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AFCON 2021 power rankings revealed [Top 5]


 

With less than 48 hours left to commence the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Round of 16 fixtures, our reporter highlights the power rankings following the conclusion of the group stage matches.

The 2021 AFCON group stages games were concluded on Thursday night.

Cameroon, Comoros, Senegal, Cape Verde, Morocco, Malawi, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Nigeria, Tunisia, Guinea, Gambia, Egypt, Mali, and Equatorial Guinea have all qualified for the AFCON Round of 16.

The likes of Algeria, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Sudan, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, and Mauritania were eliminated from the 2021 AFCON after the conclusion of the group stage fixtures.

Saga Gist reports five teams that deserve to be in the 2021 AFCON power rankings after the conclusion of the group stage games.

Below is the top five for the 2021 AFCON power ranking after the group stage:

1. Nigeria

The Super Eagles are the only team in 2021 AFCON to win all three matches in the group stage.

They finished on top of Group D with a maximum point (9 points).

In the current form, Austine Eguavoen’s men are the best team so far at the tournament.

Despite their woes [absence of Victor Osimhen, Emmanuel Dennis and Odion Ighalo] before the competition started, the Super Eagles entered the knockouts as the favourites.

The team is led by Moses Simon’s play on the wing, Wilfred Ndidi and Joe Aribo in midfield, and anchored by Kenneth Omeruo and William Troost-Ekong.

2. Cameroon

The host nation won two and drew one during their group stage matches.

Cameroon finished on top of Group A with seven points.

The Indomitable Lions is led by captain, Vincent Aboubakar, who is presently the tournament’s leading goal scorer with five goals, and midfield dynamo André-Frank Zambo Anguissa.

3. Ivory Coast

The Elephants won two and drew one during their group stage matches.

They finished on top of Group E with seven points.

On paper, Ivory Coast is arguably the strongest side in the tournament, right? But their defence has looked shaky at times.

4. Morocco

The Atlas Lions won two and drew one during their group stage matches.

They finished on top of Group C with seven points.

Morocco is another squad that has a lot of talent on paper. They might not have reached the heights people expected from them, but they qualified for the last-16, and that is all that matters.

5. Mali

The Eagles won two and drew one during their group stage matches.

Mali finished on top of Group F with seven points.

They look like a proper team, and the likes of Yves Bissouma and Amadou Haidara are a stronghold in their midfield.

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