November 24, 2024
All eyes are slowly drifting toward the pinnacle of African football, as the commencement of the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) set to start on January 13, 2024, draws closer by the day.
Abidjan, Yamoussoukro, Bouake, San Pedro, and Korhogo are the five cities prepped to host the 51 matches of the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 which will take place in 2024 due to the adverse weather conditions in the host country: Ivory Coast.
Above this, this AFCON edition isn’t only teased to be better, but the level of growth and upset the tournament has witnessed in recent years highlights the competitive showdown we are bound to witness come January 2024.
Be that as it may, only two among the 24 qualified countries will make it to the final venue—the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara on February 11. Which of these countries are likely favourites? Six Sports gives an in-depth analysis of the 5 countries likely to lift the title.
After defeating Egypt on penalties to win the 33rd edition of the AFCON to extend their continental dominance, the Teranga Lions are in strong contention to win their 2nd AFCON championship in Ivory Coast, after grabbing their qualification ticket after four games.
The Aliou Cisse side are still maintaining their current crop of players who broke the continental trophy drought for the country, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, these stars will be more than motivated to replicate this feat. Kalidou Koukibaly, Sadio Mane, Nicolas Jackson, Ismaila Sarr, and Idrissa Gueye are worthy mentions that can enforce the Senegalese’s claim on the trophy.
If there’s any team that can give the Terenga Lions a run for their money, it has got to be Morocco—the first African country to make it to the semifinals of a World Cup after the North African country defeated top European countries at Qatar to make it to the semis.
Drawn in a relatively easy Group F, the 2023 Men’s National Team of the Year are expected to top this group and build on a momentum that can see them into the finals.
Having lost the last AFCON to Senegal in that emotional shootout defeat in Yaoundé, Mohamed Salah’s Egypt are another favourite that can go all out in this year’s edition to consolidate their record as the most successful nation in the cup’s history, with seven titles.
Two-time African champions Algeria, can make it a third in the 34th edition of the competition, after an impressive qualifying phase that saw them clinch their qualifying ticket in style.
Present in the company of underdogs Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Angola in Group D, the Djamel Belmadi’s led side are no doubt a strong force to be reckoned with amongst the committee of favourites heading into the competition.
Blessed with a handful of Europe-based talented footballers, including the 2023 African Footballer of the Year—Victor Osimhen, Nigeria are another team that has the potential to win this edition of the AFCON.
Talents aside, it’s no secret that the three times African champions have been underperforming in their recent matches —conceding to two avoidable draws in their last three games against African opponents—a run that dims expectations ahead of the tourney.
Regardless, they undoubtedly possess one of the most talented squads in Africa, and are capable of the ultimate victory, should they get their house in order.
Save for unforeseen circumstances, it’ll be a surprise if any country apart from the aforementioned ones goes on to lay a claim on the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023. But what is football without surprises?
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