Senegal, Morocco Ranked Among Top 6 Countries to Win 2023 AFCON

The 2024 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations will kick off on January 13, 2024, with 24 countries vying for Africa’s ultimate football prize.

Ivory Coast is ready to host next year’s competition with matches to be hosted in six different stadiums in locations such as Abidjan, Bouake, Korhogo, San Pedro, and Yamoussukoro.

According to Euronews, six exciting groups emerged from the draws conducted in October as hosts, Ivory Coast were pitched in Group A alongside Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau.

Multiple AFCON winners, Egypt and Ghana have been drawn in Group B while defending champions, Senegal will kick off their title defence against the likes of Cameroon, Guinea, and Gambia in Group C.

With less than 30 days to the start of the 2024 tournament, Sports Brief takes a look at the favourite teams to win next year’s tournament in Ivory Coast.

6 favourites to win 2023 AFCON

1. Senegal

Senegal finally got their hands on the Africa Cup of Nations title in 2021 after placing second in 2019. The Teranga Lions went undefeated throughout the competition before defeating Egypt on penalties in the final, BET365 reports.

Following their AFCON victory, Aliou Cisse's side advanced to the knockout stages of the 2022 World Cup, where England ended their journey in the Round of 16.

Senegal has a wealth of talent in all parts of the field, with prominent players including Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Edouard Mendy, who have been tipped as one of the favourites for the 2023 title.

2. Algeria

One of three teams to go unbeaten in qualification, Algeria will be looking to replicate their success of 2019 and win a third AFCON title.

Under the supervision of former Manchester City and Southampton midfielder, Djamel Belmadi, the Desert Foxes have only lost five matches in five years.

They have maintained eight clean sheets in their last ten competitive games, and their toughness will be crucial to their tournament success.

Algeria poses a significant threat for the 2023 AFCON title with attacking talents such as Riyad Mahrez, Said Benrahma, and Houssem Aouar.

3. Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast will be determined to make an impression in front of their home audience as the Elephants host their first AFCON since 1984.

The Ivorians, who won the competition in 2015, have undergone a period of decline. They failed to qualify for the World Cup in both 2018 and 2022 and they've had similar failures in the Africa Cup of Nations, only making it past the Round of 16 once in the last three editions.

The squad, led by Jean-Louis Gasset, is a promising mix of youth and experience. Sebastian Haller and Wilfried Zaha are key members of the Ivorian assault, while Sporting Lisbon's 19-year-old defender, Ousmane Diomande is a rising talent to watch.

Best African Football team: Which is the best African squad for the upcoming World Cup and why?

Football

4. Morocco

Morocco’s epic World Cup run in 2022 inspired a continent and captivated the entire globe.

The Atlas Lions now hope to build on their great campaign in Qatar by making a statement at the Africa Cup of Nations next year in Ivory Coast.

The veterans of their World Cup semi-final run, notably Noussair Mazraoui, Achraf Hakimi, Hakim Ziyech, and Youssef En-Nesyri, have all returned.

Expectations for Walid Regragui's men have certainly risen in a camp bubbling with confidence and with strong squad depth throughout.

5. Cameroon

Cameroon, a five-time AFCON winner, is one of the continent's most decorated nations. The Indomitable Lions, who hosted the competition in 2021, came agonisingly close to reaching an eighth AFCON final before losing on penalties to Egypt in the semi-finals.

Rigobert Song's team features a number of veteran players, the most noteworthy of whom is Manchester United custodian Andre Onana.

Cameroon struggled to score goals during the qualification process, but with Vincent Aboubakar, Bryan Mbeumo, and Eric Choupo-Moting in attack, they have players capable of capitalising on opportunities.

6. Egypt

Many people are surprised that Egypt is the most successful AFCON nation despite only qualifying for the World Cup three times.

The Pharaohs were on the verge of winning their eighth title in 2021 when they were defeated on penalties by Senegal. Sadio Mane's winning spot-kick extended Mohamed Salah's wait for a title with his country on an occasion remembered for two Liverpool stars going head-to-head.

Salah's chances of winning international medals are dwindling as he approaches the age of 31. However, with the attacker at the pinnacle of his abilities for Liverpool this season, there is hope that he may emulate Lionel Messi's World Cup triumphs and inspire Egypt to victory in February.

Morocco dealt early AFCON scare

Sports Brief previously reported that Moroccan full-back, Noussair Mazraoui suffered a calf injury during Bayern Munich's UEFA Champions League match against Manchester United.

He is anticipated to be absent for the remainder of the Bavarian club’s fixtures in 2023 and could face a recovery period of between four and six weeks.

However, the report highlights that Mazraoui is yet to rule out the possibility of participating in AFCON despite the chances diminishing each day due to the severity of his injury.