AFCON 2023 Group C Predictions and Preview: Senegal, Cameroon, Guinea, and Gambia

• Senegal possesses a strong lineup led by captain, Sadio Mane and six Premier League stars
• Manchester United’s Andre Onana and Besiktas’ Vincent Aboubakar lead Cameroon’s lineup
• Guinea will rely on Stuttgart's Serhou Guirassy, who has been in fine form in the Bundesliga

The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations is just around the corner.

One of the groups to watch in this year’s AFCON is Group C, which features defending champions Senegal, Cameroon, Guinea, and The Gambia.

Here are Sports Brief's predictions for the group as the much-anticipated tournament draws near.

AFCON 2023 Group C Breakdown

Senegal

The last time Senegal played in the Africa Cup of Nations in 2021, they advanced to the knockout stage as group winners.

Expect the same thing to happen this year in Group C, with the Teranga Lions armed with a strong lineup in this tournament. Leading the squad is captain, Sadio Mane, who now plays for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia.

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The defending champions also have six Premier League players in their lineup, including Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson, Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Pape Matar Sarr, Fulham defender Fode Ballo-Toure, Everton’s Idrissa Gueye and Nottingham Forest's Cheikhou Kouyate and Moussa Niakhate.

Prediction: Senegal finish top of the group with seven points.

Cameroon

The team that will give Senegal a run for their money in Group C is Cameroon.

Coach Rigobert Song has assembled a strong lineup for this year’s AFCON, naming Bayern Munich’s Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, Besiktas’ Vincent Aboubakar, and Napoli’s Frank Anguissa to his lineup.

Aboubakar impressed in the 2022 Qatar World Cup, scoring two goals and dishing out one assist in Cameroon’s group campaign.

Manchester United goalkeeper, Andre Onana also will be suiting up for Cameroon this month. He will be available, though, for the Red Devils’ Premier League game against Tottenham on January 14, only 24 hours before the Indomitable Lions’ group opener against Guinea, per The Guardian.

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Prediction: Cameroon finish second in Group C.

Guinea

One team that can surprise in Group C is Guinea. They have one of the best players in the world at the moment in Serhou Guirassy.

He has been on fire in the Bundesliga, scoring 17 goals in 14 matches for VfB Stuttgart this season. Only Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane has scored more goals than Guirassy in the German top flight this campaign.

Coach Kaba Diawara also named Le Havre striker Mohamed Bayo, Leipzig midfielder Ilaix Moriba, and Werder Bremen star Naby Keita to his side for the AFCON tournament.

Prediction: Guinea finish third in Group C.

Gambia

Gambia made history in 2021 when they qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time. They exceeded expectations in that tournament, with the Gambia reaching the quarter-final stage of the AFCON.

They will look to replicate that feat in Ivory Coast, with Assan Ceesay expected to lead their attack this year. He has been in fine form for Damac FC in the Saudi Pro League, scoring six goals in 18 matches this season.

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Prediction: Gambia finish fourth in Group C.

Countries with the most AFCON titles

Sports Brief previously reported on the countries with the most AFCON wins.

Egypt holds the record for the most continental championships with seven.

Cameroon and Ghana have won five and four AFCON titles, respectively.