The outsiders ready to kick up dust in Morocco

It is generally agreed that Morocco and Senegal go into the Africa Cup of Nations finals starting on Sunday as hot favourites, their recent impressive form - good reason to expect them to shine brightest at the biennial continental showpiece.

Football though, is pretty fickle at the top and surprises are part and parcel of this beautiful game and they thus cannot be ruled out. Here, senior soccer writer Matshelane Mamabolo chooses the countries he believes can pull the rug from underneath the favourites’ feet.

BURKINA FASO

Twice the Stallions have reached the semi-finals and they’ve been to the ultimate stage on one occasion when they lost to Nigeria in the 2013 edition hosted by South Africa. While they are unlikely to repeat that feat attained thanks to the genius of Jonathan Patriopa, the Burkinabe should progress from their group along with Algeria and from there on anything is possible.

Unlike in previous tournaments, they have now entrusted their fate on local man Brama ‘The Professor’ Traore in the hope he can emulate Ivory Coast’s Emerse Fae who won the title last time around.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

Under the guidance of Frenchman Sebastien Desabre, the DRC have become a force on the continent and the fact they eliminated Nigeria in the continental play-off for the World Cup speaks volumes of their abilities.

This, after all, is a team that reached the semi-finals in the last edition and they will start this tournament cock-a-hoop, believing they can do even better. You know they are a strong side by the fact the revered Fiston Mayele starts on the bench. Can they win a third title? It is possible.

MALI

Will the Eagles eventually live up to expectations? Never really favourites, the west African nation that has given the world of football some superbly talented players, think Salif Keita (the first African Footballer of the Year crowned 1970), Frederic Kanoute and Seydou Keita, start every tournament as dark horses.

And they will do so again, expected as they are, to progress past the round robin phase along with hosts Morocco and then go on towards the latter stages of the tournament. They have a very strong squad capable of going all the way and in Tom Saintfiet they have a top class coach. Can they go one better than 1972 when they were beaten finalists?

SOUTH AFRICA

Bafana Bafana were impressive at the last tournament when they finished in third place and under Belgian Hugo Broos South Africa’s senior national team have grown in leaps and bounds. There is a feeling in the country that, three decades on, the stars are aligned for Bafana to win a second title.

They showed with their qualification for the FIFA World Cup that they are a quality side and they have it in them to go all the way in Morocco.