AFCON 2023 – Who Will Be The Superstars Of This Colourful Soccer Tournament?

The African Cup of Nations 2023 (AFCON 2023) gets underway on Saturday 13^th January 2024. 24 teams from the continent will compete to follow Senegal into the history books as the latest winner of this football feast!

A total of 23 teams have qualified for the tournament alongside the host nation, the Ivory Coast, to compete for the title, initially in six groups of four.

After the first round group stage, 16 teams qualify for the knockout phase, with extra time and penalties used to decide the winner in the event of a tie.

The final takes place in Abidjan on the 11^th February 2024, kicking off at 8pm, with a third place playoff taking place 24-hours earlier, also in the capital.

Sky Sports will be covering the entire tournament live on its channels and of course, punters keen to have a bet on the tournament will find plenty of pre-match and In Play betting opportunities available at bet365 Sport.

You can also follow the action live on the CAF Official YouTube Channel.

The tournament is being held now after it was delayed from the summer of 2023 due to the threat of tropical storms in the country.

Let’s now take a look at the 24 teams competing in AFCON 2023 and which group they will compete in.

AFCON 2023 – Group Stage & Fixtures

Group A

• Ivory Coast
• Nigeria
• Equatorial Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau

AFCON 2023 Group A Fixtures & Times

• Ivory Coast v Guinea Bissau (8pm on 13^th January)
• Nigeria v Equatorial Guinea (2pm on 14^th January)
• Equatorial Guinea v Guinea Bissau (2pm on 18^th January)
• Ivory Coast v Nigeria (5pm on 18^th January)
• Equatorial Guinea v Ivory Coast (5pm on 22^nd January)
• Guinea Bissau v Nigeria (5pm on 22^nd January)

Group A Team Information Table

Team	AFCON Wins	AFCON Runner Up	Manager	Captain	Star Player	Other Key Players
Ivory Coast	2	2	Jean-Louis Gasset	Serge Aurier	Sebastian Haller	Nicolas Pepe, Frank Kessie, Willy Boly, Evan Ndicka, Jeremie Boga
Nigeria	3	4	Jose Peseiro	Moses Simon	Victor Osimhen	Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Samuel Chukwueze
Eq. Guinea	0	0	Juan Micha	Emilio Nsue	Emilio Nsue	Carlos Akapo, Basilio Ndong, Federico Bikoro, Jose Machin
Guinea-Bis.	0	0	Baciro Cande	Jonas Mendes	Zino Gano	Sori Mane, Nanu, Moreto Cassama, Alfa Semedo, Mauro Rodrigues

AFCON 2023 – Group A Winner Betting from Bet365 Sport

Our Group A Prediction – (Q) means they qualify for the Knockout Phase

1. Ivory Coast (Q)
2. Nigeria (Q)
3. Equatorial Guinea (Q)
4. Guinea-Bissau

Group B

• Egypt
• Ghana
• Cape Verde
• Mozambique

AFCON 2023 Group B Fixtures & Times

• Egypt v Mozambique (5pm on 14^th January)
• Ghana v Cape Verde (8pm on 14^th January)
• Egypt v Ghana (8pm on 18^th January)
• Cape Verde v Mozambique (2pm on 19^th January)
• Mozambique v Ghana (8pm on 22^nd January)
• Cape Verde v Egypt (8pm on 22^nd January)

Group B Team Information Table

Team	AFCON Wins	AFCON Runner Up	Manager	Captain	Star Player	Other Key Players
Egypt	7	3	Rui Vitoria	Mo Salah	Mo Salah	Ahmed Hegazi, Mohamed Elneny, Trezeguet, Omar Marmoush, Zizo
Ghana	4	5	Chris Hughton	Andre Ayew	Mohammed Kudus	Jordan Ayew, Inaki Willias, Antoine Semenyo, Daniel Amartey, Tariq Lamptey
Cape Verde	0	0	Bubista	Stopira	Ryan Mendes	Jamiro Monteiro, Bebe, Logan Costa, Vozinha, Garry Rodrigues
Mozambique	0	0	Chiquinho Conde	Domingues	Geny Catamo	Clesio, Shaquille, Amadu, Mexer, Edmilson Dove, Ernani

AFCON 2023 – Group B Winner Betting from Bet365 Sport

Our Group B Prediction – (Q) means they qualify for the Knockout Phase

1. Egypt (Q)
2. Ghana (Q)
3. Cape Verde (Q)
4. Mozambique

Group C

• Senegal
• Cameroon
• Guinea
• Gambia

AFCON 2023 Group C Fixtures & Times

• Senegal v Gambia (2pm on 15^th January)
• Cameroon v Guinea (5pm on 15^th January)
• Senegal v Cameroon (5pm on 19^th January)
• Guinea v Gambia (8pm on 19^th January)
• Guinea v Senegal (5pm on 23^rd January)
• Gambia v Cameroon (5pm on 23^rd January)

Group C Team Information Table

Team	AFCON Wins	AFCON Runner Up	Manager	Captain	Star Player	Other Key Players
Senegal	1	2	Aliou Cisse	Kalidou Koulibaly	Sadio Mane	Edouard Mendy, Youssouf Sabaly, Idrissa Gueye, Pape Sarr, Krepin Diatta, Ismaila Sarr, Nicolas Jackson
Cameroon	5	2	Rigobert Song	Vincent Aboubakar	Vincent Aboubakar	Andre Zambo Anguissa, Karl Ekambi, Frank Magri, Andre Onana
Guinea	0	1	Kaba Diawara	Naby Keita	Naby Keita	Serhou Guirassy, Morhan Guilavogui, Ilaix Moriba, Amadou Diawara, Issiaga Sylla
Gambia	0	0	Tom Saintfiet	Omar Colley	Omar Colley	Noah Sundberg, Modou Jobe, Assan Ceesay, Musa Barrow

AFCON 2023 – Group C Winner Betting from Bet365 Sport

Our Group C Prediction – (Q) means they qualify for the Knockout Phase

1. Senegal (Q)
2. Guinea (Q)
3. Cameroon (Q)
4. Gambia

Group D

• Algeria
• Burkina Faso
• Mauritania
• Angola

AFCON 2023 Group D Fixtures & Times

• Algeria v Angola (8pm on 15^th January)
• Burkina Faso v Mauritania (2pm on 15^th January)
• Algeria v Burkina Faso (2pm on 20^th January)
• Mauritania v Angola (5pm on 20^th January)
• Angola v Burkina Faso (8pm on 23^rd January)
• Mauritania v Algeria (8pm on 23^rd January)

Group D Team Information Table

Team	AFCON Wins	AFCON Runner Up	Manager	Captain	Star Player	Other Key Players
Algeria	2	1	Djamel Belmadi	Riyad Mahrez	Riyad Mahrez	Islam Slimani, Said Benrahma, Houssem Aouar, Sofiane Feghouli, Ramy Bensebaini, Rayan Ait-Nouri
Burkina Fso	0	1	Hubert Velud	Bertrand Traore	Edmond Tapsoba	Issa Kabore, Herve Koffi, Dango Outarra, Mamady Bangre
Mauritania	0	0	Amir Abdou	Aboubakar Kamara	Aboubakar Kamara	Hemeya Tanjy, Mousine Bodda, Abdallahi Mahmoud, Aly Abeid
Angola	0	0	Pedro Goncalves	Fredy	Gelson Dala	Zini, Show, Estrela, To, Eddie Afonso, Zito Luvumbo, Mabululu

AFCON 2023 – Group D Winner Betting from Bet365 Sport

Our Group D Prediction – (Q) means they qualify for the Knockout Phase

1. Algeria (Q)
2. Burkina Faso (Q)
3. Angola
4. Mauritania

Group E

• Tunisia
• Mali
• South Africa
• Namibia

AFCON 2023 Group E Fixtures & Times

• Tunisia v Namibia (5pm on 16^th January)
• Mali v South Africa (8pm on 16^th January)
• Tunisia v Mali (8pm on 20^th January)
• South Africa v Namibia (8pm on 21^st January)
• South Africa v Tunisia (5pm on 24^th January)
• Namibia v Mali (5pm on 24^th January)

Group E Team Information Table

Team	AFCON Wins	AFCON Runner Up	Manager	Captain	Star Player	Other Key Players
Tunisia	1	2	Jalel Kadri	Youssef Msakni	Anis Ben Slimane	Alu Maaloul, Hamza Rafia, Taha Khenissi, Naim Sliti, Aissa Laidouni
Mali	0	1	Eric Chelle	Hamari Traore	Yves Bissouma	Amadou Haidara, Diadie Samassekou, Lassana Coulibaly, Adama Traore,Falaye Sacko
South Africa	1	1	Hugo Broos	Ronwen Williams	Percy Tau	Lyle Foster, Teboho Mokoena, Aubrey Modiba, Lebo Mothiba
Namibia	0	0	Collin Benjamin	Petrus Shitembi	Denzel Haoseb	Anania Gebhardt, Absalom Iimbondi, Elmo Kambindu

AFCON 2023 – Group E Winner Betting from Bet365 Sport

Our Group E Prediction – (Q) means they qualify for the Knockout Phase

1. Tunisia (Q)
2. South Africa (Q)
3. Mali (Q)
4. Namibia

Group F

• Morocco
• DR Congo
• Zambia
• Tanzania

AFCON 2023 Group F Fixtures & Times

• Morocco v Tanzania (5pm on 17^th January)
• DR Congo v Zambia (8pm on 17^th January)
• Morocco v DR Congo (2pm on 21^st January)
• Zambia v Tanzania (5pm on 21^st January)
• Tanzania v DR Congo (8pm on 24^th January)
• Zambia v Morocco (8pm on 24^th January)

Group F Team Information Table

Team	AFCON Wins	AFCON Runner Up	Manager	Captain	Star Player	Other Key Players
Morocco	1	1	Walid Regragui	Romain Saiss	Achraf Hakimi	Yassine Bounou, Moussair Mazraoui, Nayef Aguerd, Sofyan Amrabat, Azzedine Ounahi, Hakim Ziyech, Sofiane Boufal, Youssef En-Nesyri
Tanzania	0	0	Adel Amrouche	Mbwana Samatta	Ally Samatta	Simon Msuva, Mzamiru Yassin, Novatus Miroshi, Hamid Mkami
DR Congo	2	0	Sebastien Desabre	Chancel Mbemba	Cedric Bakambu	Yoane Wissa, Meschak Elia, Samuel Moutoussamy, Arthur Masuaku
Zambia	1	2	Avram Grant	Lubambo Musonda	Patson Daka	Lameck Banda, Benson Sakala, Kings Kangwa, Stoppila Sunzu

AFCON 2023 – Group F Winner Betting from Bet365 Sport

Our Group F Prediction – (Q) means they qualify for the Knockout Phase

1. Morocco (Q)
2. DR Congo (Q)
3. Zambia
4. Tanzania

AFCON 2023 – Knockout Phase – Round of 16 – Qualifying

All six of the group winners, plus the six runners up and the four third placed teams with the best records across the groups qualify for the Round of 16.

From the Round of 16 onwards, all games are played to a finish with extra time and penalties used, if required, to decide the winner.

The draw for the Round of 16 is seeded and is as follows:

• 27^th January – Group A Runner Up v Group C Runner Up
• 27^th January – Group D Winner v 3^rd from Group B, E or F
• 28^th January – Group B Runner Up v Group F Runner Up
• 28^th January – Group A Winner v 3^rd from Group C, D or E
• 29^th January – Group B Winner v 3^rd from Group A, C or D
• 29^th January – Group C Winner v 3^rd from Group A, B or F
• 30^th January – Group F Winner v Runner Up Group E
• 30^th January – Group E Winner v Runner Up Group D

From then on the winners of each game progress into the quarterfinals, semi-finals and then the final.

• 2^nd & 3^rd February – Quarter Finals
• 7^th February – Semi Finals
• 10^th February – Third Place Match
• 11^th February – AFCON 2023 Final

AFCON 2023 – Stadia to be Used

A total of six stadia across five cities in the Ivory Coast will be used for all matches in the competition. The capital Abidjan is the only city to have two venues.

• Abidjan – Alessane Outtara Stadium (60,000)
• Abidjan – Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium (33,000)
• Bouake – Stade de la Paix (40,000)
• Korhogo – Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium (20,000)
• San-Pedro – Laurent Pokou Stadium (20,000)
• Yamoussoukro – Charles Konan Banny Stadium (20,000)

The Alessane Outtara Stadium in Abidjan will host the opening game, most of the games in Group A, as well as one game in each of the knockout rounds including the Final.

AFCON 2023 – Outright Winner Betting Odds with Bet365 Sport

World Cup semi-finalists Morocco lead the way in the current betting at bet365 to win the AFCON 2023 tournament, but in truth the betting is wide open.

Senegal, Algeria, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Cameroon, Nigeria, Tunisia and Ghana will all feel that they stand a chance of success too.

Namibia and Mozambique are the outsiders of the 24 teams, but even they should prove stiff competition to the other teams in their group.

Our Tip to win AFCON 2023 – Ivory Coast – 7/1

Being a host nation is a huge advantage and with a very strong team and squad, Ivory Coast are my pick. I think the combination of those two factors, plus the fact that the host nation could play all but one of their games in their own national stadium, makes them the clear team to back here.