Burkina Faso and Angola get their Africa Cup of Nations campaigns up and running on Sunday when they clash in their Group B opener.
Group B rivals prepare for opening clash in Malabo
Burkina Faso and Angola get their 2012 Africa Cup of Nations campaigns up and running on Sunday when they clash in their Group B opener in Malabo.
The Burkinabe have been perennial underachievers on the AFCON stage and face an almighty challenge in the group, which includes the Ivory Coast and Sudan.
Angola, 2010 AFCON hosts, will be expected to progress to this year's knock-out stage, having topped their qualifying group.
On the team front, Burkina Faso coach Paulo Duarte has a host of European based footballers to choose from, with the likes of Germain Sanou (Saint-Étienne), Bakary Koné (Lyon), Charles Kaboré (Marseille), Jonathan Pitroipa (Rennes) and Alain Traoré all named in the squad.
For Palancas Negras, coach Lito Vidigal will be looking to experienced defender and captain Carlos Alonso Kali to lead the side, while Mateus Alberto Contreiras Goncalves, more commonly known as Manucho, will be handed the responsibility in front of goal.
