The upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023, hosted by Ivory Coast, is set to kick off this weekend, running from January 13 to February 11, 2024.
Senegal currently holds the title as defending champions, securing victory in the 2021 AFCON final against Egypt with a 4-2 win on penalties after a goalless draw in Cameroon. Egypt remains the most successful team in Africa, boasting seven AFCON titles.
In the 2023 edition, a total of 24 teams will compete for Africa’s premier trophy in Ivory Coast. The participating nations include Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Egypt, Mozambique, Ghana, Cape Verde, Senegal, Gambia, Cameroon, Guinea, Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Mali, South Africa, Tunisia, Namibia, Morocco, Tanzania, Zambia, and DR Congo.
As the tournament approaches, football coach Emmanuel Brown, speaking with DAILY POST, highlighted Morocco, Senegal, Nigeria, and Ivory Coast as the teams to watch out for. Brown emphasized that Africa has evolved, with no clear underdog, and all teams are formidable. He acknowledged Morocco’s experience, Senegal’s strong team-coach dynamics, Nigeria’s potent attackers, and Ivory Coast’s potential home advantage.
Brown concluded by asserting that teams like Morocco, Senegal, and Nigeria are likely to make a significant impact in the competition. He emphasized that every team in the AFCON is there to prove themselves, and the days of considering some teams as pushovers are long gone.
