AFCON 2023: Top 5 Underdog Sides to Watch out for at the Tournament

• The Africa Cup of Nations has produced some unforgettable underdog stories
• The 2023 edition will be no different, as a few teams are primed to make a big jump
• Mali and Burkina Faso are two teams that most expect to go all the way, possibly to the final

Just like the World Cup, the Africa Cup of Nations is an opportunity for countries to rise up to the occasion and make their people proud with memorable performances.

The 2023 AFCON kicks off this weekend, and although the favourites are well-known, lesser-favoured nations could cause a few upsets along the way.

The 24 countries at the tournament mean there's always one or more teams that punch above their weight, as we saw with Burkina Faso in the 2021 edition.

AFCON is one of the hardest competitions to win. Countries that produce elite talent, like Nigeria, Ghana, and Morocco, have not won the tournament for years, which is evidence of just how tough it is to win it.

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Senegal, Morocco, Nigeria, Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt and hosts Cote d'Ivoire are considered favourites. But which teams have an outside chance of winning it? Sports Brief looks at some of the underdogs.

Top 5 2023 AFCON underdogs

Burkina Faso

The Stallions have put together consistent performances over the years in the tournament. They finished second in 2013, third in 2017 and fourth in the 2021 edition. Therefore, they are a serious threat to the top teams. Most of their players ply their trade in some of Europe's best leagues.

For instance, their defender Edmond Tapsoba, arguably one of the most exciting centre-backs in the world plays for Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen. They will be looking to him to provide inspiration for another run deep into the tournament. Other Burkina Faso players to keep an eye on are midfield star Gustavo Sangare, versatile forward Abdoul Tapsoba and captain Issoufou Dayo.

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They are in Group D alongside 2019 champions Algeria, Mauritania, and Angola.

Mali

Another underdog is a West African team, Mali. Just like Burkina Faso, they are one of the most consistent sides on the continent. Since 2004 in Tunisia, they have played in every AFCON tournament except the 2006 edition. Their strength lies in their midfield which is probably the best on the continent.

Yves Bissouma, Mohamed Camara, Amadou Haidara, and Diadie Samassekou are just some of their midfield options. Therefore, they will likely dominate even the best sides. They reached the Round of 16 in the last edition.

They're in Group E alongside previous winners Tunisia, South Africa and Namibia.

South Africa

Bafana Bafana did not qualify for the 2021 edition and have been inconsistent in the tournament. In the 2019 edition, they narrowly lost to Nigeria in the quarter-final after upsetting hosts Egypt in the Round of 16. That result against the Pharaohs showed they are capable of delivering on the biggest stage.

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Their squad consists of mostly locally-based players mainly from South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns, and is a mix of youth and experience.

One advantage the 1996 champions have is their coach Hugo Broos. The Belgian led Cameroon to their 2017 AFCON triumph. Can he inspire South Africa to another famous win?

Guinea

The Syli National are in a tough group which has holders Senegal and previous winners Cameroon. Guinea are not pushovers, either. They have one of the best strikers in the world in Serhou Guirassy and the experienced Naby Keita and Issiaga Sylla, per BBC.

They were stunned by The Gambia in the Round of 16 in the last tournament. The two sides are in the same group this time too. It seems the last 16 is their Achilles Heel, and this will be a great opportunity to remind everyone they are not just making the numbers.

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Tunisia

The 2004 champions have qualified for every AFCON tournament since 1994. After their title in 2004, they have struggled to compete with the best in the continent.

They are still a solid team. They knocked Nigeria out of the 2021 edition and achieved one of the best-ever results at the World Cup, the 1-0 win over France in Qatar in 2022.

Incidentally, they are in the same group as other underdogs on this list, Mali and South Africa. Whoever progresses from this group will have a chance to go deep in the tournament.

Captain Youssef Msakni and midfielder Ellyes Skhiri will be their key players at the tournament.

Teams with the most to prove at AFCON

Sports Brief also previously reported on African national teams with the most to prove in AFCON 2023.

Ghana and Nigeria are expected to go all the way since they have produced some of Africa's best players and have won a combined one title since 1994.

Despite having some of the best African talent over the years, Morocco have struggled to make their mark. They last won the title in 1976.