- Postponed 2023 AFCON set to kick off
- Hosts Ivory Coast open tournament against Guinea-Bissau
- Morocco favourites
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Check out our preview of the final.
34th AFCON set to begin at last after climate concerns caused postponement
The eagerly awaited 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, initially scheduled for the past summer, is now set to take place in January 2024 due to climate concerns in the host nation Ivory Coast. The tournament, now in its 34th edition, has grown from its humble beginnings with just three teams in 1957 to a formidable gathering of 24 sides.
Kicking off the competition, hosts Ivory Coast face Guinea-Bissau in Abidjan, eyeing their third tournament victory. Despite the home advantage, they face stiff competition from defending champions Senegal, World Cup semi-finalists Morocco, and record winners Egypt. Traditional African powerhouses Nigeria, Algeria, and Ghana are also in contention, promising an intense battle for local supremacy.
AFCON: Group stage betting
Let’s take a closer look at the groups and how the teams are shaping up ahead of the tournamen. We have provided the odds on each team winning their respective groups, at the time of writing, from bet365:
Group A:
Ivory Coast 5/6
Nigeria 5/4
Equatorial Guinea 14/1
Guinea-Bissau 18/1
Hosts Ivory Coast, boasting a star-studded squad, are optimistic about their chances. Nigeria, spearheaded by Victor Osimhen, faces challenges with recent poor form and pre-tournament injuries. Equatorial Guinea, with a solid AFCON record, and Guinea-Bissau, despite being considered the underdog, have the potential to cause upsets.
Group B:
Egypt 4/5
Ghana 11/8
Cape Verde 10/1
Mozambique 28/1
Egypt, led by Mohamed Salah, aims to redeem themselves after a heartbreaking loss in the 2022 final. Ghana looks to bounce back from a disappointing 2022, while Cape Verde seeks to replicate their last-16 appearance.
Group C:
Cameroon 7/4
Senegal 4/5
Gambia 20/1
Guinea13/2
Cameroon, with recent decent tournament displays, faces defending champions Senegal. Gambia and Guinea are expected to compete for a potential third-place spot.
Group D:
Algeria 1/3
Angola 14/1
Burkina Faso 4/1
Mauritania 11/1
Defending champions Algeria aim to recover from a disappointing 2022. Burkina Faso sees an opportunity for a good run, while Angola and Mauritania aim to capitalize on their chances.
Group E:
Tunisia 10/11
Mali 13/8
South Africa 11/2
Namibia 22/1
Group E features potential dark horses. South Africa, under coach Hugo Broos, seeks to make an impact, and Tunisia remains a consistent performer. DR Congo and Zambia, with notable players, add further excitement to the group.
Group F:
Morocco 4/9
DR Congo 9/2
Zambia 6/1
Tanzania 11/1
Morocco enter the tournament as Africa’s highest-ranked side by FIFA, following their historic achievement as the first African team to reach a World Cup semi-final at Qatar 2022. With the pressure to bring home the AFCON trophy they won in 1976, Walid Regragui’s Atlas Lions boast a formidable squad including stars like Hakim Ziyech, Sofyan Amrabat, Youssef En-Nesyri, Achraf Hakimi, and Noussair Mazraoui. The team’s impressive performance at the World Cup suggests they are strong contenders to end their long AFCON drought.
DR Congo, holding onto the ‘dark horse’ tag, aims to replicate their past glory when they were kings of the continent, winning the competition in 1968 and 1974 as Zaire. The Leopards, featuring players like Brentford’s Yoane Wissa, Theo Bongonda, and Fiston Mayele, are ones to watch in the group.
In a twist of fate, FIFA’s lowest-ranked African side, Tanzania, is also part of this group. Manager Adel Amrouche has assembled a team with little footballing pedigree, relying on home-based players such as Tarryn Allarakhia and Haji Mnoga
With the tournament promising intense competition and the final scheduled for February 11 at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, football fans can expect a thrilling battle for continental glory.
The host nation, the Ivory Coast, get the tournament underway against against Guinea-Bissau on January 13 with the final scheduled for February 11.
AFCON: Morocco favourites
At the time of writing, Morocco are favourites to follow up their superb performance at the 2022 World Cup with a victory in the AFCON. At the time of writing, bet365 have them priced at 5/1 ahead of Senegal, 6/1, Algeria, 7/1, Egypt, 9/1, Nigeria, 10/1, Cameroon, 10/1, Tunisia, 12/1 and Ghana 14/1.
Check out the best betting sites in the UK and the best bookies for football and the AFCON before making your picks.
