Group A AFCON Preview: Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire Favored but Surprises Possible

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Group A Teams and Head-to-Head Analysis for AFCON:

In Group A of the AFCON, comprising Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau, the FIFA rankings place Nigeria at 42 as the top-ranked team, followed by Cote d’Ivoire (49), Equatorial Guinea (88), and Guinea-Bissau (103).

While the rankings suggest Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire could secure the top spots, recent developments and performances add an element of unpredictability to the outcomes.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles, led by Jose Peseiro, face challenges with the absence of players like Wilfred Ndidi and Victor Boniface just before the tournament.

Despite doubts from some fans, pundits, including Algerian legend Rabah Madjer, consider both Cote d’Ivoire and Nigeria strong contenders in the overall competition.

Head-to-head records:- Nigeria vs. Cote d’Ivoire: Won-8; Lost-9; Drawn-10- Nigeria vs. Equatorial Guinea: Won-3; Lost-0; Drawn-0- Nigeria vs. Guinea-Bissau: Won-2; Lost-1; Drawn-0

Cote d’Ivoire holds a better head-to-head record against Nigeria, making their match on January 18 crucial for determining group winners.

Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, despite being considered underdogs, aim to challenge the stronger teams in the group. Guinea-Bissau, ranked 103, draws inspiration from a previous win over Nigeria and faces them on January 22. Cote d’Ivoire has a positive head-to-head record against Equatorial Guinea, having won twice and drawn once.

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