The Copa America is still in full swing, and on the other side of the Atlantic, the 32nd Africa Cup of Nations has begun. In the opener that ended in the early morning of Beijing time on Saturday, host Egypt won the opening goal with a small victory over Zimbabwe.
Our youngster Moussa Wag will represent Senegal for the African Cup of Nations for the first time and he is the only Barça player at this year's Africa Cup of Nations. And what are the stories of Barca players and the Africa Cup of Nations before? Let's take a look at it together -
Saidu Keita represented Mali twice in the Africa Cup of Nations
The largest in history
This tournament is the first time the Africa Cup of Nations has been expanded to 24 teams, with Madagascar, Burundi and Mauritania all participating for the first time. From the three teams in the first cup in 1957, to 16 teams in 1998, and then to the 24 teams today, the African Cup of Nations competition has gradually attracted more attention.
As the most successful team in the history of the African Cup of Nations, Egypt has won the title seven times, including a record three consecutive titles in 2006-2010. It was followed by Cameroon and Ghana, which won 5 and 4 titles respectively.
Egypt is the hegemon in the history of the African Cup of Nations
The only Barcelona representative
With his eye-catching performances at Barca this season, the 20-year-old Wag was successfully selected for the national team and represented Senegal for the African Cup of Nations for the first time. But this is not the first time that Wag Jr. has experienced a national team competition .
He had already represented Senegal at the U20 World Cup in New Zealand two years earlier, and in last year's World Cup in Russia against Japan, Wag, who was only 19 years old and 8 months and 20 days old, scored a goal, becoming the youngest African player to score in the World Cup.
Wag celebrates goals at the World Cup
Senegal has never won the African Cup of Nations before, but senegal has a very high call for the cup because they have a number of first-tier stars in their squad - Mane for Liverpool; Keita Balde, who played in La Masia and is now Inter Milan; and Napoli's world-class defender Koulibaly. Such a star-studded lineup also gives us reason to look forward to Senegal's prospects for winning this cup.
Senegal's squad for this cup is luxurious
Senegal's Africa Cup of Nations Group Stage Journey (Beijing Time)——
24 June 1:00 Senegal vs Tanzania
28 June 1:00 Senegal vs Algeria
2 Jul 3:00 Kenya vs Senegal
Red and Blue African Warfare History
A total of five players have previously played in the Africa Cup of Nations during their time at Barca: Amunic and Okunover in Nigeria, Eto'o in Cameroon, Yaya Toure in Côte d'Ivoire and Sedu Keita in Mali.
With 18 goals, Eto'o became the all-time top scorer of the Africa Cup of Nations
Other players have also represented their respective national teams in the Africa Cup of Nations before or after playing for Barcelona, including Alexander Song and Onana in Cameroon.
From star to coach
Former African footballer Amunic played for Barca from 1996 to 2000, having previously helped Nigeria qualify for the 1994 World Cup and win the Africa Cup of Nations that same year and the Olympic Games in Atlanta two years later. He led the team to the Africa Cup of Nations as a coach for Tanzania.
Amunic was once dressed in a red and blue robe
Lucky host
Another major change in the African Cup of Nations, in addition to the expansion of the country, is the first time that the competition has been adjusted from January and February to summer, thus avoiding the previous situation where African players from major European clubs had to leave the team in the middle of the season.
Red and Blue Daily War Report
In the final round of the America's Cup Group A held this morning Beijing time, the host Brazil defeated Peru by 5 goals and advanced to the knockout round with the first place in the group. Coutinho started and contributed an assist, and Artur started and played the game.
In the first knockout match of the Women's World Cup quarterfinals that ended in the early hours of this morning, O'Chaola's Nigeria lost 3-0 to Germany, stopping in the round of 16.
Today's topic
For African players who have played for Barca
What are some of their moments that you will never forget?