The 7 Teams that could win AFCON 2023

The 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations kicks off on Saturday, with hosts Côte d’Ivoire facing off against Guinea-Bissau in a feisty opener.

This is expected to be one of the most keenly contested tournaments in recent times with several teams looking to get their hands on the famous trophy.

Read on to find out which nations are the favourites to win the tournament and enjoy professional betting tips and high odds provided by BetKing, one of Nigeria’s leading bookmakers.

Senegal 

Manager – Aliou Cisse

Star Players – Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy

Possible XI -(3-4-3) Mendy; Koulibaly, Niakhite, Jakobs; Diatta, Pepe Sarr, Gueye, Ballo; Mane, Ismaila Sarr, Ndiaye

Senegal, the defending champions, and heavy favourites to defend their title, will come into this tournament full of confidence. Led by national hero Aliou Cisse, the Teranga Lions will look to replicate their 2022 success when they defeated Egypt 4-2 on penalties in a nervy final to win their first-ever AFCON trophy.

Since they’ve been drawn in Group C along with Cameroon, Gambia and Guinea, Cisse’s men will be expected to qualify as one of the top 2 teams, along with Cameroon. While Guinea and Gambia may pose a threat, Senegal have the experience of being champions, as well as a squad of superstar players including Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy and Premier League stars Nicolas Jackson, Pape Matar Sarr and Idrissa Gana Gueye.

As long as the players stay fit, the Teranga Lions will take some stopping.

Take advantage of BetKing’s high odds by backing Senegal to retain the trophy.

Bet on Senegal to retain their AFCON trophy @7.00

Morocco

Manager – Walid Regragui

Star Players – Achraf Hakimi, Sofyan Amrabat, Hakim Ziyech

Possible XI – (4-3-3) Bono; Hakimi, Aguerd, Saiss, Mazroui; Amrabat, El Khannouss, Harit; Ziyech, En Nesyri, Adli

Following an impressive 2022 campaign where Morocco became the first African nation to ever reach the World Cup semi-finals, all eyes are on Walid Regragui’s men to see if they can replicate that success at the African Cup of Nations.

The Atlas Lions are aiming to improve on their recent AFCON performances, which have seen them fail to progress beyond the quarter-final stage since 2004 when they were runners-up to hosts Tunisia. They are in Group F with Tanzania, DR Congo and Zambia and are heavy favourites to progress in top spot.

Key players from their World Cup journey include goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, PSG star full-back Achraf Hakimi, Manchester United’s Sofyan Amrabat, Nayef Aguerd, and Hakim Ziyech, who will all be part of their AFCON squad.

As most, if not all these players are still playing at the level they showed in Qatar, we expect them to put up a good showing at AFCON 2023.

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Bet on Morocco to win AFCON 2023 @8.00

Nigeria 

Manager – Jose Peseiro

Star Players – Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi

Possible XI – (4-3-3): Uzoho; Osayi-Samuel, Ekong, Bassey, Bruno; Iwobi, Ndidi, Iheanacho, Lookman; Boniface, Osimhen

Despite being drawn alongside hosts Cote d’Ivoire in Group A, Nigeria will head to AFCON full of confidence that they can go all the way. While question marks remain over the tactical capabilities of head coach Jose Peseiro, who has won just 4 of his last 11 games in charge, the Super Eagles will rely heavily on a plethora of formidable attacking talent.

The 2013 AFCON winners have one of the best offensive weaponry in the world, featuring players like Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, and Kelechi Iheanacho, who are all bonafide game-changers.

The first step for Nigeria will be to go further than their underwhelming 2021 campaign, where they were eliminated in the last 16 by Tunisia.  All things considered, we believe that the Super Eagles should have enough to advance deep into the knockout rounds.

Take advantage of Betking’s best betting offers and high odds by backing Nigeria to win AFCON outright.

Bet on Nigeria to win AFCON @10.00

Algeria

Manager – Djamel Belmadi 

Star Players – Riyad Mahrez, Islam Slimani, Sofiane Feghouli

Possible XI – (4-2-3-1) Mandrea; Atal, Mandi, Ait Nouri, Bensebaini; Bentaleb, Chaibi; Feghouli, Gouri, Mahrez; Slimani

Algeria’s attempt to defend their title at 2021 AFCON went badly as they failed to win a single game and crashed out in the group stage.  Head Coach Djamel Belmadi stuck with the same players throughout the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, but they lost 2-1 to Cameroon in the playoffs to miss out on the Mundial in Qatar.

Despite these setbacks, The Algerian FA kept faith with Belmadi and his rebuilding project with hopes of a renaissance of sorts as they head to Cote d’Ivoire. However, they are yet to discover their best lineup, and while they certainly possess an abundance of talent, they will have to be at their absolute best to make a triumphant run in Cote d’Ivoire.

Joined in Group D by 2021 semi-finalists Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Angola, Algeria should have enough to qualify for the knockout stages.

Betking, the best online sports betting site in Nigeria is offering the best odds for Algeria to qualify from Group D.

Bet on Algeria to emerge victorious in Group D @ 1.30

Cote d’Ivoire 

Manager – Jean-Louis Gasset

Star Players – Wilfried Zaha, Simon Adingra, Frank Kessie

Possible XI – Y. Fofana; Koussonou, Aurier, Boly, N’Dicka; Kessie, Fofana.S, Sangare; Adingra, Zaha, Haller

Having failed to make it past the quarter-final stage of this competition since their triumphant run in 2015, Côte d’Ivoire will be hoping home advantage can help them as they aim to become the first host nation to win the tournament since Egypt in 2006.

After going unbeaten in the group stages during the last AFCON, they were expected to go all the way but a 4-5 penalty shootout defeat to eventual runners-up Egypt in the first knockout round put an end to that run.

After failing to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar, a tournament of this magnitude on home soil presents an opportunity to reward their loyal fans by winning the African Cup of Nations for the third time.

While this current crop of Ivorian stars may not be as talented as the squads that featured Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure, Salomon Kalou, Gervinho etc, they still possess enough quality to make a push for the trophy.  Despite an unimpressive stint with Barcelona, Franck Kessie remains a supremely gifted midfielder and Dortmund’s Sebastien Haller is likely to lead the line, ably supported by two dazzling wingers — Zaha and Adingra.

If these talented footballers can harness the enthusiastic support from the home crowd, they might find the inspiration needed to achieve victory. Our bet of the day is for the Ivorians to win the tournament on home soil.

Bet on hosts, Cote d’Ivoire to win AFCON 2023 with odds valued @8.00 from BetKing

Cameroon

Manager – Rigobert Song

Star Players – Bryan Mbeumo, Andre Onana, Zambo-Anguissa

Possible XI – (4-2-3-1) Onana; Castelletto, Mououdi, Gonzalez, Yongwa; Kunde, Zambo-Anguissa; Tchamadeu, Toko Ekambi, Choupo-Moting; Vincent Aboubakar.

Cameroon are certainly one of the favourites for AFCON due to their tournament pedigree and hugely talented squad. The Indomitable Lions boast elite-level quality across the pitch and will not be fazed, despite being drawn in the same group as Senegal, Guinea, and Gambia.

Sadly for the Indomitable Lions, Bryan Mbuemo will miss AFCON 2023. In Ivan Toney’s absence, the Brentford winger stepped up to lead by example, contributing 7 goals and 3 assists this season. Despite the loss of such a talented player, there are other players in the squad who can make a difference at this level.

Vincent Aboubakar is one of the best strikers in Africa and will be aiming to repeat his AFCON 2022 exploits, when he scored eight goals to win the Golden Boot. At AFCON 2023, he’ll aim to repeat that feat and become just the eighth player to win the AFCON Golden Boot at two different tournaments.

Another key player for the Indomitable Lions is Andre-Frank Zambo-Anguissa, who was a key part of Napoli’s Scudetto winning side last season and will be needed to win midfield battles against Africa’s best teams. Manchester United’s Andre Onana will also be crucial, despite being unavailable for Monday’s game against Guinea.

Bet on Cameroon to win AFCON 2023 @10.00

Egypt

Manager – Rui Vitoria

Star Players – Mohamed Salah, Trezeguet, Mostafa Mohamed

Possible XI – (4-3-3) El Shenawy; Hany, Abdelmonem, Mossad, Hamdi; Zizo, Elneny, Fathi; Trezeguet, Mostafa, Salah

Egypt is the most successful team in the history of the African Cup of Nations, having won the championship seven times, including three consecutive victories from 2006 to 2010.

The team’s fortunes will rest on the broad shoulders of Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah, who, despite significant success with Liverpool, is yet to lift a major international trophy with Egypt. The 31-year-old forward is in excellent form at club level this season, with 16 goals and 7 assists in 26 appearances. He will be hoping to finally lead his country to glory to finally get over the heartbreak of the last AFCON (a penalty shootout defeat to Senegal in the final).

Drawn in Group B alongside Ghana, Cape Verde, and Mozambique, the Pharaohs are expected to breeze through the group stage. While this Egypt squad may not be as talented as previous versions, they possess a generational player whose performances will be crucial to their chances of success. Basically, as Salah goes, so will Egypt.

Bet on Mohamed Salah to power the Pharaohs to AFCON glory @ odds of 10.00 with BetKing.

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