The January soccer schedule is often a quiet affair following a hectic festive period. Lovers of the English Premier League saw their favorite division enter a brief winter break, and there was a reduction in the number of games played in the early weekend. There hasn't been too much else worth talking about across the major European leagues. Thankfully, the slightly delayed African Cup of Nations keeps us entertained until club football returns to full strength in the coming weeks.
The 34th AFCON comes from the Ivory Coast, and the action has already begun, with followers treated to some interesting and exciting games in the opening rounds. Play began on Saturday, 13th January, with round one of the group stages, with the best teams aiming to blaze a trail of glory to the final on Sunday, 11th February. But which two teams will contest the final, and which team will win the 2023 African Cup of Nations?
Soccer lovers can watch the games live on television and the best legal live-streaming apps. Fans can also make soccer bet picks on the winner of each fixture at the leading sportsbooks. Traders offer odds on the result and over 100 pre-game and in-play specials. Predict which player will score the first goal, the total number of goals in a game, handicap, and much more. There's something for everyone.
What's in store
With the first few results in the bag, AFCON followers already have some form to work from when making their predictions. We've seen most of the favorites in action, and we're delighted to report they lived up to expectations, passing the first hurdle. The opening games also gave us a look at some plucky underdogs, teams we think are good enough to contest the prize and make life uncomfortable for the market leaders.
Which team has caught your eye? Do you expect the host nation to delight the home crowd by regaining this famous international soccer trophy? You may prefer another big name, such as Nigeria, Morocco, or Senegal. It's easy to make a strong case for any one of the betting favorites winning AFCON 2023, but which team gets your vote? Our team of football writers and betting experts aim to help you choose.
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We analyze outright betting, showing where the loyalties of bookmakers lie in this competition. We also recap the major talking points from the opening games, checking on the form of the bookies' picks. The aim is to bring readers up to speed on the African Cup of Nations and help them make well-researched and informed betting picks. By the end of this page, you'll have all the tools at your disposal to pick a winner.
View from the traders
Traders working at the biggest online betting apps allow members to make predictions and gamble on the winner of the African Nations title. You can predict the result of your favorite games or look further ahead and call the outright winner of the title. The earlier you bet, the better the odds available. Games have already begun, but you haven't missed your chance. It's still possible to make predictions, as odds are open until the full-time whistle on the final in three weeks. Which team gets your vote?
When calling the champion, many smart bettors like to study the stats, know the latest injury news, and analyze the results. Others prefer to place their trust in the experts, following the predictions of a professional tipster. Another popular and successful approach when predicting soccer is to join the bookies, backing the favorite or another team that ranks high in the outright betting odds. Following traders usually give backers a run for their money, and the cash-out feature means bettors can end their wager before the final for a profit.
Which team is the favorite and carries the gambling industry's hopes? At present, Morocco is the bookies' pick and judged the most likely AFCON 2023 champion. They have the shortest odds of all teams in the competition, and that won't surprise anyone with their finger on the pulse of African soccer. The AFCON 2023 market leaders have made 20 appearances in this tournament, starting in 1972. Morocco didn't wait long for their first AFCON title, winning in 1976, but that remains their only success.
Senegal is the main danger
If Morocco doesn't do as the traders predict, which nation will win the title? Senegal is the second favorite, and there's little between the top two teams in the odds. Ivory Coast completes the top three places in the betting, with Algeria, many people's pick, as the best outsider to follow at decent odds.
The further down the pecking order you go, the larger the odds, but the less likely the team is to win. Betting odds paint an interesting picture, but they don't crown a champion. This competition has a rich history of providing fans with surprise results. We'll see plenty more shocks this year.
Looking for an outsider with eye-catching odds attached? You may fancy betting on Nigeria, who has a better chance than their odds suggest. The Super Eagles have won this prize three times, most recently in 2013. Will that decade-long drought end here?
Early eye-catchers
Which teams have impressed during the opening round? Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria both took four points from their first two games, while Egypt suffered back-to-back draws. Ivory Coast won their opening game of the group campaign but lost on matchday two.
The locals brought the curtain up with a deserved 2-0 win over the pool's bottom club, Guinea-Bissau, but stumbled to defeat in their next game, losing 1-0 to Nigeria. A Troost-Ekong penalty early in the second half won that game for the Super Eagles. That loss means the Ivory Coast must defeat Equatorial Guinea in their third game to avoid disaster.
To progress, the Ivory Coast must rediscover the form that saw them beat Sierra Leone 5-1 in a recent friendly, but going through from here will take a monumental effort.
