The African Cup of Nations tournament will kick off its 34th edition on January 13. AFCON is a bi-annual event where the continent’s best talents face off on and off the pitch. Several African nations will be looking to dethrone Senegal once the tournament kicks off. This article looks at nations with a genuine chance of winning the tournament.

Senegal

The Lions de la Teranga are the defending champions and one of the strongest teams in the tournament. Most AFCON wagering fans have Senegal as a frontrunner to win this year’s tournament. If you plan to wager on the tournament, discover how to get a referral code for BetKing to enhance your wagering experience. After that, you can join other fans watching Sadio Sane lead Senegal in the tournament.

Their squad has a healthy balance of young and experienced players, with some players having featured in high-level competitions in Africa and abroad. Do you think Senegal can retain the AFCON title?

Egypt

Egypt are one of the most decorated teams in African football. They have won the AFCON a record seven times (1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, and 2010). The Pharaohs have always entered the AFCON tournaments as one of the favorites, and the same applies this year.

With Mo Salah in the form of his life, Egypt have a player that can help them unlock tough matches. Expect Egypt to compete strongly in the tournament with their loyal fans behind them.

Nigeria

The Super Eagles have won the AFCON thrice (1980, 1994, 2013). No African team at the tournament can match Nigeria’s attacking firepower! The Nigerians have Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Victor Boniface, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Samuel Chukwueze as their options during the tournament.

With such attacking talent, the Super Eagles are a threat. It is up to Jose Peseiro to get his team selection and tactics right to silence his doubters.

Ivory Coast

The Elephants no longer boast superstar names like Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure. However, everyone in the country believes their home-ground advantage will help them win the tournament. They won the competition in 1992 and 2015 and only managed to make it to the last 16 in the 2021 tournament.

Nonetheless, this year’s squad is deemed the most balanced they have had in years. It has a perfect blend of emerging talents such as Ousmane Diomande, Simon Adingra, and Odilon Kossounou, as well as experienced players such as Sebastien Haller and Frank Kessie. They are the favorites to progress from the Group A together with the Super Eagles.

Dark Horse (S)

Every tournament has its dark horse(s)! Football pundits believe that there could be surprises at the AFCON 2023. Teams such as Tunisia, Mali, Morocco, and South Africa are touted as teams to watch. Who’s your favorite to win the AFCON 2023?