The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 is just around the corner, sparking high interest among African football fans. Set to kick off in a few days, the tournament brings together Africa’s top football nations. As fans and bettors alike eagerly anticipate the matches, questions about the safest bets are on everyone’s mind. Let us explore some of them, offering insights into the teams and strategies that might help you bet successfully on the event.
Outright winner
Betting on the outright winner of a tournament can be tricky, especially when there are several strong teams among the favourites. For AFCON 2023, Morocco, Senegal, and Ivory Coast are among them.
- Morocco, with a strong team, seeks to recapture the glory of their 1976 win. They have shown consistent performance but need to break a decades-long title drought. On the other hand, the team finished the 2022 FIFA World Cup fourth, which shows that The Atlas Lions can indeed surprise their fans.
- Senegal, as the current champions, brings confidence and skill to the field, aiming to defend their title successfully. The team had a fluctuating performance at the AFCON. Before winning in 2021, their best performance was runners-up in 2002. The team has the potential to defend their title.
The host nation, Ivory Coast, has won the tournament twice, in 1992 and 2015, and had consistently good performances in the previous years. Since 2015, in turn, they only made it to the quarter-final once. Their home-ground advantage could play a crucial role, making them one of the favourites.
Group winners
Perhaps it would be easier to bet on group winners, as there are far fewer teams competing.
- The Group A favourite is Senegal, followed by Nigeria’s Super Eagles. The teams from Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau are unlikely to have a word to say here.
- In Group B, Egypt is the most likely winner, one of the top football nations in Africa. Ghana is another likely contented.
- Group C, once again, comes with a strong imbalance between Senegal and Cameroon, the two favourites, and the rest of the teams.
- In Group D, Algeria is the most likely winner
- Tunisia, another strong contender, will likely win Group E
- Morocco, the most likely winner of the entire tournament (according to bookmakers) is the favourite for winning Group F
Keep an eye on the results
The safest way to proceed with AFCON 2023 betting is to keep a close eye on the results of the matches in the Group Stage. The first round of matches will certainly reveal the current form of each of the teams, indicating which is the most likely to win. At the same time, the odds will certainly change based on these.
And don’t forget: the safest way to bet is to do it responsibly and within your means!
