The long-awaited 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finally kicks off on January 13, 2024, in the Ivory Coast. This marks the nation’s second time hosting the prestigious tournament, the first since 1984. The continent’s footballing extravaganza promises an exciting month of action, with 24 teams vying for the coveted trophy. The tournament culminates on February 11, 2024, with the final in the magnificent 60,000-seat Alassane Ouattara Stadium (Olympic Stadium of Ebimpé) in Abidjan.
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AFCON 2023 Groups
- Group A: Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau.
- Group B: Egypt, Ghana, Cape Verde, Mozambique.
- Group C: Senegal, Cameroon, Guinea, Gambia.
- Group D: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Angola.
- Group E: Tunisia, Mali, South Africa, Namibia.
- Group F: Morocco, DR Congo, Zambia. Tanzania.
2023 AFCON Winner Odds
The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations tournament won’t have any new participating countries, marking a first since 2015. With thirteen previous winners in this edition, it’s doubtful that a brand new champion will emerge on February 11, 2024.
If tournaments were determined by FIFA rankings, then 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Morocco would be the clear favourites to win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. However, the Atlas Lions, ranked 13th in the world, haven’t won the continent’s top prize since 1976 and haven’t even reached the semifinals in any of the past nine AFCONs.
That said, Walid Regragui has constructed a team with a solid defensive base. As the saying goes, “defences win tournaments”. That probably explains why tournament title sponsors 1xbet have the Moroccans as 6 odds favourites to claim their first AFCON title in almost half a century.
Defending champions Senegal are second-favourites at 7 odds on 1xbet to retain their AFCON title. The Teranga Lions boasts stars like Kalidou Koulibaly and Sadio Mane, with Tottenham Hotspur’s Pape Matar Sarr and Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson adding to what is already a solid squad.
However, Senegal face a challenging group, including Cameroon, fifth-favourites at 10 odds on 1xbet , and Guinea (65 odds), whose striker Serhou Guirassy is among the most lethal finishers in Europe this season with 17 goals in 14 Bundesliga matches for Stuttgart.
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Hosts Ivory Coast are at 8 odds on 1xbet to win on home soil, but recent AFCON history suggests they have a daunting task to make that a reality. The past seven Africa Cup of Nations haven’t had any repeat winners, and the host countries haven’t even made it to the final! Not great news for Ivory Coast, who were champions in 2015 but now face a tough group with Nigeria.
Speaking of Nigeria, the Super Eagles go into this tournament hoping to conquer Africa for a fourth time. However, their title aspirations have been hit with plenty of setbacks. Midfielder Wilfred Ndidi and Bayer Leverkusen breakout star Victor Boniface are out of the tournament due to injuries. To make matters worse, Jose Peseiro’s side rounded off their pre-tournament preparations with a deflating 2-0 loss to Guinea on Monday. They’re priced at 10 odds on 1xbet to win the AFCON for the first time since 2013.
North African sides comprise four of the top five teams in FIFA’s rankings, but the last time they won an AFCON tournament south of the Sahara was 2010.
Record winners Egypt will be hoping to buck that trend, and are priced at 10 odds on 1xbet to win a record-extending 8th AFCON title. Egypt are in Group B with Ghana, who are four-time winners but have failed to lift the trophy since 1982. The Black Stars are missing key players Thomas Partey and Tariq Lamptey through injury. However, captain Andre Ayew, eyeing a place in AFCON history, could lead Chris Houghton’s side to an unlikely triumph. They’re at 15 odds on 1xbet to win the title.
Since triumphing on home turf in 2004, Tunisia, priced at 11 odds on 1xbet, have only got past the quarterfinals once, and that was in Egypt in 2019. They face the most challenging group based on FIFA rankings, with Mali, South Africa and Namibia making up Group E.
Algeria are priced at 8 odds on 1xbet to win the 2023 AFCON. However, since triumphing at the 2019 edition, the Desert Warriors haven’t made it past the group stage in three of the four most recent tournaments outside North Africa. However, that might change this time out, with Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Angola making up their opponents in Group D, considered the weakest on paper.
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Underdogs and Dark Horses
Zambia stunned the African continent to win the 2012 edition in Equatorial Guinea. Could there be another surprise this year?
It’s worth keeping an eye on Mali in this year’s African Cup of Nations tournament. The Eagles have never won the tournament but head into Ivory Coast buoyed by an eight-game unbeaten run stretching back to June 2023. With players like Lassine Sinayoko, Sekou Koita, and Amadou Haidara, Éric Sékou Chelle’s side has a good chance of raising eyebrows in the Ivory Coast.
Additionally, with the best third-place teams qualifying from the group stage, there’s always a chance for an underdog team to surprise everyone and reach the knockout stages. 1996 champions South Africa (41 odds), 2013 finalists Burkina Faso (50 odds), and 1976 runners-up Guinea (65 odds) are some of the teams with longer odds that could make a run in the tournament.
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Unsurprisingly, Egyptian star Mohamed Salah (8 odds) and reigning CAF Men’s Player of the Year Victor Osimhen (9 odds) are the top favourites on Betking to claim the Golden Boot in the Ivory Coast.
Salah has 18 goals for Premier League leaders Liverpool this season and scored four goals for Egypt against Djibouti in November. With Ghana, Cape Verde and Mozambique as his opponents in Group B, Salah could have the Golden Boot wrapped up in the group stage.
Osimhen, currently ranked 8th best in the world by this year’s Ballon d’Or, was the top scorer in the 2023 AFCON qualifiers with an impressive 10 goals. The Napoli star will shoulder most of the goalscoring burden for the Super Eagles, especially with his strike partner and namesake Victor Boniface missing.
Other players who have a decent chance of winning the Golden Boot are Senegal’s Sadio Mane (10 odds), Morocco’s Youssef En-Nesyri (11 odds) and Cameroon’s Vincent Aboubakar (17 odds). Others to keep an eye on include home favourite Sebastian Haller (15 odds) and Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy (40 odds), scorer of 17 Bundesliga goals this season.
Betking also offers a diverse goals market for the 2023 AFCON with options for Tournament Total Goals, Most Goals in a Single Match and individual country’s total goals on their platform.
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Venues & Host Cities
The 2023 AFCON spreads the footballing joy across five Ivorian cities, each boasting a dedicated stadium to showcase the action.
In Abidjan, the iconic Alassane Ouattara and Felix Houphouet Boigny stadiums, with capacities of 60,000 and 33,000, respectively, will be the heartbeat of the tournament. Further inland, Bouaké’s Stade de la Paix, with a capacity of 40,000, will host some enthralling clashes.
Meanwhile, Korhogo’s Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium (20,000 capacity) and San-Pédro’s Laurent Pokou Stadium (20,000 capacity) will also witness their share of AFCON magic. Finally, Yamoussoukro’s Charles Konan Banny Stadium (20,000 capacity) completes the sextet of venues, promising to reverberate with the passionate chants of football fans.
Key Dates & Matches
The tournament’s curtain rises on January 13 with hosts, the Elephants of Ivory Coast, facing off against Guinea-Bissau in Group A at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium. Nigeria will be in action the next day, also at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, against Equatorial Guinea in another Group A clash.
Give a boost to your next sports betKnockout Stages
The knockout round commences on January 27, where the top two teams in each group and the best four third-placed teams vie for a place in the quarterfinals scheduled for February 2.
On February 7, the penultimate stage of the tournament arrives with the semifinals. On February 10, the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan will host the third-place playoff.
Finally, on February 11, all eyes turn back to the Alassane Ouattara Stadium for the grand finale, where the champions of African football will be crowned.
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2 Goals Ahead? You've Already Won!2023 AFCON Records to Watch
- Most team goals in a single AFCON tournament: Egypt’s record of 18 goals scored in the 2008 edition could be challenged.
- Consecutive AFCON goal record: Ghanaian star Andre Ayew is currently tied with compatriot Asamoah Gyan, Zambian great Kalusha Bwalya, and the all-time leading tournament scorer Samuel Eto’o. Ayew could make history by scoring in his 7th straight AFCON when Ghana take on Cape Verde on January 14. This is one to keep an eye on for the anytime goalscorer market.
- Referee Revolution: The 2023 AFCON will be the most diverse in history, with six women set to officiate matches, breaking the previous record of four set in 2021.
- All-time Appearance Record: Ghana’s Ayew could move level with current Cameroon head coach Rigobert Song and Egyptian legend Ahmed Hassan by playing in his 8th AFCON tournament. The Ghana captain is also just two appearances away from becoming the player with the most AFCON matches, currently held by Song (36 matches).
AFCON 2023: Ivorian Stage Awaits
The 2023 AFCON promises to be an unforgettable celebration of African football. So, mark your calendars and get ready to witness the continent’s finest players light up the Ivorian stage! Remember to stay with sportbetting.ng for up-to-date betting offers, promotions, and information on the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Knowledge is power in sports betting, and here, we empower you with the knowledge you need to succeed.