Africa Cup of Nations 2019 preview

Africa Cup of Nations 2019 Preview - Introduction

This is perhaps the strongest Copa Africa lineup we have seen, with many sides featuring star players at the very top of the European game. This should make for a wide-open competition with the top eight sides in particular capable of beating one another on their day.

The first match is on June 21 in Cairo. Hosts Egypt take on Cairo International Stadium Zimbabwe in Group A. The match will be held at 22:00 CET.

The final game will be played in the same stadium on July 19 at 21:00 CET, with the third-place play-off two days earlier in Al-Salam Stadium.

Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - The Groups

Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - The Schedule (CET time)

Group stage

Friday, June 21
Egypt vs. Zimbabwe, 22:00

Saturday, June 22
DR Congo vs. Uganda, 16:30
Nigeria vs. Burundi, 19:00
Guinea vs. Madagascar, 22:00

Sunday, June 23
Morocco vs. Namibia, 16:30
Senegal vs. Tanzania, 19:00
Algeria vs. Kenya, 22:00

Monday, June 24
Ivory Coast vs. South Africa, 16:30
Tunisia vs. Angola, 19:00
Mali vs. Mauritania, 22:00

Tuesday, June 25
Cameroon vs. Guinea-Bissau, 19:00
Ghana vs. Benin, 22:00

Wednesday, June 26
Nigeria vs. Guinea, 16:30
Uganda vs. Zimbabwe, 19:00
Egypt vs. DR Congo, 22:00

Thursday, June 27
Madagascar vs. Burundi, 16:30
Senegal vs. Algeria, 19:00
Kenya vs. Tanzania, 22:00

Friday, June 28
Tunisia vs. Mali, 16:30
Morocco vs. Ivory Coast, 19:00
South Africa vs. Namibia, 22:00

Saturday, June 29
Mauritania vs. Angola, 16:30
Cameroon vs. Ghana, 19:00
Benin vs. Guinea-Bissau, 22:00

Sunday, June 30
Burundi vs. Guinea, 18:00
Madagascar vs. Nigeria, 18:00
Uganda vs. Egypt, 21:00
Zimbabwe vs. DR Congo, 21:00

Monday, July 1
South Africa vs. Morocco, 18:00
Namibia vs. Ivory Coast, 18:00
Tanzania vs. Algeria, 21:00
Kenya vs. Senegal, 21:00

Tuesday, July 2
Benin vs. Cameroon, 18:00
Guinea-Bissau vs. Ghana, 18:00
Angola vs. Mali, 21:00
Mauritania vs. Tunisia, 21:00

Round of 16

Friday, July 5
Winner Group D vs. 3rd Group B/E/F (Match 41), 18:00
Runner-up Group A vs. Runner-up Group C (Match 38), 21:00

Saturday, July 6
Runner-up Group B vs. Runner-up Group F (Match 42), 18:00
Winner Group A vs. 3rd Group C/D/E (Match 39), 21:00

Sunday, July 7
Winner Group B vs. 3rd Group A/C/D (Match 37), 18:00
Winner Group C vs. 3rd Group A/B/F (Match 40), 21:00

Monday, July 8
Winner Group E vs. Runner-up Group D (Match 43), 19:00
Winner Group F vs. Runner-up Group E (Match 44), 21:00

Quarter-finals

Wednesday, July 10
Winner Match 38 vs. Winner Match 41 (Match 45), 19:00
Winner Match 42 vs. Winner Match 39 (Match 48), 21:00

Thursday, July 11
Winner Match 43 vs. Winner Match 40 (Match 47), 19:00
Winner Match 37 vs. Winner Match 44 (Match 46), 21:00

Semi-finals

Sunday, July 14
Winner Match 45 vs. Winner Match 46 (Match 49), 18:00
Winner Match 47 vs. Winner Match 48 (Match 50), 21:00

Third-place play-off

Wednesday, July 17
Loser Match 49 vs. Loser Match 50, 21:00

Final

Friday, July 19
Winner Match 49 vs. Winner Match 50, 21:00

Egypt are the replacement hosts after the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations was stripped from Cameroon due to delays in the delivery of infrastructurefrom at the end of 2018.

Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - The Venues

The tournament will be held across four Egyptian cities, in six stadiums. The six venues are Cairo International Stadium, 30 June Stadium and Al Salam Stadium in Cairo, Alexandria Stadium in Alexandria, Suez Stadium in Suez, and Ismailia Stadium in Ismailia,

Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - The Official TV Broadcasters & live streaming information

Copa America 2019 Football competition will be broadcast live by Various channel around the world and its covering Majority of countries from the globe. 
Here are the details about how viewers around the world can watch the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

Territory	Channel
Algeria	EPTV
Asia-Pacific	BeIN Sports
Australia	beIN Sports
Bangladesh	Sony SIX Sony ESPN
Benin	ORTB
Bhutan	Sony SIX Sony ESPN
Brazil	DAZN
Canada	beIN Sports (English) Univision Canada (Spanish) RDS (French)
Cape Verde	RTC
Caribbean	Flow Sports
Central America	ESPN
Colombia	Caracol TV RCN Television
Democratic Republic of the Congo	RTNC
DOMTOM	France Télévisions
Egypt	Time Sports,ERTU,Arena Sport
Equatorial Guinea	RTVGE
France	beIN Sports
Gabon	GTV
Ghana	GTV/KTV
India	Sony SIX Sony ESPN
Ireland	Eurosport Ireland RTÉ Sport
Israel	Sport 5
Italy	DAZN
Ivory Coast	RTI
Cameroon	CRTV
Japan	NHK DAZN
Maldives	Sony SIX Sony ESPN
Mali	ORTM
MENA	beIN Sports
Mexico	Televisa ESPN
Morocco	SNRT
Mauritania	TV de Mauritanie
Nepal	Sony SIX Sony ESPN
Netherlands	Fox Sports Netherlands
New Zealand	Sky Sport
Norway	TV 2 Sport Norway
Pakistan	Sony SIX Sony ESPN
Portugal	Eurosport Portugal
San Marino	DAZN
Senegal	RTS
South Africa	SABC
South America (except Brazil)	ESPN
South Korea	JTBC3 Fox Sports
Southeastern Europe	Arena Sport *
Spain	Eurosport Spain
Sri Lanka	Sony SIX Sony ESPN
Sub-Saharan Africa	SuperSport (English and Portuguese) TV5Monde Afrique (French) Canal+ Sport Afrique
Togo	TVT international
Tunisia	ERTT
Turkey	Smart Spor
United Kingdom	Eurosport
United States	beIN Sports (English and Spanish)
Vatican City	Fox Sports Italia

* Available in the following countries: Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and North Macedonia

Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - Live streaming information

Live streaming service for the Copa America 2019 is available for all bet365 users that have placed a bet in the last 24 hours or have a funded account. Note that geo-blocking restrictions for different events and T&Cs apply. Check the bet365 website for eligibility.

Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - The Winner Odds*

Egypt are the most successful team in this competition as they have won the trophy 7 times.

Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - The predictions: Who are the AFCON 2019 favourites?

AFCON 2019 team-by-team preview

Hosts Egypt boast perhaps the tournament’s best player in Mohamed Salah. There is an issue with how dependent the side can be on their talisman, however. 

The Liverpool attacker has scored at an impressive rate of 0.62 goals per match for his national side, however, his 39 goals almost match the totals of the rest of the squad combined (42 international goals). They will need him fit and firing to make the most of their home advantage.

Read also: Copa America 2019 preview - Why are Brazil favourites to win Copa America 2019?

Senegal possess arguably the strongest overall squad with Kalidou Koulibaly anchoring a solid backline and Champions League winner Sadio Mane headlining what is, alongside the Ivory Coast, the tournament’s most threatening attack.

The Ivory Coast are one team that potentially have a stronger side than the odds reflect. An attack featuring Nicolas Pepe, Wilfired Zaha, and Maxwel Cornet should be too much for Namibia and South Africa in the group stage.

However, the team may struggle defensively against the continent’s better sides. Eric Baily’s absence through injury leaves Serge Aurier to lead a backline inexperienced at the top level.

The Ivory Coast’s group D challengers Morocco are another side who can contest for the trophy. Youssef En-Nesyri has shown good progress this year and will have the impressive Hakim Ziyech to create for him. Coach Herve Renard has two AFCON wins already, most impressively with Zambia in 2012, so certainly has some pedigree in this competition.

Neighbouring Algeria also possess genuine quality in the form of Riyad Mahrez and a solid overall squad.

Nigeria are another strong side and are undefeated since the 2018 World Cup. They are always a threat in this competition and, with a youthful but talented squad, this year’s tournament should be no different.

Ignoring home advantage Senegal are the pick of the sides but much will depend upon how effective Salah can be for the hosts. If a team can neutralize him in the knockout stages then the favourites will be in trouble.

In contrast, it is difficult to see many teams capable of doing this to Senegal’s multifaceted attack.

AFCON 2019 - Outsiders to watch

Surprisingly it is Guinea who can boast what could be the tournaments best midfield pairing. Amadou Diawara, and, especially, Naby Keita, are high-class performers who can get the most from the dangerous Francois Kamano on the break. Keita, in particular, is crucial to the team, so how he recovers from his injury problems ahead of the tournament will be pivotal to their success.

A kind group draw, with minnows Madagascar and Burundi, could mean the Liverpool midfielder’s unique talents are not needed until the knockout stages, so he could be available for their pivotal matches.

It is difficult to see many of the other true longshots challenging such a strong selection of big sides. Angola are one of the few who could manage, with several solid Europe-based players in their lineup.

A strong defense made up of players from the like of Girona, Lazio, and Sporting Lisbon can provide a base for new addition Wilson Eduardo to shine.

The 28-year-old was highly thought of as a youth player and brings some attacking nous to an otherwise solid squad. He scored on debut in the side’s 1-0 win over Botswana, hinting at a strategy that may be successful for the underdogs.

The Angola win can be backed at 5.75*  for their opening game against Tunisia. They are capable of causing a shock in that fixture to start their tournament off well.

AFCON 2019 - Mismatched teams

This AFCON tournament is the first to feature the expanded 24 team format. Three debutants (Mauritania, Burundi and Madagascar) have qualified, alongside six teams who have never progressed beyond the group stage.

Cameroon celebrates being crowned Champions during the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.

Africa Cup of Nations - Goals per game

There are some generally fairly poor-quality teams in the competition which could see some higher-scoring wins in what has usually been a low-scoring tournament in recent years. The 2017 edition featured just 2.06 goals per match, the lowest in the past five tournaments. This will be expected to increase this time around.

Given the tournament format, with the four best third-place teams qualifying alongside the group winners and runners-up, the strongest sides shouldn’t be too stretched until the knockout stages arrive. Expect the draw to play a part in which of the outsiders can progress, and bear in mind the implications of group standings ahead of the final group stage fixtures

* Odds correct as of 17:30pm, Tuesday 18th Jun 2019