If we look at Opta’s artificial intelligence prediction model, last year’s winner and current AFCON champions Senegal will win the tournament again. After last season’s dramatic finale and penalty shootout against Egypt, Sadio Mane and his teammates are bound for another title, with 12.8%, according to Opta. The odds and rankings are based on historical and recent team performances. The model then considers opponent strength and the difficulty of their path to the final – using match outcome probabilities, the composition of the groups and potential knockout stage match-ups.𝗔𝗙𝗖𝗢𝗡 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡#Bafana has a 2.1% chance of winning the #Afcon, according to Opta.Defending champs Senegal are favourites with a 12.8% chance. pic.twitter.com/JprueohFQj— #UNPLAYABLE (@UnplayableZA) January 10, 2024 The second favorite to win the tournament is the host, Ivory Coast with 12.1%, while the fourth team in the world, Morocco are next with 11.1%. Algeria (9.7%), Egypt (8.5%) and Nigeria (8.1%) follow, while Cameroon is in seventh place with 7.4% chance. But if we look the odds from another angle, it’s actually Indomitable Lions who are favorites. Why? Well, because of the terrain.North and West African teams are favourites for AFCON title, predicts Stars coach Engin FiratThe 2024 Africa Cup of Nations is being staged in the west African country of Ivory Coast, and no team has been more successful in the region than Cameroon. They won the first of five titles in 1984 when Ivory Coast previously hosted the biennial African football showpiece. Among the winning team was forward Roger Milla, who went on to achieve fame at the 1990 World Cup when the Indomitable Lions became the first quarter-finalists from Africa. Further Cup of Nations triumphs for the central African country in the west of the continent came in Nigeria in 2000 and in Mali two years later.AFCON2023: Another major blow for Super Eagles as Sadiq is out due to injuryNo other country has won the tournament three times in west Africa — Egypt and Ghana succeeded twice each and Nigeria and Ivory Coast once each. The other Cameroonian successes were in Morocco in 1988, and in the neighboring central African nation of Gabon seven years ago. With Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana, Napoli midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Besiktas forward Vincent Aboubakar in the squad, Cameroon are among the 2024 title favorites. Aboubakar was the leading scorer at the 2022 finals in his homeland. He bagged eight goals, one less than record-holder Ndaye Mulamba netted for the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1974.AFCON 2023: Regragui: ‘We are favorites’, Saiss:’No, we are not’Staging a Cup of Nations is no guarantee that a country from the host region will emerge victorious. North Africa has fared best with six victories from 11 tournaments followed by west Africa (4/9), central and east Africa (2/5 each) and southern Africa (1/3). The 2024 edition kicks off on Saturday with a Group A clash between two-time champions Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau, whose three previous appearances failed to deliver a single victory. On Sunday, Nigeria tackle Equatorial Guinea in the other Group A fixture, then record seven-time champions Egypt face Mozambique and Ghana meet Cape Verde in Group B.AFCON – GROUP STAGESaturday 23.00: (1.25) Ivory Coast (5.70) Guinea B. (13.0)Sunday 23.00: (1.85) Ghana (3.60) Cape Verde (4.90)Monday 17.00: (1.40) Senegal (4.60) Gambia (10.5)20.00: (2.15) Cameroon (3.25) Guinea (3.90)23.00: (1.45) Algeria (4.10) Angola (8.50)Tuesday 17.00: (1.75) Burkina Faso (3.60) Mauritania (5.70)20.00: (1.40) Tunisia (4.60) Namibia (10.5)23.00: (2.15) Mali (3.25) S.Africa (3.90)Wednesday 20.00: (1.30) Morocco (5.80) Tanzania (12.0)23.00: (2.40) Dr Congo (3.20) Zambia (3.40)***odds are subject to change***
