AFCON 2019 preview: Will Guinea-Bissau and Benin upset nine times champions?

With nine trophies shared between Cameroon and Ghana, both countries head into Group F of this year’s African Cup of Nations (AFCON) as hot favourites to make it out of the group stages, though Guinea-Bissau and Benin have their chances to take.

Making their second appearance in the AFCON, Guinea-Bissau did not go pass the group stages in the last edition, but have some quality players plying their trade on the international stages who can cause upset on any day.

Though with a Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) ranking of 118, Cameroon would have to be at their best come June 25, 2019, at Ismailia Stadium, when both team clash for the group opener.

Guinea-Bissau cannot boast of a star-studded team, but their cohesion, strength, willingness to play and ability to take on opponents would be their weapon to cause troubles for a Cameroonian side, that also has a chunk of its 2017 winning squad available.

Benin having three AFCON outings under their belt already, they come into this tournament as an under-dogs on paper but have a huge potential of making it out of a group that comprises of Cameroon and Ghana.

With a current FIFA ranking of 88, The Squirrels would fancy their chances of hitting hard on the Black Stars of Ghana, when the two meet in the second of the Group F opening games at 20:00 hours on June 25, 2019, in Ismailia Stadium.

The Squirrels rely on their strength and agility their major weapons, which would be a major test for the Black Stars of Ghana, to break past a side that has so much energy to play an entire ninety minutes of action.

Cameroon has won the continental showpiece on five occasions and Ghana winning on four occasions with the last one in 1982, the two countries would need to prove their might against group minors, who can cause an upset on any given day.

The Indomitable Lions have won the last edition, they come into this tournament with great expectations and good spirit with the hiring of a football legend, Clarence Seedorf in the helm of affairs as the head coach.