Renard begins quest for third Afcon title
by Agency Staff,
2016-03-23 05:00:00.0
NEW Morocco coach Herve Renard has started his quest for a record-equalling third Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) title with back-to-back qualifiers against Cape Verde, the continent’s top-ranked soccer team.
A seven-day, 50-match schedule starts today and the joint Group F leaders meet in Praia on Saturday and in Marrakech on Tuesday in key matches as only minileague winners are guaranteed places at the 2017 tournament in Gabon.
Both Morocco and Cape Verde beat Sao Tome ePrincipe convincingly and Libya narrowly in previous matches, with Cape Verde topping the table on goal difference.
Renard, who succeeded Badou Zaki last month after indifferent Moroccan performances, guided no-hopers Zambia to 2012 glory and repeated the feat with perennial underachievers Côte d’Ivoire last year.
Hassan Shehata coached Egypt to three consecutive triumphs between 2006 and 2010, and Charles Gyamfi guided Ghana to three titles, but only Renard has won the Cup of Nations with different countries.
Given that Morocco are ranked only 19th in Africa, Renard has been set a tough target of at least reaching the 2017 Afcon semifinals.
Cape Verde are chasing a third consecutive Afcon appearance. Like Morocco, Cape Verde will have a new coach with local Felisberto "Beto" Cardoso succeeding Portuguese Rui Aguas, who quit after not being paid for seven months. Former assistant coach Cardoso will rely heavily on Djaniny and Heldon for goals, while Moroccan sharpshooter Youssef El-Arabi bagged a brace in Spain at the weekend.
Other high-profile showdowns involve Nigeria and Egypt in Group G and Cameroon and SA in Group M. Nigeria, who have home advantage first, are another team with a new coach as Samson Siasia took over when Sunday Oliseh quit following a social media attack on his critics.
Those called up for the Super Eagles include teenager Alex Iwobi, whose first English Premier League start for Arsenal was crowned by the second goal in a 2-0 weekend win at Everton.
Egypt coach Hector Cuper has recalled Cup of Nations-winning goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary after an injury ruled out first choice Sherif Ekramy.
The squad also includes Roma striker Mohamed Salah and midseason Arsenal recruit Mohamed Elneny.
Group H leaders Ghana will lack injured midfielder Andre Ayew against Mozambique, but younger brother Jordan is among the strikers chosen by coach Avram Grant. Home and away fixtures against lowly ranked Sudan offer defending champions Côte d’Ivoire a realistic chance to win both and build a four-point Group I lead.
AFP
Herve Renard. Picture: REUTERS / AMR ABDALLAH DALSH
NEW Morocco coach Herve Renard has started his quest for a record-equalling third Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) title with back-to-back qualifiers against Cape Verde, the continent’s top-ranked soccer team.
A seven-day, 50-match schedule starts today and the joint Group F leaders meet in Praia on Saturday and in Marrakech on Tuesday in key matches as only minileague winners are guaranteed places at the 2017 tournament in Gabon.
Both Morocco and Cape Verde beat Sao Tome ePrincipe convincingly and Libya narrowly in previous matches, with Cape Verde topping the table on goal difference.
Renard, who succeeded Badou Zaki last month after indifferent Moroccan performances, guided no-hopers Zambia to 2012 glory and repeated the feat with perennial underachievers Côte d’Ivoire last year.
Hassan Shehata coached Egypt to three consecutive triumphs between 2006 and 2010, and Charles Gyamfi guided Ghana to three titles, but only Renard has won the Cup of Nations with different countries.
Given that Morocco are ranked only 19th in Africa, Renard has been set a tough target of at least reaching the 2017 Afcon semifinals.
Cape Verde are chasing a third consecutive Afcon appearance. Like Morocco, Cape Verde will have a new coach with local Felisberto "Beto" Cardoso succeeding Portuguese Rui Aguas, who quit after not being paid for seven months. Former assistant coach Cardoso will rely heavily on Djaniny and Heldon for goals, while Moroccan sharpshooter Youssef El-Arabi bagged a brace in Spain at the weekend.
Other high-profile showdowns involve Nigeria and Egypt in Group G and Cameroon and SA in Group M. Nigeria, who have home advantage first, are another team with a new coach as Samson Siasia took over when Sunday Oliseh quit following a social media attack on his critics.
Those called up for the Super Eagles include teenager Alex Iwobi, whose first English Premier League start for Arsenal was crowned by the second goal in a 2-0 weekend win at Everton.
Egypt coach Hector Cuper has recalled Cup of Nations-winning goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary after an injury ruled out first choice Sherif Ekramy.
The squad also includes Roma striker Mohamed Salah and midseason Arsenal recruit Mohamed Elneny.
Group H leaders Ghana will lack injured midfielder Andre Ayew against Mozambique, but younger brother Jordan is among the strikers chosen by coach Avram Grant. Home and away fixtures against lowly ranked Sudan offer defending champions Côte d’Ivoire a realistic chance to win both and build a four-point Group I lead.
AFP
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