AFCON 2023: Ivory Coast vs Nigeria, Egypt vs Ghana and 2 Group Games that Promises to be Explosive

• AFCON 2023 will begin on Saturday in Ivory Coast
• Senegal will head to the tournament as champions
• Four games are expected to light up the group stage

The countdown to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations is almost over with less than a week to start the tournament.

Ivory Coast will host 23 other nations as the quest for a new African champion begins on Saturday, January 13, 2024, in Abidjan.

The flagship African competition has always thrilled fans with some exciting football over the years and ahead of the 34th edition, nothing less is expected.

The heavyweights are often pitted against each other as early as in the group stage.

Sports Brief looks at four games that are expected to deliver some fireworks at the early stages of the competition in Ivory Coast.

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Ivory Coast versus Nigeria

The headliner in Group A will be the game between hosts Ivory Coast and the Super Eagles of Nigeria. The two heavyweights share five AFCON titles between them. Games between Nigeria and the Elephants has always been fiercely contested due to the rich history between the two countries.

Nigeria will be led by the reigning African Player of the Year Victor Osimhen while the Ivorian will require inspiration from former Barcelona star Franck Kessie. Both nations boast of the best talents on the continent and should deliver a classic for AFCON 2023.

The game will be played on January 18 at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan.

Ghana versus Egypt

Egypt and Ghana have always been favourites at any major continental championship. With eleven titles between the Pharaohs and the Black Stars, the tie is ranked high on the list of games to watch. Although both sides have not been convincing in recent times, Egypt and Ghana hold a strong rivalry on the continent.

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Egypt beat Ghana to win their last AFCON in 2010 while the Black Stars famously beat the North Africans 6-1 in 2013 to qualify for the World Cup in Brazil.

The two teams will rekindle their rivalry in Group B on January 18 at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan.

Cameroon versus Senegal

Senegal travel to Ivory Coast as champions of Africa but their position at the top will be tested by the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. No team on the continent knows how to play the competitions better than the Central African country. Rigobert Song's men have won the tournament five times, three of them since 2000.

Senegal has one of the best teams heading to Ivory Coast, with the likes of Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy leading the squad. Vincent Aboubakar, the top scorer from the last competition will be the danger man for Cameroon.

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Mane scored the winner the last time the two sides met.

On January 19, the African giants will face off in Group C at Yamoussoukro.

South Africa versus Tunisia

Tunisia, also known as the Carthage Eagles, have been consistent at the tournament despite winning it only once. The 2004 champions will square up against the 1996 winners in what is expected to be the biggest game in Group E.

Bafana Bafana heads to the tournament with 2017 AFCON-winning coach Hugo Broos, who is confident of replicating his achievement with Cameroon with the South African team.

The Group E game will be played on January 24 in Korhogo.