The African Cup of Nations (Afcon) 2023 tournament is finally here after being postponed. The series kicked off on 13th January in Ivory Coast, with the finals scheduled for 11th February.
Much is anticipated with Liverpool’s forward and Egypt’s captain, Mohamed Salah, hoping to guide his team through victory. Ivory Coast, the host, finished as the runners-up ahead of Egypt in the qualifications.
After edging out Egypt on Penalties (4-2) in 2021, you cannot overlook Senegal, the defending champions. This was the first time Senegal bagged this award – the team is obviously on a mission to retain this.
Another twist is pegged on Morocco, a team that excelled in the 2022 (played 2023) World Cup. The team now ranks 13th globally after its incredible gameplay in the semis. With Nigeria having a top-ranked striker, Victor Osimhen, you must recognize the team as a significant contender.
Ivory Coast and Algeria hope to brag about the prestigious Nations Cup. This promises to be an entertaining competition as every team looks to excel.
The cup has an attractive prize for winners ($7M), and the big question remains: will Salah captain his team to the eighth title in Afcon, or will lady luck favor Senegal? We look into this objectively – read on.
The Biggest Dilemma
One significant debate in the Afcon Cup is the switch from the club to the country. Salah has been having a good run in the EPL, and stepping away from Liverpool to play for his country is something analysts will be looking into.
The Liverpool forward now boasts 14 goals in the EPL, and as Egypt’s captain, much is expected of him. Jurgen Klopp jokingly remarked that he hoped Salah would return to Anfield, but the 31-year-old doesn’t regret his decision to captain his team in the African tournament.
Still talking about Egypt and players who have a battle for the country versus club debate, Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal’s midfielder) is another player to watch. However, the 31-year-old hasn’t been playing for his club due to injuries but is fit for the Afcon. Much is anticipated from the duo, especially with their experience in the EPL.
Other players faced by the club versus country debate in the Afcon include:
- Manchester United’s Andre Onana is playing for Cameroon.
- Crystal Palace’s Jordan Ayew, West Ham’s Mohamed Kudus, and Bournermouth’s Antoine Semenyo play for Ghana.
- Fulham’s Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey, Brentford’s Frank Onyeka, and Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina will represent Nigeria.
A Look at Other Contenders
Morocco is one of the favorites in the African Cup of Nations. The team has top-flight players like Achraf Hakim, who plays for Paris St-Germain, Sofyan Amrabat of Manchester United, and Ziyech (loaned to Galatasaray from Chelsea). It’s been over four decades since the Atlas Lions claimed Afcon’s glory.
Morocco’s last encounter saw them proceed to the quarter-finals. Walid Regragui’s team must do all they can to overcome the upset they encountered at the semis in 2004, where they finished runners-up. The team seems to have an easy lineup in Group F and will face Tanzania, DR Congo, and Zambia.
Zambia, who won the 2012 tournament, might be the toughest competitor against Morocco. Their tactician, Aram Grant, is confident his team will thrive even after missing out on three qualifiers. For him, the team has all it takes to restore Zambia’s glory in the Afcon.
Nigeria is one of the most promising teams to keep an eye on in the Nations Cup. The three-time tournament winner is optimistic about making a remarkable impression in the series.
The West Africans are confident in their squad, with the likes of Osimhen, who made it to the top eight of the 2023 Balon d’Or awards. Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and Ola Aina are top players who also have had a good run in the EPL. The Super Eagles have all it takes, but the absence of Wilfred Ndidi and Victor Boniface due to injuries could affect the performance and results.
Burkina Faso is a team to watch as it has reached the quarters in the 2020 tournament. On the other hand, Tunisia has an experienced tactician, Youssef Msakani, who will lead the team to the Afcon for the 8th time. Mali is a disadvantaged side, but you cannot underestimate the team.
Another promising team is Ghana, headed by former Brighton and Newcastle manager Chris Hughton. The team has recorded mixed results in pursuing the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The Black Stars boast four titles from the continental tournament. Ghana struggled in the 2021 series but now is pooled with Egypt. Can the Black Stars make history again? The team has elite players from West Ham, Andrew Ayew and Mohamed Kudus, who will be looking to make a lasting impression in the tournament.
Guinea could be the tournament’s surprise if it excels and lift the ultimate title. The team has one of Bundesliga’s top players, Serhou Guirassy, who has netted 17 goals for Stuttgart.
Equatorial Guinea and Gambia might be the competition’s least favorite countries to lift the title despite both teams reaching Afcon’s 2021 quarter-finals. Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, and Cape Verde are significant participants, but the first two teams have yet to get the honors.
South Africa, the 1996 champions, are back in the tournament and could stand a chance. This dream could be a reality, thanks to the experienced players picked from Mamelodi Sundowns, who won the African Football League.
Mozambique, Angola, Namibia, and Tanzania have little to be proud of in the continental show. But anything could happen in football, as contenders will give all it takes to win this title.
The Big Question: Who Will Win Afcon?
Many bookmakers like gg bet think Senegal has an edge in the tournament as the defending team. The speculation is sparked by the fact that the team has experienced players plying their plight in the EPL and other top leagues.
Ivory Coast has the home advantage and is optimistic about leveraging this and appeasing its fans. Morocco stands a chance based on its previous performance in the World Cup.
Algeria has had an unimpressive run, but the odds could favor the team, having been the continent’s winner in the 2019 challenge. Egypt has eight titles in this series and is searching for the ninth. The team is confident that Salah could be the star it needs to achieve this dream. Ghana, Cameroon, and Nigeria have been struggling but still have a chance to lift the prestigious continental title. With all these, time will tell the team that will boast the honors between Senegal, Egypt, or any other country – you can have the answer on 13th February after the final match.
