CAN 2017--Round Two

Ku pia ke Lago Syndicate Members,

I know I said the exact same thing two years ago, but there’s really never been a better time to fall in love with African Football. The tournament is off to a rollicking start…if one is capable of discounting the stinker the Egyptians provided us with today of course. Fast-paced end-to-end action. 

Superb athleticism. I’ve personally never seen so many players intrepidly leaving their feet in total disregard of the physical consequences of hitting the turf hard. That’s truly what differentiates this Continental Championship from all the others. Players are prepared to take a brutal beating in the hopes of supplying their domestic fans with a memorable “tri-cycle” or “bi-cycle”.

There’s also the vast array of colors in the stands, the trance-inducing sound of the harmonious chants/songs/drums, and the trademark choreographed dancing that only true boosters can put together. Like many AFCON Tournaments before, this one is being politically boycotted by a portion of the domestic population. When one first surveys the wide-angle panning stadium shot that customarily begins each match, the number of empty seats is striking.

It’s not this friendly bookie’s place to judge how the home audience wishes to spend their time or money when such an event is in town. All I can honestly say is that I’ve fallen in love with this tournament. The fact that the Stadium Sound System routinely failed, forcing a few football teams to sing their National Anthems acapella only made it more precious to me.

Try to understand that Westerners have never been able to watch this tournament on television before. Western African Football enthusiasts previously had to cling to their laptops to watch ultra-pixelated, poor-quality, pop-up-laden, piece-of-shit broadcasts on peer-to-peer websites.

It was horrible! One simply wanted to watch a football match. It kept getting interrupted by solicitations to join “Dragon-Eon Warrior MMO”, reminders that there were “10 Katy Perry Pictures that you need in your life”, and that ever-so-important suggestion about the “Local Horny Housewives in your ZIP Code”.

I get it…the fact that I wanted to watch an obscure football match makes me a single male. Thank you. Can I please watch the football match now?

The coverage from BEIN Sports has been bare bones….and absolutely perfect. Do we really need Bimbo Sideline Reporters? Fuck no. Do we need an elaborate “Subway Halftime Show”? Fuck no. Do we need a “McDonald’s Game Break”? Fuck no. Do we need an ornate set replete with a full-team of overpaid analysts spewing dross for hours upon hours after a game?

FUCK NO!!

Do we need Terri Leigh?

Okay…maybe we do…and maybe she doesn’t need a desk….and maybe I just shat on my own point.  

Let’s end this introductory rant on a more constructive note.

African play-by-play announcers are calling these matches solo. Eloquent and elegant. It’s been an absolute treat to hear them. Couldn’t catch their names as they weren’t given. If one of my Syndicate Members can help me find out who called either the Senegal vs. Tunisia, DR Congo vs. Morocco, or Algeria vs. Zimbabwe match I’d be most grateful ; )

Do we need Color Commentators?

FUCK NO!

My Updated Stats:

Spread: 2-6

Straight Up: 3-1-4

No time for a Mailbag Section tonight. Look for it round. We'll rank the countries.

 16 Tunisia 

What the floppin-wop was that? Sloppy and outright stupid. So much the Carthage crew making it through the “Group of Death”. As it appeared to your friendly bookie, Kasperozak deployed the dreaded “False-9 Formation”. Difficult to ascertain with as the Tunisians were clearly making even more in-match tactical tinkering than the Algerians.

For the most part, however, it looked as if Ahmed Akaichi spent most of the match “pocketed”. What? True he’s failed to catch fire with domestic clubs since he left the Bundesliga, but possesses far too much raw talent to work 18 yards deep. Let the man work!

Horrible marking on set pieces, utter disorientation from the back four, and a general sense that the midfielders have nothing to offer other than endless triangulation passes. Done and done. Kasperozak doesn’t have really have any options other than grizzled veterans in his Kader. Your friendly bookie is prepared to write them of right here right now.

Nothing I saw bodes well for their next fixture. The “Desert Derby” will be won by the Algerians.

 LINEUP—The Eagles of Carthage—PROJECTED—4-5-1 

Saber Khalifa

Youssef Msakni    Ahmed Akaichi

Wahbi Khazri  Naim Sliti    Ferjani Sassi

Ali Maaloul                     Hamdi Nagguez

Syam Ben-Youssef Aymen Abdennour

Ayem Mathlouthi

                                

 LINEUP—The Eagles of Carthage—ACTUAL—4-3-3 

Youssef Mskani    Naimi Sliti

Ahmed Akaichi

Hamza Lahmar   Ferjani Sassi    Larry Azouni

Ali Maaloul                                Hamdi Nagguez

Syam Ben-Youssef Aymen Abdennour

Ayem Mathlouthi

Really started lose faith in this whole “False 9” System, though not as much as I’m losing faith in these fullbacks. Tempting to blame the formation shuffles for the fact Maaloul and Nagguez seemed to have zero clue where they were meant to play, but they must shoulder the blame for all those atrocious back passes/aborted give-and-gos. Ugly stuff all around

 15) Cote d’Ivoire 

It’s a new generation, gentlemen. Gone are the Toure brothers, along with legendary names like Drogba, Romaric, and Gervinho. Some early adversity was to be expected, and not necessarily feared. Wildired Zaha only recently opted to play for his native country.  He’s a mere two Caps to his name. Aston Villa’s Jonathan Kodjia is a true tyro. He’s got the tools, but needs time to splay himself into form. 

At present he looks like the confused wayward genetically-engineered African version of test-tube baby sired by Peter Crouch and Per Mertesacker. He’ll get there. Franck Kessie is another one who finds himself teething. All the babies are teething…but it’s looking auspicious for them.

As always, Les Elephants are supported by some of the greatest fans on all of the globe.

The Stade d’Oyem was mostly empty on Monday. The Cote d’Ivoire fans nevertheless kept it loud with beautiful music, gorgeous colors, and perfectly syncronized dancing. One would have thought that the stadium was full.

Many Gabonese are boycotting the tournament in protest of their government. Whilst your friendly bookie agrees with coordinated citizen action against an oppressive government, AFCON tickets cost less than a dollar. That’s such a small price to pay for so much joy ; )

The corrupt government isn’t making any money off of this tournament. A boycott doesn’t seem just.

 LINEUP—Les Elephants—PROJECTED—4-4-2 

Saloman Kalou   Wilfried Bony

Wilfried Zaha                      Max Gradel

Serey Die Serge N’Guessan

Adama Traore                       Serge Aurier

Wilfried Kanon Eric Bailly

Sylvain Gbohouo

 LINEUP—Les Elephants--ACTUAL—4-3-3 

Saloman Kalou   Jonathan Kodija   Wilfried Zaha

Jean Seri  Franck Kessie

Serey Die

Adama Traore                                     Serge Aurier

Wilfried Kanon  Eric Bailly

Sylvain Gbohouo

An experimental lineup clearly designed to either work veterans like Bony or Gradel in slowly, or use them as “Super Subs” Good movement from Seri and Zaha. Serey Die and Kessie look to be in the right positions, even if they’re not quite used to them yet.

Should the experiment continue? Don’t ask an amateur oddsmaker. I’m looking as much forward to seeing what Dussuyer does as you are.

 14) Gabon 

Not exactly a promising start for the host nation. A very lethargic first half. Borderline turgid through the first twenty minutes. A 4-5-1 formation needn’t be a recipe for stodgy, choppy play. Had the Panthers entered the match with at least a semi-coherent strategy on set-pieces, they might of supplied us with some better entertainment. They remained atrocious on corners throughout the full 90. Liked the way Palun showed ambition as a roving fullback, but mostly looked lost in terms of his positioning.

Bouyanga’s cross to Aubameyang in the 53^rd was truly top class. He demonstrated flawless skill chesting-down the chip-in and driving in that perfect low-ball off the volley! The full-eleven showed some more flair over the rest of the second 45, but couldn't finish off their opponent.

Ugh. The drowsy and listless lapse in concentration that led to the last-minute equalizer leaves one feeling pessimistically gutted about this team’s debut. The markers weren’t set! They totally fell asleep.

Very little time for Camacho to right the ship before facing a surprising strong Cameroon side. Though it may prove too late to fix the set-piece woes, Camacho remains quite strong tactically. He’s an experienced manager, even if he’s not a particularly memorable one.

They’ll play better.

 LINEUP—Les Pantheres—PROJECTED—4-5-1 

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Malick Evouna    Mario Lemina   Didier N’Dong

Andre Biyogo Poko  Levy Madinda

Benjamin Ze Ondo                             Yohan Wachter

Bruno Ecele Manga  Lloyd Palun

Didier Ovono

 LINEUP—Les Pantheres—ACTUAL—4-5-1 

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Dennis Bouanga  Mario Lemina   Malik Evouna

Didier N’Dong  Merlin Tandjigora

Johann Obiang                                 Lloyd Palun

Aaron Appindangoye Bruno Ecele Manga

Didier Ovono

Evouna on the right just doesn’t make any sense to me. Aubameyang up front alone makes sense for Dortmund, but not for a National Side of hungry players. Palun and Obiang as the fullbacks seems to work rather well.  Bruno Ecele Manga as the right centerback works too.

 13) Uganda 

How far can a truly talented keeper get you? Not very far in this group. I won’t let my affinity for East African Teams cloud my judgment. The attack was non-existent. Powerful shots flying five meters over the bar don’t impress me. Assawa and his centerback counterpart Isinde played like dirtbags all night long. Teams that resort to such tactics piss me off something fierce.

Want very much to like this team, but need to see more class and less hubris.

Follow the lead of your captain. He deserves better.

 LINEUP—The Cranes—PROJECTED—4-4-2 

Geofrey Massa Geoffrey Sserunkuma

Hassan Wasswa Moses Oloya

Farouk Miya    Luwagga Kizito

Godfrey Walusimbi                 Joseph Ochaya

Isaac Isinde   Denis Iguma

Denis Oyango

 LINEUP—The Cranes—ACTUAL—4-1-3-2 

Geofrey Massa   Farouk Miya

Tony Mawejje            Luwagga Kizito

Micheal Azira

Geoffrey Kizito

J. Ochaya   H. Isinde  H. Assawa D. Iguma

Denis Oyango

Intriguing. Not many coaches opt for this formation. It’s generally reserved for those who have an aging midfield anchor who can see the pitch well, even if he doesn’t possess the speed. Löw, for instance, put Schweinsteiger in this role last summer. Whether or not Geoffrey Kizito is qualified for such an assignment…how the hell should I know? The guy’s been playing in Vietnam for fuck’s sake!

No clue what’s going on in this Serbian Manager’s head. Not the foggiest.

 12)  Egypt 

Christ almighty what a boring match. You know it’s a crap game when the lead story is that your old-ass 44-year-old keeper won the dubious distinction of being the oldest fart to play in an African Cup of Nations match. Who gives a shit? Terrible football. This tournament was off to such a cracking start until the pharaohs graces us with this turd.

Honestly not finding these new nicknames cute. Assigning Mahmoud Hassan the nickname “Trezeguet” would be cool…if he had played anything resembling halfway decent football today. What’s going on here, Pharaohs? Trying to be Portuguese? Why? Shouldn’t you be focusing on reclaiming your identity as the most successful African team ever?

Generations before you accomplished that feat without the need for cutesy little monikers.

SEVEN continental championships.

Show some pride!

 LINEUP—The Pharaohs—PROJECTED—4-5-1 

Ahmed Hassan

Ahmed El-Mohamady  Mohamed El-Nenny

Abdallah Said

Ibrahim Salah    Mahmoud Hassan

M.A. Shafy O. Gaber A. Hegazy A. Fathy

Essam El-Hadary

 LINEUP—The Pharaohs—ACTUAL—4-5-1 

Ahmed Hassan

M. Hassan   A. Said   M. Salah

M. El-Nenny Tarek Hamed

M.A. Shafy                              A. Fathy

A. Gabr A. Hegazy

Ahmend El-Shanawy

It’s impossible to complete a write-up of this lineup, given that I’m completely confused as to who carries what name at this point! I initially picked this team to top the group and contend for the title. Now I’m just hoping the equipment manager doesn’t get carpal tunnel from constantly re-sewing on whatever name each player hopes to assign himself.

That in itself would constitute a victory!

 11) Burkina Faso 

It’s damned hard to admit that Jonathan Pitroipa has gotten old. The fresh-faced kid who played for Freiburg, supporting his aging coach until the bitter end, now sports a few wrinkles and a slightly slower step himself. He still hasn’t lost much. He’s still athletic and acrobatic. He’s eager to rush forward, without blaming his wingers if the ball they service him isn’t quite to his liking. He still gives the “thumbs up” after every last service, and hustles like a possessed inanimate Porsche. That being said, it would be nice if got caught offside less than the 2,356 times he did against the Indomitables.

Your friendly bookie projected the wrong keeper…and thank goodness. Kouakou Koffi executed perhaps one of the greatest precision tackles this bookie has ever seen. Bassogog only had the keeper to beat. Koffi strode forward and performed an absurdly surgical “pincer tackle”.

Dayo’s equalizer was every bit as lucky as Borowski’s blind header to Klose back in 2006.

Thanks for keeping it close, Koffi ; )    

 LINEUP—The Stallions—PROJECTED—4-3-3 

Jonathan Pitroipa

Aristide Bance       Bertrand Traore

Charles Kabore

Alain Traore        Prejuce Nakoulma

Y. Coulibaly  B. Kone S. Yago       I. Dayo

Germain Sanou

 LINEUP—The Stallions—ACTUAL—4-5-1 

Bertrand Traore

Jonathan Pitroipa

Alain Traore       Prejuce Nakoulma

A.B Traore Charles Kabore

I. Dayo   B. Kano  I. Dayo  P. Malo

Kouakou Koffi

 10) Togo 

They looked decent. They certainly looked better than Claude Le Roy, who looks like death incarnate. I mean…Christ…their head coach makes Keith Richards look like Heidi Klum. Love the man’s passion and everything, but he makes me fear the French Lifestyle. Is that what happens to a person who drinks good wine and eats boutique cheeses every day of his life?

I damn well hope not.

…..

…..

Does living the “Good Life” really carry such consequences? I’d prefer not to know. Thank you much.

Agassa held his own against a very fluid attack. Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba can compete with just about any other defender in this tournament aerially. Fine discipline from the fullbacks in closing ranks when they needed to.

We’ve not heard the last of Emmanuel Adebayor. This bookie’s gut tells him he’s got something really special left in store for us.   

  LINEUP—The Sparrow Hawks—PROJECTED—4-5-1 

Emmanuel Adebayor

Alaixys Romao Floyd Ayite Prince Segbefia

Serge Gakpe   Henri Eninful

Abdoul Mamah                   Sadat Ouro-Akoriko

Serge Akakpo  Djene Dakonam

Baba Tchagouni

 LINEUP—The Sparrow Hawks—ACTUAL—4-4-2 

Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba   Emmanuel Adebayor

Ihlas Bebou                         Mathieu Dossevi

Lalawele Atakora  Floyd Ayite

Djene Dakonam                          Serge Gapke

Sadat Ouro-Akoriko Alaixys Romao

Kossi Agassi

Fuck. Your friendly bookie gets it “Dead Wrong” often—check out his short-lived attempt to start a regular section detailing his failures during both EM 2012 and WM 2014. It simply wasn’t possible to keep track of all my failed projections. Totally got this lineup wrong. Not to make excuses, but it did prove challenging to get the updated Togolese roster.

Nice flow observable in this eleven. Dropping Ayite back feels right. Bebou can press forward at critical times to support Adebayor, tenacious as ever in the twilight of his career. They don’t necessarily appear strong enough to best the Atlas Lions, but I’m far too unfamiliar with these names to make a decisive call.

 9) Algeria 

Nowhere near as bad as it seems. The Initial Goal from the “Warriors” owed everything to the poor positioning of keeper Rais M’Bohli. The penalty, as much as Belkhiter was anxious to get his hand around the shoulder of Onsimor Bhasera, was still bullshit. Riyah Mahrez still took control of the match with his brace. He bravely took his chances, They eventually took the draw.

If there is some criticism to offer, your friendly bookie didn’t quite like the way that Islam Slimani appeared to keep whining about the lack of good “service balls”. In my humble experience, football shouldn’t be about those who fail to “service”. It’s wrong. Whining with your “Diego Costa Face” simply isn’t good enough.  

The “Fennecs” have a great midfield. Good tempo and passing.

Good luck, Dessert Foxes. : )

 LINEUP—The Desert Foxes—PROJECTED—4-4-2 

Islam Slimani  Riyad Mahrez

E.A. Hillel Soudani              Yacine Brahimi

Nabil Bentaleb   Saphir Taider

Djamel Mesbah                              Aissa Mandi

Faouzi Ghoulam L. Cadamuro-Bentaiba

Rais M’Bohli

 LINEUP—The Desert Foxes—ACTUAL—4-4-2 

Islam Slimani  E.A. Hillel Soundani

Riyad Mahrez                    Yacine Brahimi

Nabil Bentaleb   A. Guedioura

Faouzi Ghoulam                   Mokhtar Belkhiter

Ramsi Bensebaini Aissa Mandi

Rais M’Bohli

Mahrez on the back-left? Why not? Put him where you need him. That’s how business gets done!

 8) Zimbabwe 

Quite the surprise. The Warriors made it nearly impossible for your friendly bookie to understand what the Algerians were putting forth. Billiat and Phiri came to play. Unfortunately, Cuthbert Malajila didn’t realize that he should have passed to Khama Billiat when the team had a chance to win.

Mkurva seriously fucked up on that equalizer. Sorry. They don’t possess the right amount of “team spirit”.

Or am I wrong?

I’d love to be proven wrong!! C’mon warriors ; )   

 LINEUP—The Warriors—PROJECTED—5-3-2 

Cuthbert Malajila Knowledge Musona

N. Mushekwi    Willard Katsande           K. Billiat

Oscar Machapa                      Teenage Hadebe

Hardlife Zwirekwi

Onismor Bhasera  Costa Nhamoinesu

Tatenda Mukurva

 LINEUP—The Warriors—ACTUAL—4-4-2 

Nyasha Mushekwi Knowledge Musona

Kudakwashe Mahachi    Willard Katsande

Danny Phiri           Khama Billiat

Onsimor Bhasera                         Costa Nhamoinesu

Elisha Muroiwa       Hardlife Zvirekwi

Tatenda Mukurva

 7) Mali 

If there were some positives to take from that tumescent mockery of a match that took place against the Egyptians earlier today, Moussa Marega and Lassana Coulibaly fit the bill. Both players are strong in both possession and touch. I hadn’t properly been introduced to the FC Porto forward and young midfield phenom. It was a pleasure to watch them play.

We now have another “Coulibaly” to track. Fair enough. Given that there are now less “Keita”s,  “Traore”s, and “Diakite”s to chronicle,  we’ll go ahead and call it even.

Here’s hoping for a repeat of last tournament’s feat.

 LINEUP—Les Aigles—PROJECTED—4-4-2 

Bakary Sako Mustapha Yatabare

Samba Sow  Adama Traore

Moussa Marega Yves Bissouma

S. Coulibaly                                O. Coulibaly

M. Wague  M. N’Diaye

Soumbeila Diakite

 LINEUP—Les Aigles—ACTUAL—4-2-1-3 

Moussa Marega

Bakary Sako       Sambo Yatabare

Lassana Coulibaly

Yacouba Sylla  Mamoutou N’Diaye

H. Traore  S. Coulibaly M. Wague O. Coulibaly

Oumar Sissoko

 6) Guinea-Bissau 

Four years ago the “minnows” from tiny Cape Verde surprised us all with a magnificent “Cinderella Run”. Two years ago, Tournament Hosts Equatorial Guinea shocked us all by tearing through to the Semis! Shall we witness yet another improbable journey deep into the tournament from yet another tiny former Portuguese colony?

Methinks not. Zezinho shows an ambitious appetite for long-range shots. Ditto Abel Camara. Rudinilson Silva traversed the entire pitch to get his effort in. Frederic Mendy, on as a surprise sub, did well get in a nice little go himself.

Much respect, but the new look Indomptables shouldn’t have too much of a problem dismantling them.

 LINEUP—Djurtus—PROJECTED—4-5-1 

Joao Mario  Frederic Mendy

Zezinho

Franciso Jr.        Nani Soares        Bocundi Ca

Agostinho Soares                   Emmanuel Mendy

Eridson   Mamadu Cande

Jonas Mendes

 LINEUP—Djurtus—ACTUAL—4-5-1 

Abel Camara

Joao Mario     Zezinho     Toni Silva

Francisco Jr.                       Nani Soares

A. Soares                                Thomas Dabo

Juary Soares    Rudlinson Silva

Jonas Mendes

Difficult to project a lineup for a team one knows next to nothing about. Abel Camara plays his club ball in a tiny Portuguese village…and he’s only earned two international Caps at the age of 27!! Toni Silva is a Liverpool Exile….that this Liverpool enthusiast never heard of!

An undeniable beauty of football concerns how it reminds you of the scope of the world. Feel small. Get small. How vast it all is.

 5) Morocco 

Herve Renard has great ideas, but he just can’t seem to pull them together in the same fashion that originally fit his vision. Put another way, he’s the “Sid Meier” of African Football. Deploying a 4-1-2-3 was lovely tactical stroke. It should have worked. Mohand was always in position and stood tall. The distribution just didn’t work. El-Ahmadi as the “Flight Director”? Manuel da Costa as a fullback? I know how it was “supposed” to work. A shame that it didn’t.

I’ll trust Renard to put together a better starting eleven ahead of the next match. The Lions shall roar again.

 LINEUP—Lions of the Atlas—PROJECTED—4-5-1 

Sofiane Boufal

Youssef El-Arabi         Youssef En-Nesyri

Karim El Ahmadi Mbark Boussoufa

Mehdi Benatia

M. da Costa   R. Saiis  H. Mendyl N. Amrabat

Munir Mohand

 LINEUP—Lions of the Atlas—ACTUAL—4-1-2-3 

Azziz Bouhaddouz

Romain Saiss              Mbark Boussoufa

Omar El-Kaddouri      Mehdi Carcela-Gonzalez

Karim El-Ahmadi

H. Mendyl   M. da Costa  M. Benatia N. Dirar

Munir Mohand

 4) Ghana 

Not exactly the most convincing win. Watching Christian Atsu stubbornly charge up the left flank time and time again, only attempt meek cutbacks into cluttered areas proved about as frustrating as watching an invalid repeatedly bang his head against a brick wall. Our beloved “Gold Coast Playas” also couldn’t time their runs for at all. The Linesman didn’t have to strain his eyes much to catch Jordan Ayew and Asamoah Gyan MILES offside on numerous occasions.

No matter. When Atsu was smart enough to swing in crosses to his big target men, one could observe the potential inherent in this totally stacked team. There’s so many scoring threats and they should start clicking by the next fixture. The Ayew brothers are far from finished. Asamoah Gyan has plenty of juice left. Atsu’s dogged impractical work just means, to this bookies eyes anyway, that he’s hell-bent on obstinantly making it happen by sheer brute force if necessary ; )

Uganda’s Denis Onyango also deserves a great deal for keeping the match close. It could have easily been a more convincing victory.

Though they probably won’t reach the final again, they should get through the group.

 LINEUP—OUR Black Stars—PROJECTED—4-3-3 

Asamoah Gyan Andre Ayew Jordan Ayew

Christian Atsu

Wakaso Mubarak   Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu

Harrison Afful                        Jonathan Mensah

John Boye   Baba Rahman

Fatua Dauda

 LINEUP—OUR Black Stars—ACTUAL—4-4-2 

Jordan Ayew                  Asamoah Gyan

Christian Atsu               Andre Ayew

Wakaso Mubarak  Thomas Partey

Baba Rahman                      Harrison Afful

John Boye   Daniel Amartey

Brima Razak

Atsu certainly made the most of his new role out of the attacking pocket. Baba Rahman did well before the injury. Probably better to use Agyemang-Badu off the bench. Wish I could think of something to say about newcomers Daniel Amartey and Thomas Partey, but just didn’t really much of anything out of either of them.

Eagerly awaiting Grant’s next eleven.

 3) Cameroon 

Wow! Your friendly bookie has been waiting for this ever since “The Indomitable Lions” upset France back in the very first match covered in the very first Syndicate. Benjamin Moukandjo bent it around that wall in a most amazing technical fashion. After scoring that goal, he executed insanely pristine passing and directed traffic with gorgeous flair. The captain played the full 90 minutes with all the panache of a true leader. Technical mastery, incredible hustle, and keen awareness of the position of his mates.

Well done, Indomptables. Something special brews under the stewardship of Hugo Broos. He unexpectedly left Vincent Aboubakar and Nicolas Nkoulou on the bench. Clinton N’Jie and Christian Bassogog arrived…shot out of a goddamned cannon! Beast of a match from Bassogog. N’Jie proved a bit selfish, but moved like an amphetamine-injected rabbit for most of the match.

  LINEUP—Les Indomptables—PROJECTED—4-4-2 

Vincent Aboubakar    Clinton N’Jie

Jacques Zoua    Edgar Salli

Georges Mandjeck   Benjamin Moukanjo

A.   Oyongo                       M. Ngadeu-Ngadjui

N. Nkoulou M. Djetei

Fabrice Ondoa

 LINEUP—Les Indomptables—ACTUAL—4-4-2 

Jacques Zoua   Benjamin Moukandjo

Christian Bassogog                   Clinton N’Jie

Sebastien Siani  Georges Mandjeck

A.   Oyongo                                   E. Mabouka

Adolphe Teikeu   M. Ngadeu-Ngadjui

Fabrice Ondoa

Didn’t like some of the dirty play I saw from Adolphe Teikeu and Ernest Mabouka. They’ll have to play with more class next time if they expect an (utterly irrelevant) endorsement. Moukandjo fell victim to frustration as well.

Jacques Zoua as a full-fledged striker? An F.C. Kaiserslautern Fan can only hope ; ) ; )

 2) Congo DR 

Told you. Even if the Moroccans kept them pinned back through most of the first half, my Leopards got it upfield and created some real quality chances. They conceded sectional defeat when necessary, and ripped the pitch up when they needed to. Kabananga’s brilliant “tri-cycle kick” finish in the 55^th tells you all you need to know in terms of this team’s ability to play on the counter. 

They maintained their lead even as the squad was reduced to ten and eventually nine men. That’s important. Well done, gentlemen. ; )

 LINEUP—The Leopards—PROJECTED—3-5-2 

Diemerci Mbokani   Ndombe Mubele

Youssouf Mulumbu   Jordan Botaka

Jonathan Bolingi  Herve Kage

Chancel Mbeemba

Isamma Mpeko Marcel Tisserand  Gabriel Zakuani

Ley Matampi

 LINEUP—The Leopards—ACTUAL—4-3-3 

Cedric Bakambu

Ndombe Mubele                         Junior Kabananga

Youssouf Mulumbu     Chancel Mbemba

Merveille Bokadi

F. N’Sakala   G. Zakuani M. Tisserand  I.Mpeko

Ley Matampi

My lineup was simply too ambitious. Florent Ibenge put together something more wholly more practical. Did not foresee Bakambu starting of as the Center-Forward. Perhaps I should have. Kabananga up front was another surprise, but it worked well. Using Mbokani as a “Joker”…yeah why didn’t I think of that? The 4-3-3 should be maintained.

Take them all the way, Ibenge!!

1) Senegal

Welcome, back Lions! I’ve been waiting for this moment for fifteen long years! They’re FINALLY competitive again. Keita Balde Diao and Papa Alioune Ndiaye are sprinting hard and getting creative. Moving Idrissa and Kouyate back into defensive midfield turned out to be a brilliant idea. Anderlect centerback Kara Mbodj looks to be on the cusp of a major breakthrough.

Citizens and fans of Africa’s most promising new emerging legitimate democracies finally get to invest some hope in national squad! Sweet.

And who doesn’t love a dreadlocked head coach? Good times, good times ; )

 LINEUP—The Lions of Teranga—PROJECTED—4-3-3 

Sadio Mane

Moussa Sow    Mame Biram Diouf

Moussa Konate Idrissa Gana Gueye  Cheikou Kouyate

Cheik M’Bengue                                   Lamine Gassama

Kara Mbodj Kalidou Koulibaly

Khadim N’Diaye

 LINEUP—The Lions of Teranga—ACTUAL—4-4-2 

Sadio Mane  Mame Biram Diouf

Keita Balde Diao                    Papa Alioune Ndiaye

Idrissa Gana Gueye  Cheikou Kouyate

Cheik M’Bengue                            Lamine Gassama

Kara Mbodj  Kalidou Koulibaly

Abdoulaye Dialoo

Love this lineup. It takes some much needed heat off Sané, gives Idrissa and Kouyate space to work on their chemistry and perfectly dovetails talented wingers with talented footballers. Diouf will find himself on the receiving end of some great threaded balls.

Knockouts looking very likely.

Thanks for scrolling down…

NOW IS THE TIME ON SPROCKETS WHEN WE ROCK THE LINES!

Wednesday, January 18^th  

Gabon vs. Burkina Faso

  vs. 

Should be a tactical delight. Syndicate Members know of my biases. There’s still no winner to pick between these two.

African Football rocks! Both of these squads will leave every last bead of sweat on the field ; )

THE LINE: Pick em’

Cameroon vs. Guinea-Bissau

  vs. 

The “New-Look” Lions are set to avenge their poor finishes in the 2010 and 2014 World Cups. N’Jie, Zoua, and Bassogog.

Don’t bet against a well-selected group of awe-inspiring footballers.

THE LINE: Cameroon +1 Goal

Thursday, January 19^th  

Algeria vs. Tunisia

  vs.  

Easy win for the Fennecs here. Leekens shouldn’t have to study the game films too hard to find multiple ways of exploited this broken mess. Expect a competitive in the beginning as Mahrez ran himself ragged against Zibabwe.

Eventually the breakthrough will come. The floodgates will open soon thereafter.

THE LINE: Algeria +2 Goals

Senegal vs. Zimbabwe

  vs. 

Learn how to spell Mahachi and Mushekwi. A bright future awaits those two young sparkplugs. As nice as it would be to see the warriors continue their upset-run, the injury to Musona and short-turnaround time for a team that’s surely exhausted should allow the surging “Terrangas” to take the three points.

THE LINE: Senegal +1 Goal

Friday, January 20^th   

Cote d’Ivoire vs. Congo DR

  vs.  

Interesting enough. Les Elephants will find their form, but I’ll predict that they won’t find it in time to beat the audacious and impressive Leopards.

Let’s do it, Ibenge!

THE LINE: Pick em’

Morocco vs. Togo

  vs. 

Want to hit the button. Need to hit the button. Can’t hit the button. The North Africans will win.

Sad face.

THE LINE: Morocco +1 Goal

Saturday, January 21^st    

Ghana vs. Mali

  vs. 

Close…but Avram and the boys will have put in their time on the training pitch to get this one right. Slightly worried about Atsu’s limited recovery time, but Agyemang-Badu or Acquah can be utilized if he fails the fitness test.

THE LINE: Ghana +1 Goal

Egypt vs. Uganda

 vs. 

Grrrr…the pharaohs don’t deserve this gift after the bullshit they pulled today. I’m tempted to chalk this team off after they threw their most uninteresting “Identity Crisis” in our face.

Sigh.

They’ll recover.

THE LINE: Egypt +1 Goal

GENTLEMEN, ENTER YOUR WAGERS