The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations is set to commence in Cameroon on January 9 after suffering a delay and being postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
With three days away from the start of the tournament, Joy Sports takes a look at Group C, where Ghana will come up against Morocco, Comoros and Gabon.
Ghana
The Black Stars of Ghana will be making their 23rd appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, having participated 22 times already. Ghana are four times champions and are seeking to win the trophy for the fifth time this year.
Since their last win in 1982, the Black Stars have gone close to winning the Afcon title on three different occasions in recent times, the latest being a penalty-shootout loss to Ivory Coast in 2015. In the last edition of the continental showpiece, Ghana could only manage a second-round performance as they were eliminated by Tunisia in the one-eight stage.
Under Milovan Rajevac, a coach that guided the team to an Afcon final in 2010, Ghanaians are of the belief that his past experience on the continent could be key to ending their drought.
Morocco
Despite excluding Hakim Ziyech from his final squad for the tournament, head coach, Vahid Halilhodzic still has a parade of stars in his squad. The Atlas Lions, just like Ghana, were also knocked out of the 32nd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations on penalties, losing to Benin.
Morocco will be making their 18th appearance in the Cup of Nations in Cameroon. They were winners in 1976, beating Guinea to the title.
With just that win under their belt, Morocco will come into yet another showpiece hoping they can outclass the other heavyweights on the continent to clinch what will be a second Afcon trophy.
Gabon
Gabon's qualification to Cameroon means they will be playing in their 8th Afcon tournament since they made their debut in the competition. In that run, the Panthers' best finish at the biennial tournament has been a quarter-final finish in 2012.
Gabon have failed to go past the quarter-final in any of their last seven appearances in the competition. With a young squad this year, Patrice Neveu's men will be hoping for a bigger impact in the Central African country between January and February. They were absent for the last edition in Egypt.
The Panthers have however been hit with the news that skipper Pirre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mario Lemina have tested positive for coronavirus and will likely miss their opening two games.
Gabon play Comoros in their first game of the tournament.
Comoros
Comoros is one of the two debutants in this year's competition. They emerged runners up in the qualifiers, finishing behind Egypt and ahead of Kenya and Togo to book this place in the 33rd edition.
While much cannot be said about them, it is also too early to write off Amir Abdou's side, who have Red Star Belgrade's El Fardou Ben in their squad.
The forward has 15 goals in 28 appearances for his national team since making his debut in March 2014. For a first appearance, Comoros would definitely love to leave a mark.
Group C Fixtures
Monday, 10 January: Morocco v Ghana, Comoros v Gabon
Friday, 14 January: Morocco v Comoros, Gabon v Ghana
Tuesday, 18 January: Gabon v Morocco, Ghana v Comoros
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