Top five favourites to win AFCON 2023: Ranked

African Cup of Nations 2023 will be hosted from January to February

It is the main international men’s association football competition in Africa. It is sanctioned by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and was first held in 1957. The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is seen as the number one football event on the continent, and the 34th edition will kick off on January 13, 2024, in Ivory Coast.

Egypt are the most successful nation in the cup’s history, winning the tournament seven times. Ivory Coast will hope to claim their third AFCON trophy on home soil but they are expected to face fierce competition from several star-studded teams across Africa.

Let us look at the top five favourites to win the AFCON:

5. Ivory Coast

As the host country, Ivory Coast were granted automatic advancement to the championship round. Recently, the team have won the AFCON, most recently in 2015. Until 2005, their greatest accomplishment was winning the 1992 African Cup of Nations against Ghana on penalties at the Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor in Dakar, Senegal. Their second success came in 2015, again defeating Ghana on penalties in Bata, Equatorial Guinea. In 2024, they might win the competition.

4. Egypt

The first Egyptian national football team was constituted in 1920, Egypt are a legendary African Cup of Nations team with the most tournament trophies. Egypt have won the African Cup of Nations more times than any other nation.

Despite his legendary career at Liverpool, Mohamed Salah is yet to fulfil his dream of leading Egypt to a trophy. The Pharaohs came within touching distance of the AFCON trophy in 2021 but lost to Senegal in the final. This time with their star players they have a good chance of winning AFCON once again.

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3. Nigeria

Nigeria are one of the top favourites to win the 2023 AFCON due to their perfect squad. Following a disappointing run in the last tournament, José Peseiro has experimented with several different formations, calling up several new players to the national team. In April 1994, the Nigerian national football team were ranked 5th in the FIFA rankings, the highest FIFA ranking position ever achieved by an African football team. They will want to get back to their glory days by winning this prestigious AFCON.

2. Senegal

Senegal didn’t necessarily have the best squad in the 2022 AFCON but won the tournament with a set of well-balanced performances. Since then, Aliou Cissé’s side have only gotten better as many exciting young stars have found their places in the national team.

Senegal’s first appearance in the Africa Cup of Nations was in 1965 when they lost 1–0 to Ivory Coast for fourth place. They hosted the 1992 African Cup of Nations, where they made it to the quarter-finals, and finished as runners-up in both 2002 and 2019. Senegal would finally win their first AFCON title in 2021, defeating Egypt in the final on penalties following a 0–0 draw after extra time.

1. Morocco

One of Africa’s most successful national football teams, Morocco won the 1976 African Cup of Nations, two African Nations Championships and a FIFA Arab Cup while participating in the FIFA World Cup six times. Following a historic run in the Qatar World Cup, Morocco face high expectations in the upcoming AFCON. Relying on one of the tournament’s best squads, the Atlas Lions will look to win the tournament for the first time since 1976. They are the favourites to win this tournament.

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