup.

Al Sadd FC forward Baghdad Bounedjah is another notable attacking asset for the Foxes after bagging top scorer award in the Qatar Stars League with a record 39 goals in 22 matches and comes to the AFCON as the most in form striker in their team. He has scored 10 in the 23 games he has featured for his country.

Just like Brahimi, former France U20 Andy Delort is ready to give Algeria his best after earning his first national team call-up. Delort notched 14 in 36 games for Montpelier who finished sixth in French Ligue 1.

Head coach Djamel Belmadi will rely on the experience of Islam Slimani who is the most capped player in the Algerian team.

Slimani did not have a great season with Turkey Super Lig side Fenerbahce, scoring only one goal in 15 matches, but he is ready to realise his mission with the national team where he has found the back of the net 27 times in 60 appearances.

Adam Ounas who netted three goals in 18 matches for Napoli is equally hoping for a fruitful outing with the Desert Foxes in Egypt.

Senegal- Lions of Teranga

Senegal AFCON attack will be led by decorated Sadio Mane who is fresh from winning the 2019 UEFA Champions League Final with Liverpool FC, scoring four goals in 13 matches in the elite European club competition.

Mane pumped in 22 goals in 36 games for Liverpool in the league, steering the club to a second place finish behind champions City where they lost the crown by only a single point.

He was also part of the African trio including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal) and Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) who were joint EPL Golden Boot winners.

Senegal's forward Sadio Mane drives the ball during the 2019 African Cup of Nations Group A qualification football match between Senegal and Madagascar in Thies, on March 23, 2019. PHOTO/AFP

Mané has earned 60 caps for Senegal and scoring 16 goals since his debut in 2012. He has represented the national team at the 2012 Olympics, 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, 2017 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

With Mane in the driving seat, Senegal are hopeful that their chances of making it past semi-finals are high.

They will probably fight hard to ensure there is no repeat of the 2017 events which saw them lost a last-eight penalty shootout to eventual champions Cameroon with Mane shedding tears after missing his kick.

Other prolific forwards for Teranga Lions include Keita Balde who netted five in 24 matches for Inter Milan FC. Since shifting international allegiance from Spain, the 24-year old has scored four times in 23 appearances for Senegal.

Mbaye Diagne has also been on fire since joining Galatasaray FC on February 10 and has since scored 10 in 12 matches for the side.

With the kind of amazing form Diagne is likely to stretch his three goal tally in five appearances for Senegal in Egypt.

Moussa Konate of Amiens FC is a seasoned player with the national side, having represented Senegal in the U20, U23 and the senior team where he has scored 12 times in 32 caps. Konate helped Amiens to escape French Ligue 1 relegation, scoring seven goals in 27 matches.

Rennes FC star Mbaye Niang is best remembered for scoring Senegal winner against Poland at the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup and the lanky striker is expected to bring his A-game to Egypt after leading his club to a 10th place finish in Ligue 1 where he scored 11 goals in 21 matches.

Niang has vast experience with his country’s national teams, having represented Senegal in the U16, U17, and 21. He has made 14 appearances with four goals since joining the senior team in 2017.

Niang will be together with club-mate Ismaila Sarr who notched eight goals in 35 matches for Rennes and has scored thrice in 20 appearances for the country.

Nimes forward Sada Thioub is also a promising young talent that head coach Aliou Cisse is determined to utilise regularly.

Thioub will be making his debut for Senegal but he has already shown potential after netting three goals in 38 matches for Nimes who finished ninth in Ligue 1.