AFCON 2023: Nigeria vs Cote d’Ivoire Headline 4 Must Watch Group Stage Matches

• The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off on Saturday
• Some of the best teams in the tournament face off early in the group stages
• Nigeria vs host Cote d'Ivoire is one of the big games fans are eagerly waiting for

The highly anticipated 34th Africa Cup of Nations is almost here.

The best African teams and players will camp in Cote d'Ivoire for about a month to showcase African football at its finest.

Although the tournament always gets tasty in the knockout stages, there are some intriguing match-ups in the group stages.

The tournament promises to deliver another unforgettable experience to African football fans. There are several favourites to win the title.

Defending champions Senegal, five-time winners Cameroon, seven-time champions Egypt, Nigeria and Morocco have been tipped to win this year's edition.

Lucky for fans, they'll get to see some great matches as early as the group stages. Here are four must-watch group-stage games.

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Must watch AFCON group games

Cote d'Ivoire vs Nigeria, Group A, January 18

These two nations have a rich history. Some of Africa's best players have come from these two respected footballing countries. The Elephants will be under pressure to deliver in front of their home crowd next week, and it won't be easy against a potent Nigerian team.

The last time Cote d'Ivoire hosted the tournament, they went out in the group stages, and the last hosts to win it all was Egypt in 2006. The hosts' squad is fairly young but star-studded, and it remains to be seen if they can go all the way.

The Super Eagles, considered underachievers, have an attacking depth, although some of their top players will be missing the tournament with injuries. These two teams haven't met many times, at least in the last decade. Therefore this will be anyone's game which will be magical for neutral fans.

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Egypt vs Ghana, Group B, January 18

The Pharaohs and the Black Stars have won a combined 11 AFCON titles. Ghana's last AFCON triumph came in 1982, while Egypt won it last in 2010. So both sides, especially Chris Hughton's team, are hoping to right the wrongs of the previous tournaments.

Both have star power in their ranks, like Mohamed Salah and Mohammed Kudus. Salah took Egypt to the final of the 2021 edition and 2017 but lost both.

Ghana failed to go past the group stage in the last tournament, a serious dent in their reputation as one of Africa's best teams. This clash could determine who wins Group B.

Senegal vs Cameroon, Group B, January 19

The Lions of Teranga are favourites to win it again. Sadio Mane is still on top of his game and their Golden Generation is still very much intact. Heading into AFCON as defending champions can be difficult. In the last few years, reigning champions would go out in the group stage or fail to qualify. So can Senegal banish the ghosts of the past?

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Cameroon are one of the three AFCON champions to retain their title, per Opta Analyst. The Indomitable Lions will be underdogs when they play Senegal, a rematch of the 2002 final. Vincent Aboubakar and Karl Toko Ekambi were the top two 2021 AFCON scorers, so they could give Aliou Cisse's side some problems.

Algeria vs Burkina Faso, Group D, January 20

On paper, most people would fancy Algeria to beat Burkina Faso. The 2019 champions still have some stars on their team, but the Stallions have demonstrated in the past that they can challenge the best teams on the continent.

They finished third in 2017 and fourth in 2021, per CAF, results which make a problem for anyone. Algeria failed to impress in the 2021 edition, going out in the group stage and scoring just once. They've only met twice since 2013, and both games ended in draws.

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These games will set the stage for what is to come later in the tournament.

Top 5 AFCON 2023 underdogs

Sports Brief also previously named five 2023 AFCON underdogs, including Burkina Faso.

The Stallions have put together consistent performances over the years, having finished second in 2013, third in 2017, and fourth in the 2021 edition.

Burkina Faso are in Group D alongside 2019 champions Algeria, Mauritania, and Angola and will rely on stars like Tapsoba to create big upsets.