List of Our AFCON Favourites for 2024
The 2024 Africa Cup of Nations begins on Saturday, January 13, 2024, as host Ivory Coast take on Guinea-Bissau. Keep reading our guide to see the countries to watch out for when placing your AFCON predictions.
⭐ Senegal
Senegal will aim to defend the trophy they won for the first time in 2022 when they defeated Egypt 4-2 on penalties. The Lions of Teranga are one of the favourites and will rely on top players like Sadio Mane, Nicolas Jackson, Édouard Mendy, Idrissa Gueye, Ismaila Sarr, and Kalidou Koulibaly.
⭐ Egypt
Egypt are another side to watch out for, having won the most AFCON tournaments in history, with seven trophies already. The Pharaohs finished second in two of the last three editions and will seek to win their 8th AFCON trophy. Moreover, Egypt boast of players like Mohamed Salah, Mohamed Elneny, and Trezeguet, who are all experienced in this competition.
⭐ Nigeria
Another country to watch out for when making your AFCON winner prediction is Nigeria. Despite losing Wilfred Ndidi and Victor Boniface to injury, the Super Eagles still have top talents to help them with the trophy. Players such as Victor Osimehn, Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi, Joe Aribo, and Samuel Chukwueze must be in fine form to help Nigeria win their 4th ever AFCON title.
⭐ Morocco
Morocco, emerging as top contender post their stellar performance in the Qatar World Cup 2022, achieved a historic semifinal berth, ultimately succumbing to France. Manager Walid Regragui is resolute about validating their success by clinching the AFCON title. Star players, Achraf Hakimi and Hakim Ziyech, alongside Sofyan Amrabat, bring strength to the squad.
The defensive lineup, featuring Noussair Mazraoui, Romain Saiss, and Hakimi, is touted as the tournament’s strongest. Striker Youssef En-Nesyri, under scrutiny for World Cup scoring, aims to prove himself. Morocco’s past AFCON defeat to Egypt fuels their determination to transcend their 1976 victory, last reaching the final in 2004, where they were thwarted by Tunisia.
⭐ Ivory Coast
As the host nation, Ivory Coast received automatic entry into the championship round, having previously won the competition twice, most recently in 2015. They have the potential to secure victory in the 2024 tournament.
Our experts also expect Algeria, Cameroon, Ghana and Tunisia, to challenge for the tournament. The top betting sites in Nigeria have placed them as favourites to win the competition.
Who are the AFCON Favourites Groups 2023/2024 ?
Certain groups in the AFCON 2024 tournament appear to have clear favourites for advancing to the knockout stages or winning the competition. Here is a closer look at the group favourites:
Group A
In Group A, Nigeria and Ivory Coast, being the host nation, are the favourites to progress to the knockout stages or even secure the AFCON title. However, Equatorial Guinea, a formidable competitor, may pose a challenge in this group.
Group B
Group B consists of Egypt, Ghana, Cape Verde, and Mozambique. Egypt and Ghana are the standout favourites to advance from the group stage.
Group C
Group C is expected to witness intense battles between teams such as Senegal and Cameroon. Senegal, the defending champions, and Cameroon, with five consecutive wins, are the frontrunners to advance. Guinea, though, presents a potential threat and could emerge as a strong contender.
Group D
Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Angola make up Group D. Angola, Burkina Faso, and Algeria are the leading contenders in this group.
Group E
Despite strong competition, Tunisia, South Africa, and Mali have the best prospects for advancing from Group E, according to recent AFCON betting odds. Two teams are expected to qualify automatically, with the possibility that one may advance as the best loser, similar to Group D.
Group F
Group F features Morocco, DR Congo, Zambia, and Tanzania, and it showcases a clash between three former champions of the tournament. Zambia, Morocco, and DR Congo are the favourites in this group.
Our Favourites Top Scorers for AFCON 2024
Considering recent form, watch these players in the 2024 African Cup of Nations for standout performances.
⚽ Vincent Aboubakar
The Cameroonian striker, a top scorer in previous AFCON tournaments, is a player to keep an eye on. Aboubakar has a history of scoring crucial goals. He will aim to lead his team to victory in 2024, given his talent and experience.
⚽ Victor Osimhen
Victor Osimhen, a prolific striker, has been in excellent form and is lethal around the goal. Osimhen is a top European talent and a key player for Nigeria. With stellar performances, scoring for Napoli in Serie A and the Champions League, he has emerged as one of Europe’s premier strikers.
⚽ Sadio Mane
As one of the top scorers in AFCON history, Sadio Mane, along with other determined Senegalese players, aims to score the goals needed for their team’s success in the 2024 tournament. His productive performance in the qualification rounds makes him a favourite for the top scorer title.
Who won the most African Cup of Nations?
No other team has clinched more AFCON titles than Egypt, with the North African squad securing victory at the tournament on seven occasions. Yet, it’s been quite a while since their last triumph in 2010, securing their third consecutive title in Angola.
| AFCON Winners | Victories | Most Recent Victory |
|---|---|---|
| Egypt | 7 | 2010 |
| Cameroon | 5 | 2017 |
| Ghana | 4 | 1982 |
| Nigeria | 3 | 2013 |
How many times have Nigeria won the AFCON?
Nigeria has been victorious in the competition three times: their initial victory came in 1980, followed by a second title in 1994 during the tournament in South Africa. The Nigerian team secured their third African championship in 2013.
Who are the AFCON 2024 Underdogs?
The Africa Cup of Nations is a competition that is full of surprises, and we have no doubt that many underdogs could pull surprises. For instance, our research found that Zambia won their first AFCON trophy in 2012 as an underdog.
Our experts have identified Burkina Faso as one of the underdogs to challenge the favourites. This is because The Stallions have made it to the semifinals in three of the last four AFCON tournaments they’ve qualified for.
Burkina Faso finished 4th in the 2021 edition, 3rd in 2017, and 2nd in 2013. Burkina Faso stands out as the team with a track record of challenging other top sides.
The analysis we made cannot rule out Mali and DR Congo due to their record in the last few editions. Mali finished 3rd in 2012 and 2013, while DR Congo were third in 2015. While they may be struggling for form in recent years, we expect them to go far in the AFCON 2024 edition.
