WHAT WE LEARNT FROM AFCON 2017 DAY 2

After a somewhat uninteresting start to the 2017 African Cup Of Nations which saw 12 goals in 8 games (five draws and three wins), day 2 produced some cracking displays with somewhat of a goal glut (20 goals). Here is what we learnt after day 2 of AFCON 2017.

The Teranga Lions are The Real Favorites 

Senegal showed that the victory over Tunisia in the first game was no fluke and followed it up with another impressive victory over an exciting Zimbabwe outfit, even managing to outplay them with the only statistic they failed to dominate being the foul count. This victory not only cemented their place in the quarterfinals but also has confirmed the pre-tournament tag as favorites. The team has been near complete but Sadio Mane has been the standout performer with two goals in two games so far. A run to the final is obviously in their sights and with such performances after two games it is hard to look beyond Senegal among the current crop as the favorites.

Aubameyang Cannot Do It All Alone for Gabon.

The host nation Gabon has been exciting but have been indecisive and their goal count is testament to that (2 goals in 2 games). Their goals have come from Borussia Dortmund marksman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang but it hasn't been enough to secure progress (at the time of writing). In the event of Gabon qualifying for the next African Cup Of Nations tournament in Cameroon, the Panthers must rise up to the occasion and relieve the pressure off Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Algeria are the flops of the tournament already

The Fennecs after two games have been underwhelming after two match days and are on the brink of elimination. Algeria came into this tournament as favorites and have in their ranks, the current African Player of the Year in Riyad Mahrez. He has a high quality supporting cast. He has already scored 2 goals in the tournament but the team in general has contrived to fail. Africa's top nation is already the Flop Nation of the Tournament.

One Goal Project Will Not Be Enough If The Black Stars Do Not Improve.

Ghana's Black Stars have done all they have to do, win games and qualify to the next stage with a game in hand. But have they been impressive? Not at all. After exhibiting some high quality stuff in the first half of their games against Uganda and Mali, the second half of both games have been anything but impressive often sitting back content with one goal as they did in Angola in 2010. So far, the opposition have not been up to the standard needed to trouble the Black Stars. With potential opponents such as Ivory Coast, Morocco and The Democratic Republic of Congo who are of a different breed to what Ghana have faced there is the need for improvement in all sectors.

WHAT WE LEARNT FROM AFCON 2017 DAY 1

The first day of the 2017 African Cup Of Nations came to an end last night and I pick out a few things that we learned in the first 8 games.

Quality Of Pitches Affecting Quality Of Play
The African Cup Of Nations is Africa's biggest footballing fiesta. A chance for the top nations along with their best players as well as the unknown quantities to showcase their talents to the continent and the world. There has been the promise of high level of play but the pitch has hindered that so far.
It no doubt adds to the thrills and spills in the games but with parts of the pitch coming off after every shot and the odd bounce that deceives the goalkeepers and with the risk of injury at anytime as the pitch wears off, the quality is somewhat diluted. Both home based and foreign based players have been put at an obvious disadvantage. Goals have been at a premium with 12 goals in 8 games played, as opposed to 13 in 2015, 19 in 2013 and 15 in 2012.
This is Africa's biggest international tournament and with the caliber of players on display CAF can ensure it produces high quality games by making sure hosts have the ability to provide world class pitches.

No Beauty, Just Beasts
Apart from the game between Zimbabwe and Algeria, the tournament has been filled with "hard games" during which most teams are content to fight for the ball rather than try to put them in the back of the net till the game is in its dying embers where they exhibit some high level football. It is no doubt that African football is characterized by the physicality but the high number of foreign based players should alleviate this with some silky smooth football. After all, what is a Beast without a Beauty.

Big Guns Fail To Show Up
8 and a half games (at time of writing) into the tournament and the favorites have contrived to underwhelm giving the underdogs some creditable draws. Nations such as Cote D'Ivoire, Morocco and Egypt have no goals between them in matches where they were expected to win with minimum fuss considering the quality of players in their ranks. Ghana won their game but struggled to get going against a well drilled and motivated Ugandan side whereas Algeria drew with a determined Zimbabwean outfit. This leaves us with Senegal who won albeit not convincingly but managed to show a bit of class. Mahrez has so far been the outstanding player in the tournament but he has a supporting cast that can marvel the continent and the world. Others such as Ayew, Gyan, Zaha, Salah, Ramadan Sobhi among others must stand up and show why their nations are considered favorites.