AFCON 2023: From Morocco to Senegal, Updated Rankings of Tournament Favourites

• The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations enters a crucial point
• The Round of 16 fixtures are set, and most of them are tasty
• Morocco and Senegal are still considered favourites to win it

The group stages of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations have been concluded and the last 16 matches are set.

We've seen a few upsets so far, with the big story so far being Ghana getting knocked out in the group stage. Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Namibia, and Mauritania have also grabbed the headlines with historic results.

Senegal, Nigeria, and Morocco have quietly lived up to the favourites tag by cruising past the group stages.

Many have tipped defending champions Senegal to retain their title, but the tournament in Ivory Coast has been full of surprises and twists.

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

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We've seen all the big guns in action, but who is the favourite to lift the title on February 11? Sports Brief ranks the top 5 favourites to win the title.

Top 5 2023 AFCON favourites

5. Equatorial Guinea

Nzalang Nacional are one of the stories in the tournament. They topped Group A ahead of giants Nigeria and hosts Ivory Coast, whom they beat 4-0 in their last group game. They also held Nigeria to a 1-1 draw and thrashed Guinea-Bissau 4-2 in Group A. The results against Nigeria and Ivory Coast have shown they can hang with the best on the continent.

Juan Micha's side face Guinea in the round of 16 on Sunday, January 28. They're on the same side of the bracket as Egypt and Senegal, so they'll need to go through them to reach the final. They reached the quarter-final in the 2021 edition, where they ended Algeria's incredible 35-game unbeaten run.

Mane's Senegal defend title as Ivory Coast hosts Cup of Nations

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4. Cape Verde

Like Equatorial Guinea, the Blue Sharks have quietly and comfortably gone through the group stage without any problems. They upset Ghana, beat Mozambique 3-0, and then stunned Egypt with a 99th-minute equalizer in their final Group B game.

They will face Mauritania in the last 16 on Monday, January 29 and potentially play Morocco in the quarter-final, per CAF. They've reached the quarters before, in 2013, but this time, they look superb. Topping a group with Egypt and Ghana is no easy feat, and winning the title is not unthinkable.

3. Nigeria

Nigeria scored three goals in the group stages and face arch-rivals Cameroon in the round of 16. They may be struggling to score goals, but their defence is perhaps the best so far. The Indomitable Lions are also struggling to score goals, and things will be much more difficult against a resolute Super Eagles' defence.

AFCON 2023 Group A Predictions and Preview: Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, & Guinea-Bissau

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Jose Peseiro's side last won the title in 2013 but is hoping African Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen, will take them to the promised land.

2. Morocco

The Atlas Lions have dominated every game so far, creating plenty of chances. They were pre-tournament favourites after their historic 2022 World Cup display, where they reached the semi-final. Hakim Ziyech and Achraf Hakimi have been excellent in their three games.

They clash with 1996 champions South Africa in the last 16 but will have to most likely go through Nigeria if they want to win it all.

1. Senegal

Senegal were the only team to win all their group games in Ivory Coast. The performances were excellent, too, with 20-year-old Lamine Camara impressing. Aliou Cisse's side won their first AFCON title in 2022, and one can say they are a better team this time around.

Their path to the final is challenging. They face hosts Ivory Coast in the last 16, and possible opponents later in the competition include Burkina Faso, Egypt, and Equatorial Guinea.

AFCON 2023: 6 times defending champions have failed to advance past the group stage

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Top AFCON disappointments

Sports Brief earlier reported on the top 5 disappointments at 2023 AFCON.

Ghana, hosts Ivory Coast, and 2019 champions Algeria were poor in the tournament. The Black Stars and the Desert Foxes exited the tournament at the group stage for the second time in a row.

Osimhen is also yet to light up the competition. The Napoli man has scored once but has missed several golden scoring chances.