AFCON 2023 – Group B: Teams, favourites and standings

Egypt, Ghana, Cape Verde and Mozambique make up Group B of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2024). In this article, we'll give you all the information about this group.

AFCON 2024 Group B teams

Egypt
Ghana
Cape Verde
Mozambique

Group B schedule

The six matches of Group B will take place in Abidjan.

Day 1:

14 January, 6 pm: Egypt vs Mozambique, Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny
14 January, 9 pm: Ghana vs Cape Verde, Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny

Day 2:

18 January, 9 pm: Egypt vs Ghana, Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny
19 January, 3 pm: Cape Verde vs Mozambique, Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny

Day 3:

22 January, 9 pm: Mozambique vs Ghana, Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium
22 January, 9 pm: Cape Verde vs Egypt, Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny

Group B: Analysis of the teams involved

Egypt: The undisputed favourites

Unhappy finalist of two of the last three editions, Egypt presents itself as the natural favourite of Group B. The Pharaohs, in search of a new title since their seventh and last triumph in 2010, approach the competition from an advantageous position.

Their rich history at AFCON, marked by an impressive record, as well as their experience on the international scene, positions them as serious contenders for the title. The Egyptian squad is made up of a mix of experienced and young talent, which could be decisive in key moments of the tournament.

Ghana: The challenger on the decline?

Ghana emerge as Egypt's main challenger in this group. Despite the desire to erase the Cameroonian disappointment and the early exit during the previous edition (elimination from the group stages in 2022), the Black Stars are not presenting themselves in the best conditions.

Chris Hughton's men suffered three losses in four games ahead of this tournament. Will the presence of young talents like West Ham's Mohammed Kudus (23 years old) or Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo (23 years old) be enough to get the Black Stars back on track?

Cape Verde: The promising outsider

Cape Verde represent the outsider of this group; they advanced to the Round of 16 in the 2021 edition of this tournament. Under the leadership of Bubista, the team showed their skills by qualifying with flying colours in a competitive group.

Their performance in the qualifiers, including a victory against Burkina Faso, indicates that the Blue Sharks could well be the surprise of this group. Their ability to defy the odds and demonstrate resilience will be a key factor in their journey despite more mixed recent results.

AFCON 2023 Group B

Mozambique: The ambitious underdogs

Mozambique, back after missing the last six editions of this competition, are the underdogs of the group. Although considered outsiders, the Mambas are on a positive dynamic.

Their second place in the qualifiers, behind a team as strong as Senegal and ahead of Benin and Rwanda, testifies to their potential. Despite their limited experience at this level, their ambition and desire to surprise could allow them to transcend themselves.

Group B: Their history at the Africa Cup of Nations

Egypt

26 appearances

Best performance: winner in 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008 and 2010

Ghana

23 appearances

Best performance: winner in 1963, 1965, 1978 and 1982

Cape Verde

Three appearances

Best performance: quarter-finalist in 2013

Mozambique

Four appearances

Best performance: 1st round in 1986, 1996, 1998 and 2010

AFCON 2024 Group B: The history of Egypt vs Ghana encounters

The history of confrontations between Egypt and Ghana is marked by competitive and memorable encounters. These two nations have regularly crossed swords in various tournaments, including the African Cup of Nations.

As a matter of fact, these are some of the most successful teams in the history of this tournament; as Egypt have seven titles (most in history) while Ghana have four (third-most in history).

During the 2017 AFCON, the Pharaohs defeated the Black Stars by a lone goal in the group stage. But even today, it is this 2010 final, which also saw the Egyptians win by the smallest of margins, which remains among the best memories on the Egyptian side. On the other hand, the worst memory is the 6-1 humiliation in Accra on October 15, 2013 in the play-off match for the 2014 World Cup.