AFCON 2023 Betting Tips
Morocco are the highest-ranked team at AFCON 2023, with the Atlas Lions having performed really well at the 2022 World Cup when they navigated a path to the semi-finals of the competition. Perhaps they’re a spot of betting value when it comes to this tournament, with Walid Regragui having a talented squad of players at his disposal.
However, the bookies respect Senegal’s chances a good deal more, with the Lions of Teranga boasting an excellent record when it comes to this tournament. After finishing as runner-up in 2019, they went one better in 2021 to land the title and could be the team to beat. Aliou Cisse has a strong squad of individuals including Sadio Mane.
Mane could end up going head to head with former Liverpool team-mate Mohamed Salah, with Egypt bidding to become champions for the first time since 2010. The Pharaohs achieved a consecutive hat-trick of wins between 2006 and 2010, although they have been the bridesmaids more recently after finishing runner-up in 2017 and 2021.
Algeria and Ivory Coast are also among the favourites, with the latter being the tournament hosts. They have benefitted from being in Pot 1 when it comes to the AFCON draw, although there isn’t a huge amount of quality within the ranks. The Fennec Foxes will hope that captain Riyad Mahrez can help them to the business end of what should be an entertaining tournament.
We’re excited for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, with this tournament having been rearranged to the winter of 2022 thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. We will see twenty-four teams lining up to participate and many of these countries will consider themselves to have a decent chance of reaching the business end of the tournament.
Who Are the Betting Favourites to Win AFCON 2021?
The majority of bookmakers have Senegal as the marginal outright betting favourites to win AFCON 2021, with the Lions of Teranga boasting Sadio Mane who has been impressing in a Liverpool shirt for the past few seasons. However, they also have Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy along with Napoli stopper Kalidou Koulibaly, while Idrissa Gueye is going to offer plenty of midfield presence in the team.
Naturally, Mohamed Salah is rightly acclaimed as one of the leading players in the world and he’ll be looking to spearhead Egypt to glory. The Liverpool forward has been in stunning form in the Premier League this term, with his Pharaohs side among the favourites and they can also call on Mohamed Elneny and Trezeguet, although the majority of the squad play their club football in Egypt.
Many might prefer the chances of Algeria who are the reigning champions. Captain Riyad Mahrez has been in excellent form for Manchester City recently, while Milan’s Ismaël Bennacer is the experienced pair of hands in central midfield. There is also plenty of firepower in the form of Islam Slimani and Said Benrahma.
Hosts Cameroon can be backed at double figure odds with some bookies and their squad plays for teams dotted all over the world, with Vincent Aboubakar and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting looking like the first-choice strike pairing. André-Frank Zambo Anguissa is the experienced midfield general who operates for Napoli and they should go deep in the tournament.
Ivory Coast can no longer call on the likes of Didier Drogba and Didier Zokora, although Nicolas Pepe and Wilfried Zaha are lively operators and it wouldn’t be a big surprise to see the Elephants go deep in this competition. Eric Bailly and Serge Aurier are among the more experienced defenders, while Max Gradel is likely to play in his final AFCON tournament and he will be flanked by Franck Kessie and Maxwel Cornet in midfield.
Mohamed Salah Favourite to Be AFCON Top Scorer
It’s no surprise to find Mohamed Salah trading as the favourite to top score at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations tournament. The Egyptian King is sure to be among the goals and be on spot kick duties, with the bookies making the Liverpool star a best price 4/1 to claim the most goals throughout the tournament.
There are some other familiar names near the top of the AFCON Top Goalscorer betting market. Sadio Mane is among them and it’s clear that Senegal’s hopes of going deep rests with the former Southampton man, while the same applies to Algeria considering that captain Riyad Mahrez is the talisman for a side who are used to faring well in this competition.
However, Sebastien Haller could go even better at a bigger price. The Ajax front man has been a revelation in the Champions League this season and has recently repatriated for the Ivory Coast. With Nicolas Pepe and Wilfried Zaha operating from wide positions, it could be that the former West Ham man has plenty of joy in front of goal.