Teams for Africa Cup of Nations 2015 set

The Africa Cup of Nations always brings plenty of drama, but this time around, the politics off the pitch tried to surpass the drama on it. First, we had Morocco requesting the tournament be postponed a year, due to threat of the Ebola virus. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) said no way, and when Morocco refused to confirm their hosting status, stripped them not only as hosts, but prevented them from playing in the tournament.

CAF then scrambled to find themselves a host. They landed on Equatorial Guinea, whose team had already been ejected from the tournament for fielding an ineligible player. No matter, though -- the tiny nation had co-hosted back in 2012, and with their oil money, CAF was trusting them to get everything ready in time for the 2015 edition.

As all this unfolded, the final teams were doing their best to ignore the behind-the-scenes machinations and push for qualification. That lengthy process began back in April, with the qualifying rounds. By the time the group stage was reached, only seven teams remained. Those teams joined the 21 teams that, based on their ranking, were given a bye from the initial qualifying rounds.

The group stage began back in September and concluded on Nov. 19. The top-two teams in each group advanced to the finals, as well as the best of the third-placed teams. Here’s a brief look at the 16 teams that will travel to Equatorial Guinea in January:

Algeria

Ah, the World Cup’s little darlings. Anyone who doesn’t agree that Algeria wasn’t fun to watch in Brazil is either lying or simply didn’t bother looking at a TV screen. Well, the Fennec Foxes may have a new manager now, but Christian Gourcuff isn’t disappointing. Nor is Yacine Brahimi, nor Islam Slimani. With 11 goals scored and just four conceded (two without their starting keeper in net), Algeria came out of their group with 15 points, and could have been perfect if they hadn’t taken it easy in their final match.

First in Group C

With Nigeria out of contention, Burkina Faso will hope it can be the ones lifting the trophy this time around. They came so very close in 2013, losing out to a lone goal from the Super Eagles. But Les Étalons stuttered a bit during qualifying, unable to beat second-place Gabon in either of their meetings. They’re rather reliant on striker Jonathan Pitroipa, so if he’s not firing, Burkina Faso could well falter.

First in Group D

The sooner everyone forgets about the display Les Lions Indomptables put on in Brazil, the better. But despite their washing up dead last at the World Cup, Cameroon have put together a decent run to get to Equatorial Guinea, going through the group stages unbeaten. This is no longer the team of Samuel Eto’o, but worry not, as Porto’s Vincent Aboubakar will be determined to make you forget about Cameroon’s greatest-ever goalscorer.

First in Group F

This tiny island nation has never qualified for a World Cup. In fact, it had never qualified for an African Cup of Nations before 2013. It boasts no major stars. Yet, under the leadership of Rui Águas, the Tubarões Azuis (Blue Sharks, in case you were wondering) secured qualification for the AFCON finals with two matches left to play.

Second in Group A

Wait, not Nigeria? No, not Nigeria. The defending champs could only draw with South Africa, while Congo beat Sudan. It hasn’t exactly been a great tournament for the Diables Rouges either, with that lone victorious goal the only one they’d scored in the last four matches. They’ve won the tournament once, back in 1972, but this is the first appearance they’ve made since 2000. Still, they managed to kick out Nigeria, and that’s got to count for something, right? Plus, they’re the only team to have progressed from the qualifying rounds, so round of applause for that.

Best third-placed side

Not confusing at all, really, to have both Congos in the running. The former Zaire haven’t done a lot under the DR Congo name, with their most impressive recent finish being third place back in 1998. Still, there are others that got out of their groups with just nine points, so don’t count the Leopards out just yet.

Yes, Equatorial Guinea was disqualified from the tournament, but does that really mean they aren’t good enough to be on this list? Well, they did beat Mauritania 3-1 before being disqualified, but it probably says a lot that the Nzalang Nacional have only participated in one other major tournament, and that was when co-hosting in 2012.

Gabon

With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang speeding down the pitch it’s no surprise that Gabon were able to qualify for the 2015 tournament. But the Dortmund attacker only scored one of Les Panthères’ five goals during the group stages. What’s really more impressive is their defense, particularly if you watched their penultimate match -- goalkeeper Didier Ovono particularly impressed while Angola threw everything they had forward.

First in Group E

After a rather disappointing showing at the World Cup, Ghana might be hoping to show off a bit in this tournament. In the wake of their defeat to Uganda in the penultimate round, it looked like the Black Stars were in danger of failing to qualify for the first time in a decade. But they had no trouble seeing off Togo to finish top of the group. They’ve still got Asamoah Gyan taking charge of things, but their attack is also supplemented by the talents of André Ayew and Christian Atsu.

Second in Group E

Fans of French football may be familiar with many faces on the Syli Nationale, but for many, they’re a mystery. Guinea have never made it to the World Cup, nor have they made it past the quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations -- and the last time they got that far was in 2008. Keep an eye on Idrissa Sylla and Seydouba Soumah, the latter who scored a hat trick against Togo.

Second in Group D

Second in Group B

On first blush, Mali might seem better than they actually are, but let’s not forget they made it to the finals by virtue of beating a second-string Algeria side. It also helped that challengers Malawi couldn’t even beat Ethiopia. Still, Les Aigles managed third place in the past two consecutive tournaments, so if you’re looking for a dark horse, this team boasting two Wolverhampton Wanderers players just might be it.

Second in Group G

Group G was, quite frankly, rather unimpressive. Like fellow group members Tunisia, the golden age for Senegal came in the early-2000s, when they qualified for their first-ever World Cup finals and narrowly missed out on the Africa Cup of Nations trophy. Now, they’re hoping the likes of the Premier League’s Sadio Mané, Mame Biram Diouf and Papiss Cissé really get firing before the true tests start.

First in Group A

The bafana bafana are back again, and hoping to go further than they did last time around, when they made the quarterfinals. The team isn’t particularly loaded with firepower, but they’ve got the means to defend, having let in just one goal in what turned out to be a rather tough qualifying group. And they’re doing it all with a team almost entirely composed of players from the domestic league.

First in Group G

Want to cheer on a team that failed to score more than one goal in the last three rounds? Well, Tunisia are for you. Les Aigles de Carthage won the tournament a decade ago, as hosts, but have pretty much slipped off the radar since. Lovers of Belgian football may recognize coach Georges Leekens, who led the Red Devils to the heady heights of almost qualifying for Euro 2012. They did, at least, manage to score two in the final match, keeping Egypt from slipping in as the top third-place team.

Second in Group F

Zambia were the surprise winners of AFCON 2012, beating Ivory Coast in a penalty shootout ... the last time the tournament was held in Equatorial Guinea. Spooky? Well, back then it was shared with Gabon and the final was played in Libreville, so the same luck may not bless the Chipolopolo this time around. The Bullets didn’t have the toughest of groups and still only managed to score six, so Zambia may not be the team that sets AFCON alight.