As I wrote in Pt I of this preview series yesterday, Pt II will now cover the remaining two groups, and instead of adding the nicknames in this part, I will extend it in another one, Pt III which I'll write tomorrow with some statistics of the tournament in the past and what records could be broken etc etc. So enjoy Pt II .

Group C:

Egypt: Six time and current defending champions, this Egyptian team has retained their title, emulating the great Cameroon side of the early 2000's. Everything is well oiled, they have a well organized rearguard, an intelligent midfield and a choice of strikers to score. Again, they will have to try save face after failing to get to the World Cup, losing a play-off to Algeria. With the 'Smiling Assassin' Aboutreika injured and not in the squad to pull the strings, all the emphasis will be on Emad Moteab to score the goals and inspire greatness. How will they react from missing the World Cup, this remains to be seen.

Nigeria: The Super Eagles have fallen upon hard times, despite still having players known all over the world. They made a serious hash of qualification, and a disaster in this tournament will cost trainer Shaibu Amodou his job. After the 2008 fiasco by Berti Vogts who nominated an unbalanced squad with 7 strikers, little has changed with 8 called up for this tournament and only 6 central midfielders. They only scored 9 goals in qualification, with so many strikers, they should score much more. Their strength is probably their biggest weakness, the Chelsea midfielder Mikel Jon Obi is confused, is he a holding player, or an attacking player? In 2005, he was voted second best player in the U-20 World Cup behind a certain Leo Messi, as the fulcrum of the Nigeria team, finding exquisite passes and rumbling into the box from deep. Today his game looks limited and tired, he is who Nigeria expect to bring creativity, and he is yet to do so, unless he figures out quick, he and Nigeria will not last long.

Mozambique: Another emerging power, with their economy booming, they have enlisted a Dutch trainer to get them to tournaments, and he has done well. Faring well against Nigeria and Tunisia in qualification, they have a venomous bit as their nickname Black Mamba's suggests, Tunisia miss the World Cup because of them. Simao who plays in Greece and is a youngster has put in some really good showings in midfield, and looks to have a bright future. They will need to keep it tight and play on the break and hope for the best.

Benin: Yet another small country doing big things, Benin were a game away from the World Cup, finishing behind Ghana, and will be a surprise package in this tournament. They beat Ghana at home, and they are a very industrious scheme. The undoubted star is PSG midfield dynamo Stephane Sessegnon who will put himself in the shop window in this tournament, and he will be helped by Metz striker Razak Omotoyossi.

Egypt and Nigeria to progress from Group C.


Group D:

Cameroon: The Indomitable Lions were referred to as the Germany of Africa by Arsenal trainer Arsene Wenger. They were a former Germany colony, and have shown in the past that when the chips are down, when a team has better players, Cameroon will emerge as winners. This is personified by them only getting 2 points from their first 9 in the final phase of qualification, in came Paul Le Guen who made brave decisions like stripping legendary defender Rigobert Song of the captaincy and starting place, and installing youngsters like Nkoulou and Bassong into the side, they got 9 out of 9 points to make the World Cup. This however is not vintage Cameroon circa 1998-2002, but what they lack in true quality, they make up in pride and determination to win, no matter the obstacle. The worst Cameroon squad since the 1996 made the final in 2008, so this squad can probably go one better. Star men will be Samuel Eto'o, all time scorer in this tournament with 16 strikes, but crucial will be play maker Alexandre Song-Billong. Cameroon missed him for their first 3 games and lacked personality and direction, he returned and controlled the attacking play and tempo, even the 2008 Final was essentially lost when he withdrew injured in the first half allowing Egypt to control the midfield. Keep him fit, and Cameroon will go very deep.

Gabon: A team that troubled Cameroon to qualify, their charge was halted by the death of president Bongo in June that meant the matches were postponed, had they won their game that month, they would have been favourites to get to the World Cup. Instead they faced a rejuvenated Cameroon and were runners up. Financed by oil money, they have managed to recruit French legend Alain Giresse (part of the French 1982-1986 Magic Square midfield of Platini-Fernanedz-Tigana)T