After the draw of the Africa Cup of Nations 2021 (postponed to 2022), which was held at the Yaoundé Congress Center, this Tuesday, August 17, coaches, federation presidents and some legends about African football reacted to the microphone in RFI.
CAN 2021 has already been launched. 52 matches await lovers of African football from January 9 to February 6, 2022 in Cameroon. The attraction of this issue took place this Tuesday, August 17 in Yaoundé under the direction of Nigerian journalist Mimi Fawaz and Cameroonian presenter Leonard Chatelain. Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o, Gaëlle Enganamouit, Algerian Rabah Madjer, Ivorian Didier Drogba and Ghanaian Asamoah Gyan have drawn the 24 teams that will go out in the race to succeed Algeria.
Cameroon “will do everything to get to the end” The host country will face Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and Cape Verde in Group A.
Roger milla, legend of the indomitable lions, winner of CAN 1984 and 1988: “I have confidence in 2017 no one saw the indomitable lions among the favorites. And we won. They took our advice. And I’m sure these guys will do anything to make it to the end ”.
Always a pleasure to lift the Africa Cup of Nations trophy, even more so in my country. ?
Good luck to all teams but mostly Cameroon. ?? pic.twitter.com/mnNCiX3Esa
– Roger Milla (@ roger_milla_9) August 17, 2021
Jacques Songo’o, former goalkeeper in Cameroon, winner of CAN 1984, 1988 and 2002: “You have to prepare well. People think it will be easy for Cameroon. Today there is no longer a small team. No one can feel spared. We could also end up in five months with the wounded. I still think it’s always good to have smaller opponents like the ones we are going to cross swords with. We will immediately start preparations for CAN. We will need to reorganize our team and prepare well. When it comes to drawing, I am proud of my country ”.
“This year it’s in Senegal” Senegal, the finalist for the 2019 edition is in Group B with Zimbabwe, Guinea and Malawi.
El-Hadji Diouf, former Senegalese international, CAN finalist and World Cup quarterfinalist 2002: “Our group is very open. Everyone must play their qualification carefully and respect their opponents. A final for us will be the crown of all our efforts. I think this year is Senegal’s. We’ll be looking for the final. It will be difficult, but in my opinion we will show very beautiful things during this CAN. Everything is there to have a good competition ”.
Morocco, Ghana, Comoros, Gabon: “a solid C group”Patrice Neveu, Gabon’s coach: “The goal is to get out of the group even if it looks difficult. It is up to us to be firm on the ground to get results. These will be matches where you have to be patient. It will be played on narrow scores. It is a solid group, but we are part of the good teams ”
“Egypt and Nigeria are football powers” After missing the last four editions, Sudan will have a hard time meeting Egypt, Nigeria and Guinea-Bissau in pool D.
Kamal Hamid Ibrahim Shaddad, President of the Sudanese Football Federation: “Egypt and Nigeria are football powers. Guinea Bissau is not a nation to be neglected, as they must fight to qualify. So we have a big challenge to address. There is still a lot of work to be done. We are making good progress. If we make a good preparation, we can surprise. Everyone gives us losers. CAN will also be a way for us to grow by measuring ourselves against the biggest teams on the continent. But we will fight ”.
“Matches played” for Ivory Coast Ivory Coast will face defending champions Algeria, Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea in Group E.
Patrice Beaumelle, Elephants coach: “We end up with an African giant and two teams, Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea, who finished second in their qualifying pool. I have great respect for these choices. It’s a raised hen. Algeria is obviously the favorite. This will result in hard fought, bitter matches with very different football. I can not wait to be there. We must prepare to sell our skin very expensively ”.
Juan Micha, coach for Equatorial Guinea: “Since our big adventure in CAN 2015 (semifinal), we have learned to be very careful and very careful. We fell into a tough hen. But we will show what we can do. All games will be very important to us. We will take them all very seriously. This is the first time we will play a CAN away from our premises, from our home audience. It will be a great experience for us. We know the Ivory Coast well. It is a very strong team. We had already met them in 2012 in the quarterfinals. They took over us but it will be an opportunity for us to take our revenge. Sierra Leone is a growing team. I will return to the country to meet those responsible for our football. There will be no excuse if we do not prepare well for this CAN 2021. We give ourselves the opportunities to qualify ”.
