Afcon 2023: Opta and pundits tip Eagles as favourites for the trophy
With the five highest-rated teams out of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, bookmakers have installed Nigeria as the new favourites to win the title on February 11.
Before the competition kicked off, 2022 FIFA World Cup semifinalists, Morocco, and defending champions, Senegal, were the clear favourites for the crown, with Egypt, Tunisia, Cote d’Ivoire, and Nigeria the other expected title contenders in that order.
But the second round has thrown the pundits’ prediction to the winds, with Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Ghana, Cameroon, and Tunisia’s unexpected early ouster from the competition.
In a competition littered with the carcasses of Africa’s football giants, such countries as Angola, Cape Verde, South Africa, Guinea, Mali, and DR Congo have emerged as potential champions in a tournament noted for the ‘reign of underdogs.’
Even hosts, Cote d’Ivoire, who were almost down and out after the first round of matches, are now tipped to go all the way by the bookmakers.
Leading bookmakers, Hollywoodbets, have installed Nigeria as the new favourites for the title at 37/20, followed by Cote d’Ivoire at 3/1. Mali (6/1) and DR Congo (10/1) follow next, with Morocco’s conquerors, South Africa, installed as potential champions on 11/1.
Also predicting that Nigeria would win the 2023 Afcon is Opta supercomputer, which said the Super Eagles have a 28.8 percent chance of winning the championship. Mali with 14.7 percent and Cote d’Ivoire with 13.5 percent, make the top three favourite countries to win the tournament.
With 9.4 percent, DR Congo is fourth among the favourites to win the title, while Cape Verde and South Africa have 8.8 percent and 8.7 percent chances respectively, followed by Angola (8.3) and Guinea (7.8) in that order.
South Africa’s Dean Furman, a retired victim of the Super Eagles’ firepower, agrees with the bookmakers, tipping Nigeria to go all the way.
Nigeria could potentially face South Africa in a mouthwatering semifinal clash at the Stade de la Paix, Bouaké if the two countries see off dark horses Angola and Cape Verde in the quarterfinals.
Furman said that Nigeria has a way of winning the big games, adding that the current team also possesses big-game players.
“The so-called big nations, the fancied nation, Nigeria, are going about their work in an understated fashion, but I think they are ticking on nicely so I would have them down as the favourites right now.”
On South Africa’s quarterfinal clash with Cape Verde on Saturday, Furman said: “I don’t want to speak too soon because Cape Verde, we played them twice in 2017 in the World Cup qualifiers, we lost to them twice.
“In the 2013 AFCON opening game at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, everyone expected us to win. It was a draw and if I’m honest, we should have lost that game so I’m not taking them lightly at all, it’s going to be a very, very tough game but it’s anyone’s.”
However, while everybody seems to be going for Nigeria, ex-Angola international central defender, Kali, has a different opinion. He has predicted that the Palancas Negras will beat the Super Eagles in the quarterfinal showdown at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan.
With two of the pre-tournament favourites Senegal and Morocco knocked out of the competition, the remaining eight countries believe they have a really good chance of winning the Africa Cup of Nations.
Kali faced Nigeria three times in his playing days without tasting defeat, winning once and drawing two games and now he believes there could be a massive surprise from the Palancas Negras on Friday evening.
Kali said: “Angola will be very well prepared to face Nigeria. I think it is the most important match between the two teams. We have a better chance of advancing.”
