This year's Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) featuring 24 teams promises to be an exciting affair. The action will kick off on June 21 at the Cairo International Stadium in Egypt.

A review of the strengths and chances of each nation makes interesting reading.

Having qualified 22 times and won seven titles, the Pharaohs of Egypt reign over CAN. As the 2019 venue, Egypt will also be the first nation to have organized the competition on five occasions. As a replacement country for original hosts Cameroon, which was not able to complete preparations in time, Egypt offers 10 stadiums of international standard, one of which, the 75,000-seat Cairo International Stadium, has already held the finals in 1974, 1986 and 2006.

Group A: Egypt goes for the second round

The best asset of the Egyptian Pharaohs is undoubtedly their game system. With one of the most competitive national leagues in Africa, Egypt has forged a total football style, based on the solidarity of the players on the field. They will also rely on the indispensable Mohamed Salah, currently among the best players in the world, and his boiling audience to carry it. Their most formidable opponents right now seem to be the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), winners of 1968 and 1974, and their striker Cédric Bakambu, one of the highest paid African players in the world. In addition, the DRC Coach Jean-Florent Ibengé can count on many players from the DRC's TP Mazembé, the flagship club of the continent. Uganda and Zimbabwe will have to fight hard to get through to the second round. The opening match will take place on June 21, with Egypt playing against Zimbabwe.

Group B: Nigeria's year?

Nigeria has something to prove this year. The Super Eagles have the experience of captain John Obi Mikel and are one of the teams with the most international players. With its constellation of stars and three continental titles, the Super Eagles will, however, have to be at their best when they face Burundi on June 22, before playing against Guinea and Madagascar. Nigeria is always a target for other teams since taking the title in 2013, despite being unable to qualify for the 2015 and 2017 tournament playoffs. Madagascar qualified for the first time this year and is the dark horse of the group.

Group C: two potential winners

The Cairo stadium will be vibrating with excitement for the duel between Senegal and Algeria on June 27. The Senegal national team, known as the Lions of Teranga, has for some years relied on many stars, such as Sadio Mané, Keita Baldé and M'Baye Niang. In the past, the Senegalese team was led by stars such as El Hadj Diouf and Aliou Cissé, the current coach, a team that raised the trophy in 2002.

The Algerian Fennecs also have renowned players like Riyad Mahrez, Yacine Bahimi and Islam Slimani, to name a few. Having participated in 17 playoffs, Algeria has only won CAN once and that was way back in 1990 at home.

Competing against the two group favorites and in search of their second title are Kenya and Tanzania. Coach Emmanuel Amunike of the Tanzanian Kilimanjaro Stars, and his counterpart Sébastien Migné of the Kenyan Harambee Stars, have set up a game system based on the commitment and complementarity of their players. Patrick Mboma, consultant and former winner of the CAN with Cameroon, said these last two teams have great potential and play with an uninhibited style that could cause upsets.

Group D: the group of death

This group is certainly one to watch. The duel between Morocco and Côte d'Ivoire is set to be a classic game with quality players on each side. On the rebound after disappointing failures in the past are South Africa and Namibia. Morocco's captain Mehdi Benatia leads one of the most complete teams in the tournament. Coach Hervé Renard has a squad depth of two to three players of equal level in almost every position. In fact, the Morocco Atlas Lions, whose only CAN win dates back to 1976, are hungry and will be dangerous.

Despite the Ivorian Elephants being in a rebuilding phase, they still have strong players. To maximize their chances, they entrusted the reins of the team to Ibrahim Kamara, the coach who led Zambia to victory in 2012, and Côte d'Ivoire in 2015. South African Coach Stuart Baxter has no individual stars in his Bafana Bafana team, but relies on a solid team effort. They are looking to draw inspiration from the winners of the 1996 CAN. For Namibia, it is only the second time they have qualified and they will be looking to make a good impression in this tough group.

Group E: evenly matched

The mere fact of participating in a CAN play-offs is already a victory for Mauritania. If they remain uninhibited, Coach Corentin Martins will certainly have a shot to do well against the other three teams, who on paper are all evenly matched. Tunisia, winner of the CAN in 2004, have a slight psychological advantage, but will have to be wary of Mali (11 participations in the CAN playoffs), led by Coach Alain Giresse. Coach Srdjan Vasilevic of Angola's Palancas Negras has set up a team that plays attractive football, despite the team not doing well on the continent. It is difficult to predict who will emerge victorious in this group. The role of the coaches, the supporters and the form of the players on the day will be decisive.

Group F: a duel of giants

With a new technical staff, defending champions Indomitable Lions of Cameroon want a sixth title. But blocking their path on the road is the Blacks Stars of Ghana. It is a mouth-watering duel between highly talented players. The two teams each have a World Cup quarter-final to their credit (1990 for Cameroon and 2010 for Ghana). Ghana has been a four-time CAN finalist. Cameroon has won five times and been a losing finalist twice. However, Guinea and Benin will be waiting in ambush to upset the favorites in this group. The Beninese Coach Michel Dussuyer, a connoisseur of African football, being a former coach of Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea, will certainly want to make his mark against his two former teams.

(Reporting from Cameroon)

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