The Leading contenders for the Africa Cup of Nations title are on high alert, as we rattle into three more blockbuster fixtures in Cote d’Ivoire on Monday.
Reigning champions Senegal kick off their Afcon defence in the afternoon game against Gambia, ahead of Cameroon’s meeting with Guinea and Algeria’s alphabetically pleasing clash against Angola.
Tensions are high after hotshots Egypt, Nigeria and Ghana all slipped up on a dramatic Sunday that set light to the continent’s biggest football party.
Afcon fixtures for 15 January 2024
*All kick off times are in Central Africa Time.
Group C: Senegal vs Gambia – 16.00
Reigning Africa Cup of Nations holders Senegal make their tournament entrance on Monday afternoon, as they kick off their campaign against Gambia.
Sadio Mane once again spearheads an experienced side that also boasts the likes of Idrissa Gueye, Cheikhou Kouyate and Edouard Mendy.
It’s a chance for the Lions of Teranga to start on the front foot in their bid to back up their maiden title won in Cameroon with a consecutive crown.
Gambia came through to qualify comfortably in second place from Group G.
It’s only a second competition appearance for the Scorpions, who stunned the continent to reach the quarter-finals on their big stage debut.
Group C: Cameroon vs Guinea – 19.00
Cameroon and Guinea wrap up the first set of Group C fixtures at the delayed 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on Monday.
The Indomitable Lions are determined to go one step further than their semi-final effort in their home Afcon tournament two years ago, where they went on to secure a third-placed finish.
A sensational win over Brazil at the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar added another lifetime memory for the West African nation, who will be spearheaded in Cote d’Ivoire by Vincent Aboubakar.
Guinea are a dangerous prospect, however, not least having picked off Nigeria’s Super Eagles in a pre-Afcon friendly international.
They also have one of the world’s leading strikers at their disposal in Serhou Guirassy, who has been rattling in the goals in the German Bundesliga this season.
Group D: Algeria vs Angola – 22.00
Algeria take their first step on the road to redemption on Monday night, as they begin their Africa Cup of Nations campaign against Angola in Cote d’Ivoire.
Afcon champions in 2019, the Fennec Foxes came into the 2021 edition in Cameroon on a hot streak of 34 games unbeaten to make them favourites for yet another title.
But football disaster struck.
The North African nation were dumped out of an unthreatening pool, before going to to miss out on qualification for the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar.
But in Riyad Mahrez, Houssem Aouar, Nabil Bentaleb, Ismael Bennacer and Co, they have a squad stacked with stars and looking for revenge.
They first face an Angola team that sneaked through Group E of qualifying ahead of the Central African Republic.
Afcon predictions and fixtures for 15 January
Senegal v Gambia
| Result prediction | Senegal to win |
| Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / Senegal to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |
Cameroon v Guinea
| Result prediction | Cameroon to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | draw / Cameroon to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | V. Aboubakar(Cameroon) K. Toko-Ekambi(Cameroon) |
Algeria v Angola
| Result prediction | Algeria to win |
| Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
| HT / FT prediction | Algeria / Algeria to win |
| Team to Score prediction | both teams |
| Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |